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Apple could make you forget about the new AirPods next month with new Beats headphones

Published: Mar 22, 2019, 3:56 PM

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Apple could make you forget about the new AirPods next month with new Beats headphones

The Powerbeats3 are wireless, but not "truly" wireless

Apple isn't known for its costly acquisitions, generally focusing on buying small companies that can add valuable resources to new areas of development for the Cupertino-based tech giant without entailing a great risk from a return on investment standpoint. But the iPhone and iPad makers actually splashed the cash on Beats Electronics back in 2014, acquiring Dr. Dre's buzzworthy audio device outfit in exchange for a whopping $3 billion.

While we will obviously never know exactly how much Apple has gained or lost as a result of this extravagant purchase in its immediate aftermath, the future of the Beats brand appeared to hang in the balance as there were no new products released under the once fruitful label for the entirety of last year. But fret not, Dre fans, as a redesigned Powerbeats version is expected out pretty soon.

Namely, sometime in April, according to a retail channel source described as reliable in the past by the folks over at CNET.

AirPods rival or something for a different target audience?

There are plenty of popular Beats-branded wireless headphones already on the market, ranging from the $120 BeatsX all the way up to the $350 Beats Studio3, but one thing that's missing is a "true wireless" option. The reason for that is simple, as Apple probably didn't want anything to steal attention away or reduce the appeal of its first-generation AirPods.

With a second edition now out and about, and many signs the AirPods are a runaway success, the company might finally feel confident enough to expand its already vast lineup of audio products. Enter a sequel for the $200 Beats Powerbeats3 that's expected to cut the cord altogether and make it even harder for the likes of Google and Samsung to compete on the Apple-dominated "hearables" scene.

The new AirPods are sleek, but they're certainly not perfect

Instead of thinking about the Powerbeats4 (name obviously unconfirmed) as better or worse than the 2019 AirPods generation, you should just regard them as different products. Rumor has it the new, completely wire-free Beats Powerbeats could "borrow" the H1 chip of the freshly upgraded AirPods, as well as the hands-free "Hey Siri" capabilities. But water resistance, better bass, and a more ergonomic design focused on keeping these things snug in your ears at all times, might be added to the mix.

That... arguably makes the impending Beats product sound superior to the 2019 AirPods, although we clearly don't have the full story yet. There's no mention of wireless charging support, while battery life is presumed but not guaranteed to be better. Perhaps most importantly, we have no idea how the reimagined Powerbeats will actually look. We know the cable keeping the Powerbeats3 together will disappear, but absolutely nothing else, which suggests this sequel might be more about functionality and outdoor endurance than fashion.

It's all about the money

We're sorry to break it to you, but Beats headphones are not generally what we'd call affordable. The sporty Powerbeats3 are (typically) pricier than the stylish Apple-branded AirPods, although unlike those market-leading bad boys, these slightly less successful wireless audio accessories routinely go on sale at massive discounts. At the time of this writing, for instance, they're just $99.99 at Best Buy after a 50 percent markdown that's actually become a common occurrence in recent months.

Get them while they're discounted... or not

That probably signals a follow-up effort is indeed right around the corner, but it also suggests it won't be a very good idea to purchase said sequel straight off the bat. That being said, whether or not the Powerbeats4 will be better than the AirPods 2, a starting price of more than $200 is likely to put off a large number of potentially early adopters. The question is can Apple deliver all the aforementioned upgrades over the Beats Powerbeats3 and refrain from adding a premium of, say, 50 bucks? We'll apparently see about that in just a few weeks or so.

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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.