AirPods are considered top-tier earbuds by a lot of people, especially people who are fans of Apple products. Although, it's not just the quality that separates it from other earbuds but the price as well. Apple is reportedly planning to release a cheaper variation of their Airpods.
Apple AirPods Lite
Apple is said to be working on a new Airpods design, which adds to the four models they already have. The one in the works will be cheaper, which Apple will use to compete with budget-friendly earbuds options.
This could save Apple from a potential decline in sales, which according to Jeff Pu, an analyst from Haitong Intl Tech Research, might happen. AirPods sales went as high as 73 million units in 2022, which might decrease to 63 million this 2023, as mentioned in 9To5Mac.
There are still no official announcements about the possibility of the AirPods Lite, and it's still not clear what it would look like or what features it will have. It is likely that it will be cheaper than the current models, which is its reported purpose in the first place.
The current prices of Apple's available earbuds are $169 for the AirPods 3 and $129 for the previous generations. It's possible that Apple will price the AirPods Lite lower than the second-generation AirPods, or they will make older-generation AirPods cheaper as well.
What Are Cheaper Earbuds for the Meantime?
It's still unknown when the AirPods Lite would be released, or if Apple is even working on it in the first place. While you're waiting, here are a few earbuds you can look into if you don't want to spend much for AirPods:
Anker Soundcore Space A40
Anker Soundcore is are also wireless earbuds and they cost under $100. It has an app where you can adjust the equalizer, and it also comes with noise cancellation. According to PC Mag, Anker earbuds are ideal for those who want to customize their own listening experience.
Tribit FlyBuds 3
With the Tribit Flybuds, you can get quality wireless earphones for the low price of $40. It's waterproof so people who use earbuds for working out may opt for this. It also has a long battery life which allows its users to listen longer without having to charge often.
JBL Tune 130NC
The JBL Tune has the noise cancellation and equalizer app of the Anker earbuds, and the waterproof design and long battery life of the Tribit Flybuds. With all that, it only costs under $50. The only downside is that its noise cancellation feature is not as good as the previous two.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
Two of the selling points of the Samsung Galaxy buds are the powerful active noise cancellation feature and the ambient listening mode. It also has two wireless charging methods and is comfortable to wear. It can last up to five hours and has a 12-meter Bluetooth range, according to LaptopMag.
