Rumour | New Apple AirPods Pro variant entering mass production this month ahead of mid-2020 launch

The AirPods Pro impressed us when we reviewed them last year, not least because of their excellent active noise cancellation (ANC) and the improved sound quality that they offer compared to the second-generation AirPods. However, they lacked the dynamic range of more expensive headphones to justify their US$250 price tag, in our opinion.

Apple may be on the verge of releasing a new variant of the AirPods Pro though, and a cheaper pair at that. As we reported last month, the earbuds are expected to be released in mid-2020, with DigiTimes tentatively offering June as a potential release month.

Now, the Taiwanese media outlet claims that these entry-level AirPods Pro could be entering mass production this month. Citing "sources at chip and component suppliers" involved in the supply chain for the device, DigiTimes states that mass production will begin by the start of Q2 2020 at the latest.

DigiTimes is still referring to the device as the AirPods Pro Lite, although MacRumors claims that this is unlikely to be the product's final name. Instead, the website asserts that Apple could release them as the third-generation AirPods and opines that they could essentially be the AirPods Pro without ANC functionality.

Apple AirPods Pro on sale now at Amazon