Apple is 'developing' a new low-cost version of its earbuds called 'AirPods Pro Lite'

A report outlining Apple shifting come of its supply chain operations to Taiwan amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak has revealed a new product.

Dubbed ‘AirPod Pro Lite’, the earbuds will be cheaper than its predecessor that costs $249, but without the high-end features like active noise cancelling and adaptive equalization.

Although a price for the new version has yet to be mentioned, anonymous sources noted that they should be released ‘later, as the epidemic has raised risks of raw materials supply shortages and shipments disruptions arising from uncertain resumption of normal operations at components suppliers and assembly plants in China.’

‘Apple, maintaining partnerships with supply chains in both Taiwan and China, may have its Taiwanese partners handle more production of new-generation ‌iPad‌, ‌Apple Watch‌, AirPod Pro Lite, and ‌iMac‌ devices to be released later, as the epidemic has raised risks of raw materials supply shortages and shipments disruptions arising from uncertain resumption of normal operations at components suppliers and assembly plants in China, the sources told Digitimes.

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‘AirPod Pro Lite’ will be cheaper than its predecessor (pictured at Apple’s AirPods Pro) that costs $249, but without the high-end features like active noise cancelling and adaptive equalization

It’s unclear exactly what DigiTimes is referring to by ‘AirPod Pro Lite,’ as Apple just released the AirPods Pro in October of last year in October.

The wireless earbuds were such a hit, they nearly sold out in less than two months.

Although the technology in the low-cost version is unknown, it is safe to say they will look similar to the AirPods Pro.

The current wireless earbuds come in three different sizes and boast flexible silicone ear tips that conform to the contours of each individual ear.

Although a price for the new version has yet to be mentioned, anonymous sources noted that they should be released ‘later, as the epidemic has raised risks of raw materials supply shortages and shipments disruptions arising from uncertain resumption of normal operations at components suppliers and assembly plants in China

Apple has noted that this design is ‘a critical factor in delivering immersive sound’.

Apple is always pushing out new updates for its AirPods Pro, but the latest one to come out last month was found to diminish ability to block out environmental noise – a feature that the firm boasted about prior to the device’s release.

Several Redditors in a recent post say they’ve noticed a marked difference in the premium earbuds after a firmware update in December.

An analysis by Rtings.com shows that the reports may be more than just anecdotes. In a test that judged the AirPods before and after a recent firmware update, researchers found the wireless earbuds’ ability to cancel out noise.

‘After updating to Firmware 2C54, we retested the headphones and our results showed a fairly significant drop in isolation performance, primarily in the bass-range,’ writes Rtings.com in a review from this month.

‘This means that with [ambient noise cancelling] turned on, these headphones won’t do nearly as good a job blocking out the low engine rumbles of planes or buses as they did before this update. This review reflects these changes.’

That review is corroborated by at least some customers on Reddit who complain about hearing more ambient noise from the New York City subway or from an airplane after the firmware update.

‘I can’t prove they reduced the [ambient noise cancelling] but I can tell you I do hear more noise on my ride home. Where there was total silence I can now pick up more ambient sound. Could it be in my mind? Sure,’ writes on Reddit users. ‘But there are plenty of people saying the same thing… ‘