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Category: Electronics

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Electronics news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Apple Watch picks up another update today

    Apple Watch picks up another update today

    Today is a happy day for Apple fans, as the Cupertino-based company is rolling out new software updates for three of its popular products: iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. If you’re rocking one of the first two, you should be able to download iOS 14.2 today.

    On the other hand, Apple Watch owners can download watchOS 7.1, a rather important update that brings some interesting new features for select users. The first one is the ability to be notified when your headphone level could impact your hearing.

    Then, we have a fix for an issue that prevented some users from unlocking Mac with Apple Watch. Another fix included in the update should address an issue where the screen may be dark on wrist raise for some people using the Apple Watch Series 6.

    The next two new features are specifically aimed at Apple Watch users in two countries: Korea and Russia. Those users living in one of the two countries will finally get support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later, as well as support for irregular heart rhythm notifications.

    Make sure that you check your Apple Watch app via your iPhone to see whether or not the new watchOS 7.1 update is available for download. You should find it by heading to General / Software Update.

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  • Did Siri affected Biden or Trump with some votes?

    Did Siri affected Biden or Trump with some votes?

    Over the years we have knocked Apple for its failure to make Siri as good and accurate a digital helper as Google Assistant is. Siri has been known to make the occasional blunder. For example, let’s say that last weekend you had forgotten when Election Day was. So you turned to  Siri. iPhone users were told by their virtual assistant that Election Day was scheduled for November 8th. The problem with that answer is that it is wrong. Very wrong. Election Day was November 3rd  so if you were relying on Siri’s response to remind you when to visit your polling place, you would have arrived five days too late missing your opportunity to vote for president.

    This is not the first time that the iPhone told users the wrong information about time and date. For years, the idea of Daylight Saving Time continued to elude the grasp of iOS. One year, instead of moving iPhone clocks ahead an hour, it moved the clocks back an hour instead which really helped iPhone users get their day off to a very poor start.

    The interesting part of Siri’s most recent screw up is that November 8th was the date of the last U.S. presidential election back in 2016. On the other hand, November 8th 2022 will be when the U.S. holds its next major election, the mid-terms. Either way, Siri’s response was wrong and we wouldn’t vote for either one.

    While only the most clueless would have ended up missing election day because of Siri’s response, well, such clueless people do exist. Luckily, the number of those who listened to Siri was probably not large enough for its faux pas to impact the election results.

    So here’s a word to the wise. If you ask Siri for the date of an upcoming event that you must attend, it might behoove you to confirm the answer with another source even if that goes against the reason for Siri’s existence in the first place. Like any digital assistant, Siri is only as good as the data bank it gets its information from.

  • Samsung killing yet another redundant service in December

    Samsung killing yet another redundant service in December

    Samsung has always been trying to make people use its tools on their phones, regardless of whether or not there were better alternatives out there. That’s one of the reasons we’re seeing the South Korean giant closing many of them due to few people using them.

    For example, S Translator was launched as an alternative to Google and Microsoft Translator services but didn’t manage to find too many fans among Samsung smartphone users. Add to that the S Translator was available on high-end Galaxy devices for the most part, and you have a recipe for failure.

    Well, it looks like come December 1, Samsung will be shutting down S Translator, the company announced earlier this week. The announcement mentions that all information the service collected from users will be destroyed on the same day.

    In the meantime, we would like to thank those who have used the S Translator service. We inform you that the above service, which has given us a lot of interest and love, can no longer be provided due to the company’s operating policy. Upon termination of this service, your personal information collected for the purpose of providing the service will be destroyed without delay in order to protect your personal information.

    Apparently, Samsung is trying to streamline its mobile app ecosystem, so many apps and services that have become redundant, such as S Voice, Mirrorlink, and Find My Car. It’s hard to say if Samsung is done killing its unpopular services, but Bixby might next on the list.

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  • Snapdragon 875 crushes Samsung’s first 5nm chip in benchmark leak

    Snapdragon 875 crushes Samsung’s first 5nm chip in benchmark leak

    Qualcomm’s next flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 875, will likely be unveiled on December 1. Leaker Abhishek Yadav has apparently managed to get hold of the chip’s AnTuTu scores and they are quite impressive.

    The chip is apparently codenamed Lahaina and per the leaker, it scored 847,868 on the benchmarking website. This makes it around 25 percent faster than the Vivo iQOO 5 Pro, which is powered by the Snapdragon 865 and is the current top scorer.

    The Snapdragon 875 will reportedly be made using the 5nm process, which will give it a huge performance and power efficiency advantage over the current premium chip which is based on the 7nm fabrication technology.

