Not only will the AirPods 4 officially arrive in a month or so, but there may be two new versions to choose from, writes Mark Garman in the latest subscriber edition of the Power On newsletter

So far, Apple has offered standard, Pro, and Max versions of its Apple headphones However, Gurman has previously said that Apple may release new, less expensive AirPods this fall to replace the AirPods 2 (an older model that Apple is leaving as a budget option) released in 2019, along with a sequel, the AirPods 3, released in 2021 The report said

The main difference between the cheaper new AirPods and the mid-priced new AirPods, Garman explained, is that the more expensive pair will offer active noise cancellation (ANC)

With smartphones having completely negated the headphone jack several years ago, wireless earbuds have effectively become a basic smartphone accessory, much like a case So, depending on how much you have to sacrifice for this allegedly basic model, a more budget-friendly first-party earphone option looks good

Comparing the features of the AirPods 2 to those of the AirPods 3 shows how much has changed between these generations, including upgraded sound, compatibility with Spatial Audio, a more modern design, and wireless charging If Apple's new inexpensive earbuds still lack all of these features, they may be less valuable than more expensive models

There is also the issue of the AirPods Max, which were released in 2020 and have not been refreshed since Unfortunately, rumors suggest that it will only receive a small update this year and will not be upgraded to Apple's latest H2 audio chip, which offers features like conversation recognition and adaptive noise control

We expect the big Apple September event as usual, so that should be the time and place to see these new AirPods 4 models And with the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and Apple Watch 10 also said to be making an appearance, it's already shaping up to be a jam-packed presentation