New Apple AirPods release date, rumours and cheapest price ever

APPLE fans are buzzing for the release of the new models of AirPods.

While the tech company is notoriously tight-lipped as to the details – a couple of watchful analysts are expecting big price moves.

The new range is forecast to land in stores in the second half of next year – or the beginning of 2025.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the company is likely aiming for a price of $99 for its second-generation AirPods – its cheapest price yet.

The cost would be a major upgrade from their current price tag of $129.

Analyst Jeff Pu has also predicted that the AirPods will be subject to a price cut in the upcoming line-up.

Pu is anticipating two key products from Apple in 2024, including the lower-priced AirPods and the first Apple Watch with a micro-LED display.

If the rumours are true, the cheaper earphones, which Pu referred to as ‘AirPods Lite’, could be Apple’s attempt of keeping up with competitors.

The economic climate is pinching at the purse strings of many.

Which means stiff competition among the consumer electronics companies.

Apple could also be making quite the design change on the next iPhone.

There’s talk of the smartphone powerhouse making some significant changes to the buttons on the unannounced iPhone 15 Pro.

Rumour has it, Apple wants to drop the clicky volume and power buttons on the side of the iPhone.

Instead the firm will apparently swap them for “solid-state buttons”.

Solid-state buttons are surfaces that vibrate to simulate the feeling of clicking something.

And if that sounds familiar, you’re not wrong.

Apple already did the same thing on the iPhone 7 and 8 by replacing the main Home button at the bottom.