    The alleged scores also leave Samsung’s first 5nm chip, the Exynos 1080, in the dust, but doesn’t really come as a surprise, as it is a mid-range chip.

    The result also suggests that Snapdragon 875-powered phones will have a huge lead over Huawei phones fueled by the in-house Kirin 9000, such as the Mate 40 Pro. This again is hardly surprising as although the Kirin 9000 is also a 5nm SoC, it features older Arm cores.

    The Snapdragon 875, on the other hand, will likely have the new Cortex-X1 and Cortex-A78 CPUs. Samsung’s upcoming flagship silicon, the Exynos 2100, is also expected to employ Arm’s new design, and leaked benchmark results imply the two will be pretty similar in performance.

    Both chips are expected to have one Cortex-X1 core, three Cortex-A78 cores, and four Cortex-A55 cores.

    The Snapdragon 875 is also expected to have the X60 5G modem onboard.

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  • Apple’s environmentally-motivated decision is boosting sales of its new wireless earphones

    Apple’s environmentally-motivated decision is boosting sales of its new wireless earphones

    The new iPhone 12 series, as well as older models that Apple continues to sell, don’t come with a power adapter or EarPods. Apple claims it took this step to cut down on environmental waste. Although rivals like Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus have mocked the company for removing these accessories, a new precedent may have been set. Apple is already benefiting from the removal of the EarPods from the iPhone 12 retail box.

    Beats, which is owned by Apple, announced the new neckband-style $49.99 Beats Flex on October 13, the same day the iPhone 12 series was revealed. The release of the neck-mounted headphones was also perfectly timed – they went on sale on October 23, which is when the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro hit the shelves.

    According to supply chain insiders, the Beats Flex is off to a good start, and the sales momentum is expected to continue well into the first half of the next year.

    The report also claims that the AirPods, which had 35 percent of the True Wireless Earphones (TWS) market in the second quarter of 2020 per research firm Counterpoint, continue to do well.

    Usually, TWS sales peak in the third quarter, before edging down in the fourth quarter. The case is different this year, as demand remains strong, probably because many people continue working from home.

    Supply-side sources also believe that other vendors will also stop bundling headphones with their new smartphones. Needless to say, this would further boost wireless earphone shipments.

    According to a forecast by research firm Canalys, TWS sales will grow 29 percent in 2020.

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  • Vietnam PM tells Samsung to set up chip plant

    Vietnam PM tells Samsung to set up chip plant

    Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called on Samsung Electronics to build a semiconductor plant in Vietnam. He made the suggestion at a meeting on Tuesday with the South Korean company’s vice chairman, Lee Jae-yong, who is on a three-day business trip to Vietnam to explore business opportunities, the Government news site reported.

    He said a semiconductor plant would enable the company to have a closed production chain in Vietnam where it already has smartphone and consumer electronics plants.

    Samsung has two factories making smartphones in the north and a consumer electronics manufacturing plant in Ho Chi Minh City.

    Phuc promised Vietnam would create the best possible conditions for Samsung to invest, including in R&D and hi-tech projects.

    He said Vietnam has managed to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and would be the only country in Southeast Asia to achieve positive growth this year, possibly emerging as the fourth-largest economy in the region this year.

    Lee said Samsung’s $220 million research and development center in Hanoi, the first of its kind outside South Korea, would begin functioning in 2022. Construction began in March this year.

    With more than 3,000 engineers it would become the company’s key R&D center globally, he said.

    He thanked the Vietnamese government for allowing more than 3,000 Samsung personnel to enter the country to work since March through the Covid-19 pandemic.

    If Samsung’s production units in Vietnam did not function normally, it would disrupt its global production and supply chain, he said.

    He plans to visit TV screen producer Samsung Electronics HCMC CE Complex (SEHC) at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in HCMC’s District 9 and consider expanding it.

    The PM told him the government had agreed with HCMC’s proposal to allow SEHC to become an export processing company to enable it to expand and strengthen its global competitiveness.

    Vietnam is Samsung’s largest smartphone production base, with half of all its phones being made in the country. It has invested over $17 billion in Vietnam so far.

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  • Samsung heir visits Vietnam to discuss possible investments plan

    Samsung heir visits Vietnam to discuss possible investments plan

    Samsung Electronics vice-chairman Lee Jae-yong departed for Vietnam for a three-day visit to explore business opportunities. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Tuesday to discuss possible investment plans and visit Samsung’s plants in Hanoi.

    The focus will be on whether Lee announces new investment plans including the construction of a factory for electronic-car batteries in Vietnam.

    Lee is also expected to inspect the progress of a Samsung Electronics research center that is currently under construction in Hanoi.

