We'll level with you: we had high hopes for Apple's imminent 'Glowtime' event on September 9th, 2024 (you can still follow our 'Glowtime' live-blog now, for a blow-by-blow account of the action) and it turns out we were right to be excited: new entry-level earbuds are here! Only, they're not called AirPods Lite…
According to various sources, Apple had been working on a new cheaper pair of AirPods, which are (or were) being referred to as 'AirPods Lite'. And very recently, on September 6, Mark Gurman shared his biggest and most detailed AirPods predictions yet, claiming that the company was actually readying two new AirPods models to supersede the entry-level second-gen buds, (aka AirPods 2019) and the mid-tier, third-generation model (also known as AirPods 3).
And that's what has happened – only, we now have two pairs of AirPods 4 arriving on September 20!
The older suggestion from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was that Apple was aiming for a $99 price in the US for the new cheaper AirPods, which would likely translate to £99 in the UK and AU$149 in Australia, based on Apple's pricing for the $99 HomePod mini. Sadly, they're not quite that cheap, but they are $129, so essentially replacing the Apple AirPods 2nd Gen.
So, the rumor that AirPods 4 will come in two different versions came good – the rumored 'Lite' are essentially a lower-priced version, to go with the more expensive version with active noise cancellation – all part of the new AirPods 4 line.
There's definitely room for a debutante duo among the best AirPods. So here's everything you need to know about the new cheaper set.
AirPods Lite release date and price
The early rumors around AirPods Lite were that Apple is aiming for a $99 price, which would likely translate to around £99 / AU$149.
We were never so sure they'd be as cheap as that – and we weren't wrong. However, the $129 price (so around £119 or AUS199) feels about right.
When will they become available? September 20. We know, not long!
AirPods Lite features
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claimed ahead of Apple Glowtime event that the cheaper model would lack active noise cancellation. And he's right – while the more expensive $179 AirPods 4 feature ANC – a first in this open-ear, non Pro-design – plus Apple's Adaptive Audio (which alters the level of ANC as you enter different environments) and Conversation Awareness, these 'Lite' AirPods 4 are best thought of as your new entry-level, very-few frills AirPods. Although there are some frills…
While the more expensive AirPods 4 of the pair will be receiving the noise-cancellation we wanted from our AirPods, thanks to iOS 18, as an entry-level option, we wouldn't expect these perks to feature in any AirPods 'Lite'.
This cheaper set won't support wireless charging, but you do get head-gesture control, and they will have personalised spatial audio on board (yes really!), which is actually no surprise, given Apple's investment in the technology.
Both models also include USB-C charging instead of Apple's Lightning port, of course.
AirPods Lite: our verdict on what to expect
AirPods Lite design – old or new?
The AirPods-Lite-slash-AirPods-4 look just like one of the existing AirPods models – namely the open-ear option. The stems are straight down, too, rather than angled around your cheek. But appearances can be deceptive; Apple has worked very hard on both a new acoustic architecture and in refining the shape of the driver housing, following extensive studies into the human ear to create an "unparalleled data set" or "50 million individual data points".
In fact, Apple says they're the most comfortable AirPods ever. And, you're getting the H2 chip to boast the "best sounding AirPods ever" plus a force-sensor for playback control in the stems.
They're still ice-white, of course, (Apple's not squaring the wheel here) but the case is a little smaller and is apparently the smallest ever AirPods case.
AirPods Lite and head-tracked Spatial Audio – do they have it?
Yes! Given how strongly Apple is pushing Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio in Apple Music, and how much money services make for Apple, it was impossible that Apple wouldn't prioritise making head-tracked Spatial Audio as affordable to as many people as possible.
AirPods Lite sound quality
This is going to be a fine line for Apple to tread. Will the sound be at the same level as the AirPods 3rd Gen? Apple says yes (in fact the company says they're the best-sounding AirPods ever in this design), but of course, we'll have to wait on that to hear them ourselves.
They're still not amazing value on paper. The likes of Nothing Ear (a) and Sony WF-C700N are $99 and do offer ANC, but still, these are Apple AirPods claim to go a step beyond what the AirPods 3rd Gen can do for sound quality, and yet they cost less. It's a good trick to pull off – if indeed Apple has pulled it off.
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