Before the AirPods 3 launch date, the AirPods 3 must first appear. That could finally happen in August, Nikkei Asia reported.

The report primarily reports on Apple's plans for its 2022 iPhone lineup, but also claims that a "new version of the AirPods" will be in production starting next month. Thus, the final release date could then be much earlier, as early as September.

This is consistent with several AirPods 3 rumors we have heard previously. In June, for example, it was reported that Apple's component suppliers were ramping up their own production with a view to getting the AirPods 3 out in time for Q3 2021.

This same release window was previously cited by Apple insider and inside analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said in March that mass production of the AirPods 3 would not begin until Q3 2021. That quarter runs from early July to the end of September, so a production start schedule in August would be consistent with the AirPods 3 release rumor, which has yet to be proven wrong.

Not everyone believes this potential schedule. In connection with the Nikkei Asia report, Twitter tipster LeaksApplePro did not elaborate further, but wrote, "No, we are ready."

LeaksApplePro will be featured at the Apple Spring Loaded event in April. It names the exact products, but generally has a convoluted record, so take this with the customary pinch of salt.

NikkeiAsia's report is equally valuable, but if we had to bet, we'd probably look for the AirPods 3 to launch in September. Since this is the month when Apple usually announces the latest iPhone models, and this year the iPhone 13 is said to follow, it makes a lot of sense that the new phone and the new earbuds would be part of the same event. This also means that mass production will begin in August, which is, at least, plausible. [Nothing Ear (1) is reserved for the July 27 launch event, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 may be part of the rumored Galaxy Unpacked event on August 11. In time, we'll find out which one is worthy of joining the ranks of the best wireless earbuds, along with the AirPods 3.