    Construction of the $220 million research and development center, the first of its kind outside South Korea, began last March.

    It is Lee’s first visit to Vietnam since October 2018. He is exempt from mandatory quarantine after the government scrapped the quarantine requirement for foreign managers, investors, and diplomats visiting the country for less than 14 days.

    Vietnam is Samsung’s largest smartphone production base, with half of all its phones being made in the country at plants in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen provinces in the north. It has invested over $17 billion in Vietnam so far.

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  • LG Uplus opens seven-storey product showroom targeting Gen Z

    LG Uplus opens seven-storey product showroom targeting Gen Z

    South Korean telecom giant LG Uplus Corp. said Thursday it opened a seven-story product showroom in southern Seoul by partnering with local popular establishments as part of its broader efforts to capture young customers.

    The seven-story building, including its underground floor, in the posh southern district of Gangnam houses a cafe, a bookstore and a photo studio popular among South Korean millenials and the younger Generation Z, or those born after the mid-90s.

    LG Uplus said the store allows visitors to experience its 5G services and content, such as augmented and virtual reality, although it does not directly sell the company’s products.

    The telecom operator said it also partnered with Google to set up a filming studio for YouTubers. Visitors to the building can take part in live YouTube broadcasts by reserving a spot through a proprietary application.

    LG Uplus has recently focused on beefing up its services to cater to tech-savvy younger generations.

    The carrier said in July that it started live shopping broadcasts on its online store that allow users to directly interact with shopping hosts via live chats.

  • Sony launches Apple TV app on select smart TVs running Android TV

    Sony launches Apple TV app on select smart TVs running Android TV

    Apple launched a brand-new Apple TV app last year, which is now available in more than 100 countries. The app is available on the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, select Samsung smart TVs, and, starting this week, select Sony smart TVs.

    Sony announced that the Apple TV app will begin rolling out today in the United States on its X900H series via a software update. The good news is Sony plans to expand the availability of the Apple TV app to more smart TVs by the end of the year, including on select 2018 models and most 2019 and 2020 models.

    In case you didn’t know, the app features Apple TV+, Apple’s new video subscription service that offers original shows, movies, and documentaries, including The Morning Show, See, Defending Jacob, Ted Lasso, Greyhound, Boys State, and Beastie Boys Story.

    Furthermore, customers can use the Apple TV app to subscribe to Apple TV channels, such as SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, and Starz, as well as watch ad-free and on-demand, directly on the Apple TV app.

    The Apple TV+ subscription on the Apple TV app on Sony’s smart TVs is available for $4.99 per month. However, for a limited time, those who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, or Mac are getting one year of Apple TV+ for free.

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  • Apple is giving away three free months of Arcade with the purchase of a 5G iPhone 12 handset

    Apple is giving away three free months of Arcade with the purchase of a 5G iPhone 12 handset

    Last year, Apple awarded those purchasing a new iPhone or another Apple product 12-free months of Apple TV+. And while that freebie continues to this day, starting on October 22nd anyone purchasing a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod touch, or Apple TV gets three free months of Apple Arcade. With Arcade, subscribers get to play ad-free games and there are no in-app purchases. And you can start a game on your iPad and take it on the road with your iPhone seamlessly. In fact, you can switch among the aforementioned list of five Apple products and keep your place in a game that you’re currently playing.

    You can also download games to play regardless of whether you are online or offline. And if you’re a parent. you can use Screen Time to make sure that your kids aren’t spending the whole day playing games. After a one month free trial, Arcade costs $4.99 a month. So if you do buy a new Apple device, including one of the new iPhone 12 models, you are getting a bonus worth $14.97.

    Keep in mind that if you don’t cancel the free trial before it expires, you will be billed $4.99 a month. If you happen to enjoy more than one of Apple’s subscription services, you might want to sign up for Apple One. For $14.95 a month you save $6 per month on an Individual Apple One subscription which includes Apple Music, TV+, Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud storage. For $19.95 a month, the Family subscription of Apple One (which saves $8 per month) includes everything in the individual plan except with support for six subscribers and 200GB of iCloud storage. The Premier subscription is priced at $29.95 per month and saves subscribers $25 a month. It comes with Apple Music, TV+, Arcade, 2TB of iCloud storage, News+, and Fitness+ (which starts later this year). Apple One will launch later this year.

    While Apple is handing out nearly $15 in free Arcade subscriptions to those purchasing a device from the 5G iPhone 12 series, it is taking the charging adapter and the wired earpods out of the box. While the company spins this as a move to help cut carbon emissions, some see it as a move by Apple to save money and force customers to buy a new charging brick.

