The publication DigiTimes, citing its sources, said that the Taiwanese contractor ASE Technology has begun production of optical sensors for the next generation of AirPods. According to industry sources, the headphone announcement will take place in the third quarter of 2021, at which time mass production will begin.

There are no other details in the DigiTimes report at the moment, but this data coincides with what the reputable analyst Ming-Chu Kuo said earlier. According to him, mass production should begin in the third quarter of this year, that is, between July and September.

Although previously there was information that the headphones will be released in the first half of 2021. This was further fueled by a series of published photos, which allegedly contained the new AirPods.

According to rumors, the headphones will receive a design similar to the AirPods Pro with a couple of differences. They will not have active noise cancellation and silicone tips – this will make the cost of the new item noticeably lower relative to the Pro version.

The current generation of AirPods was released two years ago – in March 2019. Their cost ranges from $ 159 to $ 199 depending on the case model (without or with wireless charging). So the new product is likely to be in the same price range.