Apple AirPods Pro 2 may switch to USB-C

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 may be eligible for the USB-C version, but the more affordable and non-professional AirPods will not.

It’s likely that the next generation of the Apple iPhone will ditch the Lightning port in favor of USB-C when it arrives at the end of the year. If the Cupertino-based company is gradually moving to USB-C on its laptops and tablets, it will take legal action from the European Union to speed up the process. Late last year, Apple agreed to comply with this directive requiring USB-C to be used on all EU mobile devices, including the iPhone. However, it’s not just the next iPhone that should be eligible. Several rumors indicate that the Apple AirPods Pro 2 headphones may also ditch Lightning and switch to USB-C.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 may be eligible for USB-C version

The original source of this information is Twitter user @aaronp613, who found references to new AirPods and AirPods charging cases in the iOS 16.4 code. The model numbers found by this tweeter are A3048 and A2968. According to him, A3048 will refer to the new model of AirPods, while A2968 will correspond to the body of the same product. While Aaron doesn’t specify that these new AirPods have USB-C connectivity, his tweet was picked up by renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is convinced these new links may be more in line with the USB-C version of Apple AirPods. 2. In his tweet, he also mentions the possibility that these USB-C AirPods could be launched in the second or third quarter of 2023.

No USB-C for more affordable non-professional AirPods?

All older AirPods probably won’t switch to USB-C in 2023. In his tweet, Ming-Chi Kuo also indicates that only AirPods Pro 2 will switch to this connection in 2023 and Apple has no intention of making changes to his AirPods 2 and AirPods 3.

The inclusion of a USB-C connector with AirPods Pro 2 would make life easier for users as USB-C becomes more and more popular in our electronic gadgets. Also, since USB-C provides faster charging speeds than Lightning, it will also reduce AirPods Pro 2 charging time once Apple enables this feature on the AirPods Pro 2 case. Charging AirPods Pro 2, of course.

The Cupertino-based company has long been criticized for its reluctance to ditch Lightning and move to USB-C. It would be great to see two of his most popular products make this transition in 2023. It will also speed up a process started years ago by integrating USB-C into MacBooks and iPad Pros. In any case, we must wait for the official announcement before setting this information in stone.

I think this is probably the USB-C version of the AirPods Pro 2, which is expected to ship in Q2-Q3 2023. Incidentally, Apple currently has no plans to release USB-C versions of the AirPods 2 and 3.

我覺得這應該是AirPods Pro… https://t.co/aWKJvGh1lW

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) March 24, 2023