    Apple this fiscal year will hit the $50 billion revenue goal it has for its Services unit right on time. And it hopes to keep this part of its business surging by giving device buyers a little taste of some of the Services it is offering. The tech giant is hoping that its customers enjoy TV+ and Arcade so much over the trial period that they decide to subscribe once the trial period is over.

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  • Samsung Galaxy S20 FE owners are reporting touchscreen issues

    Samsung Galaxy S20 FE owners are reporting touchscreen issues

    Samsung recently launched the Galaxy S20 FE – a watered-down version of the Galaxy S20.  The phone sports a 6.5-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and it is powered by the Snapdragon 865. It features a triple camera system with a 12MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultrawide unit, and an 8MP telephoto module, and packs a 4,500mAh battery. The handset starts at $699, which makes it much more attractive than the Galaxy S20 which costs $999 in its entry-level configuration. Unfortunately, it seems to have a glaring flaw.

    Many Galaxy S20 FE owners have taken to Reddit and Samsung’s Community Forums to report issues related to the display. The problems differ from person to person but the common theme is that the touch responsiveness is glitchy, as a result of which sometimes the phone takes too long to recognize inputs or it responds to them erroneously. Other times, it ignores touches and swipes altogether or registers ghost touches.

    It is currently not known how widespread the problem is and whether it’s related to the hardware or software, although the latter seems more likely as a factory reset and software update resolved the issue for some people.

    Either way, it’s not a good look for Samsung. The Galaxy S20 FE was launched as a response to lower-than-expected sales of the Galaxy S20 series. It was released only recently and opened mostly to great reviews.

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  • VinSmart produces smartphones for US mobile service provider

    VinSmart produces smartphones for US mobile service provider

    VinSmart, a subsidiary of Vietnam’s largest listed company Vingroup, has received a contract manufacturing order for two million smartphones from a major U.S. carrier.

    Le Thi Thu Thuy, general director of VinSmart, without identifying the U.S. company, said Thursday at a press conference that the first consignment was sent a month ago. The phones carry the American service provider’s logo.

    “This is an important step in understanding the U.S. market… before taking Vsmart phones there in future,” Thuy said.

    The U.S. company has such stringent standards that despite having a team in Vietnam to supervise the VinSmart factory 24/7, it still thoroughly inspects the phones once they reach the U.S.

    The contract is for four models, all of them supporting 4G.

    A confidentiality agreement prohibits VinSmart from disclosing the name of its partner.

    VinSmart has a plant for manufacturing 125 million phones, IoT devices, and other smart devices per year at the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Hanoi.

    The brand is currently sold in three countries, Russia, Myanmar, and Spain, but the company expects to sell its Aris 5G in the U.S. by next year.

    VinSmart had a 16.7 percent market share in the first quarter and surpassed Apple to become the third-largest smartphone brand in Vietnam behind Samsung and China’s Oppo.

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  • Apple TV+ free trials are being extended through February 2021

    Apple TV+ free trials are being extended through February 2021

    Buyers of the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV have been entitled to a free year of Apple TV+ since September 2019. The service itself launched in early November, so those trials are now weeks away from ending.

    However, in an unexpected move, Apple has offered an extension to early adopters.

    Apple has announced that it will be extending early Apple TV+ trials through February 2021. If the trial period starting between November 1, 2019 and January 31, 2020 customers will be receiving the extension.

    Users of the service that were paid during those initial months, on the other hand, will be credited for the same amount. That credit is attached to each person’s Apple ID and can be used to pay for Apple services, in the App Stores, or in the iTunes Store.

    Those of you planning to sign up to the Apple One services bundle later this year won’t have to worry either as the credit will still be issued. Again, it can be used to pay for Apple services or other items.

    These account credits will be applied automatically, meaning customers won’t have to do anything. Apple should send out emails to eligible customers over the coming days notifying them of the change.

    Unfortunately, anybody that signed up for Apple TV+ after February 2020 won’t be entitled to an extension of any kind.

  • iPad Pro 2020 to Become More Pro Sooner Than Expected 

    Since the launch of iPad Pro in 201X, it has fast become a viable alternative to a laptop, impressing professionals across many industries as well as casual consumers. The quality of display, processing power, cameras, audio capabilities and all round performance marks a massive step forward for the tablet technology, and the innovative user interface adds to the experience.

    While Apple gave it a refresh in March of this year, they look set to roll out another new version, seeking to further push the envelope for what is possible with a mobile device. But the last time they issued two updates within the space of a year (with the third and fourth generation coming back to back in 2012), the criticism was fierce enough for them not to have attempted anything similar since.

    So, what is the reason for the update, and is it justifiable? Let’s take a closer look at the iPad Pro and the new features rumoured to be coming soon – sooner than anyone expected.

