Improved audio quality: New Apple H3 chipset rumoured for future AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 4 with second major improvement too

Apple left the AirPods Pro 2 on shelves for years before replacing them with the AirPods Pro 3 (curr. $249 on Amazon). In the intervening period, the company introduced the AirPods 4, which are now over a year old themselves. Nonetheless, all three sets of earbuds feature Apple’s H2 chipset.

According to Mark Gurman, Apple is now developing successors to both sets of earbuds. Writing in his latest PowerOn newsletter, the analyst claims that Apple intends to eventually offer the AirPods 5 as a new ‘entry-level and mid-tier’ option, although these are unlikely to arrive anytime soon. Instead, Apple is expected to announce new MacBook Pro, iPad Pro and Vision Pro hardware this month before refreshing its entire MacBook stack next spring.

Based on recent release schedules, Apple will wait until autumn 2026 before introducing the AirPods 5. Gurman adds that engineers hope to improve audio quality and reduce latency by installing an Apple H3 chipset, which missed the cut for the AirPods Pro 3. Thus, we can reasonably expect the AirPods Pro 4 to carry this chipset too. Unfortunately, it remains to be seen whether Apple will hold out until 2027 before refreshing its Pro-branded earbuds.