Despite rumors of being subjected to an exorbitantly high price, Apple's AirPods 3 is one of the year's most awaited launches. And guess what? They might be out much earlier than expected. In contrast to recent rumors that Apple had delayed the release until Q3 2021, a new leak claims that they would be unveiled as a surprise at an upcoming April hardware event.

Though there is no specific launch date but as mentioned, there is a launch window that AirPods 3 will be launched sometime in the third quarter of 2021, which would square with a September launch event for the iPhone 13. Further, Taiwanese company ASE Technology has started the production of optical sensors which will be embedded in the next generation Apple AirPods.

AirPods 3 will be released alongside a new iPad Pro and we will not be getting a new iPad Mini. Apple Track, a platform devoted to assessing the trustworthiness of industry insiders, says: “I believe some tidbits are genuine. The post about new Spring MagSafe cases [also] corresponds exactly to what another source on Weibo posted.” If the leak is accurate, it is going to leave a number of well-known industry insiders claiming that Apple had moved them to the third quarter.

Apple, on the other hand, has made a concerted effort to minimize leaks this year, seeding false information with some sources, a step that has already raised the ire of prominent leakers and casted doubts on the details shared by proven insiders. If Apple releases AirPods 3 in April this year, it will be yet another step towards undermining the biggest leakers, who have been successfully revealing Apple's products ahead of release for years. Here’s a small snippet of information about the AirPods 3:

In terms of price, fans might have to pay a premium to upgrade. The new AirPods 3 are expected to be priced around 250-260 AUD, which is a jump from the initial price found with the AirPods 2. As for the design, there won't be a complete redesign of the AirPods 3, but the current AirPods aren't necessarily a rehash either. The new launch is expected to incorporate elements from the AirPods Pro, while remaining relatively unchanged from the AirPods 2. Further, the earbuds aren't expected to have active noise cancellation, but they do have some audio enhancements and advanced drivers for richer sound. Support for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio will both be wonderful additions.

Apple AirPods 3: What are we expecting?

What do we start? The AirPod series as a whole is in dire need of some aesthetic, technical, and functional improvements. With the AirPods Pro, Apple finally gave in to some market demands (e.g., ANC, integrated ear tips), there's a possibility the AirPods 3 will get similar, if not better, treatment. Here's a look at what's on our wish list.

• Adaptive EQ and aptX HD (High-Definition Audio): Although not a game-changer, the AirPods Pro's adaptive EQ does boost the sound, but only slightly. That isn't to say Apple can't make the AirPods 3 better. Its inclusion, along with the aptX HD Bluetooth codec, will be immensely beneficial and make a huge difference.
• Longer battery life: Competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, with a playback time of 11 hours and Apple’s very own Powerbeats Pro, with a playback time of 9 hours, offer double the playtime. It’s time for the new AirPods Pro to catch up. Given that the current AirPods last a little less than 5 hours on a single charge, any improvement would be welcome.
• Noise Cancellation: It seems that noise cancellation will not be included in the AirPods 3, but after bringing ANC to the AirPods Pro, it would be surprising if the AirPods 3 did not have any kind of noise cancellation. Jabra managed to introduce active noise cancellation to the Elite 75t series with an over-the-air software update, so if it's not included at launch, Apple can think about it - or program the AirPods 3 with excellent passive noise reduction.
• Sensors for fitness tracking: Some companies have designed their best exercise headphones to act as fitness trackers. We all know how important it is for Apple's customers to embrace their ecosystem, which means investing in the entire myriad of products such as the iPhone, Apple Watch, but having an activity monitor built into the AirPods 3 would be an awesome secondary option for avid exercisers who forget to charge their smartwatch before hitting the gym.
• Additional accessories: The AirPods Pro's bundled ear tips made such a difference in its fit, and although they will do the same for the AirPods 3, Apple needs to add some other exclusive extras to its accessory lineup. Let's start with some ear hooks packaged with the buds. Consumers would also like a touch of a nice leather cover to protect and style the charging case.
• Bundle of iPhone 13 and AirPods 3: Since the launch of iPhone 12, we haven't learned anything about Apple bundling AirPods with its next-generation smartphones, let alone a potential model. But worry not, there's always the iPhone 13 to fall back on.