Will AirPods 3 launch at Apple's “Unleashed” event? One leaker claims so.

When will AirPods 3 launch? According to one leaker, the next AirPods featuring an updated design are expected to be announced at Apple’s upcoming Mac-focused product unveilings scheduled to stream on Monday, October 18 under the tagline “Unleashed”.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

A leaker claims the third-generation AirPods are announcing next Monday
AirPods 3 were supposed to launch alongside iPhone 13 last month
AirPods 3 should feature an AirPods Pro-like design

A person sitting on a couch, using her iPhone while listening to music on her AirPods. One leaker claims the next AirPods are launching at Apple's "Unleashed" event

Apple may unveil AirPods 3 on October 18

Weibo leaker @PandaIsBald has made claims that an updated AirPods model will be unveiled alongside redesigned MacBook Pros powered by Apple’s faster, more powerful A1X chip. The prediction is logical if you consider that a September supply-chain report alleged that Apple’s partners had commenced mass production of the third-generation AirPods.

As MacRumors notes, @PandaIsBald accurately reported the launch of the ninth-generation iPad for Apple’s September 2021 event. The Cupertino company hasn’t updated the regular AirPods since announcing the current second-generation model on March 20, 2019.

But when will AirPods 3 launch?

Given the current issues with the global chip and component shortages, the company will likely announce AirPods 3 at next Monday’s “Unleashed” product unveilings and open pre-orders as soon as possible but don’t expect them to start shipping in October.

So when precisely do we think AirPods 3 are launching?

A male hand holding a charge case for AirPods Pro with the earbuds inside and the lid open — AirPods 3 may resemble AirPods Pro, have shorter stems | Image credit: Omid Armin / Unsplash

Probably sometime in November but that’s just our best-informed guess. Of course, we could be entirely wrong on that one — Apple could open pre-orders for the new earbuds on Friday, October 22 and ship them the following Friday, October 29. A delayed AirPods launch wouldn’t be entirely unexpected given the supply issues with the original model.

And Apple has already crossed that rubicon with other products in the past, the most recent example being Apple Watch Series 7 that unveiled at Apple’s September 2021 event but wouldn’t be available to order that month at all. Instead, the new watch is arriving this coming Friday. Who’s to say something like this won’t happen with the upcoming AirPods?