    Current specs

    The iPad Pro that hit the shelves in March 2020 was seen as a step up from previous models. It introduced a new, faster A12Z bionic chip, more responsive than before.

    It features two cameras: a 12 megapixel wide angle and a 10 megapixel ultra wide angle – these feature Smart HDR, Quad-LED True Tone Flash, wide color, and 4K video recording at up to 60fps. A new LiDAR depth scanner uses reflected light to measure the distance of objects in nano-seconds, and combined with the camera data provides an enhanced augmented reality experience.

    Apple launched the Magic Keyboard for iPad at the same time, which differs from the Mac version as it has an inbuilt trackpad. It also features backlit keys, and a charger socket that powers the iPad simultaneously. The Apple Pencil is also supported.

    When it comes to the size, the iPad pro is available in two formats, 11 inches and 12.9 inches, and like its predecessors features Face ID, 10 hour battery life and storage options which range from 128GB up to a massive 1TB.

    Who uses the iPad Pro?

    Marketed as a ‘tablet-computer’ rather than a mobile device, the iPad Pro is aimed at users who require a responsive experience as well as graphical excellence.

    Designers

    The incredibly powerful performance as well as the colour accurate display make the iPad Pro an amazing tool for designers. The larger size is probably preferable, but with True Tone support, a speedy refresh rate and seamless integration into a designer’s workflow, the device is becoming the go-to.

    The Apple Pencil, with its updated stylus is a remarkable tool for design. It feels like drawing with a real pencil, and now Apple have introduced a double-tap feature which eradicates the need to scroll through menus to change brush sizes etc.

    Being able to bring such a powerful tool – essentially your entire studio – with you wherever you go makes the iPad Pro indispensable for designers.

    Gamers

    The standard for mobile gaming has improved drastically over the last few years. Console and arcade favourites have made the migration to iPad, alongside games specifically designed for the format.

    The iPad Pro now supports the Xbox One external controller, negating a criticism that had long been levelled at tablet gaming. Aside from favourites like Call of Duty, Fortnite and Minecraft, Apple has launched their Arcade series, bringing classics to the format that will provide much entertainment on the go.

    Another area of gaming that is benefiting from the improved graphics and faster speeds are gambling games. With cutting-edge iPad slots, or evergreen table games from baccarat to poker and craps, websites such as vegasslotsonline.com will help you step into the realm of fun and learn how to get started playing iPad casino games, where iPad Pro 2020 version comes as the icing on the cake giving an ultimate experience to its players.

    Students

    The iPad Pro is proving popular with students – it basically provides everything that you’ll need for college in one compact, convenient package.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnZeDt2c8Yo

    Much lighter than a laptop (and without the need to search for a power socket everywhere you go) and with dedicated apps available to help with such cutting edge pursuits as 3D modelling, graphic design, music production and video editing. The iPad Pro outperforms most laptops in a similar price range, so it seems like the best choice for budget conscious students – though it is far from the cheapest tablet on the market. And the use of iCloud also ensures you’ll never misplace an essay again.

    So what’s new?

    The new iPad Pro still features much of the same spec, but the display is going to be Mini LED, enabling different brightness levels across the display, and with deeper dark shades and even better colour accuracy. A new A14X chip should provide an even faster, more responsive user experience. The Apple Pencil is rumoured to be in for an update as well, which will be of interest to designers and artists. And 5G implementation is very likely!

    Two iPad Pro launches in a year? It’s always exciting when Apple unveils a new product, but we’ll have to wait a while to see if this update was absolutely essential.

     

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  • Apple AirPods Pro Lite release date, price, features

    Apple AirPods Pro Lite release date, price, features

    The AirPods Pro Lite are rumored to be an upcoming model of truly wireless headphones by Apple. They are expected to be more capable than the regular AirPods, but slightly cheaper than the premium AirPods Pro.

    The original AirPods (late 2016) were among the first truly wireless earphones. They boosted the interest in this fledgling category of tech products and established themselves as undisputed leaders. In early 2019, Apple followed with an upgraded version which added a number of things such as wireless charging, “Hey Siri” and slightly better battery life. In late 2019, Apple released a higher-tier variant called AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro have been a runaway success – they came at a significantly higher price but introduced an improved design, dramatically better sound quality and active noise cancellation.

    Now, the word is Apple is working on a product that is supposed to slide between the AirPods and the AirPods Pro. The rumor mill is referring to that product as the AirPods Pro Lite, but that is by no means its official name.

    So, when will AirPods Pro Lite come out? We wish we knew! And sadly, it’s not like we’re drowning in leaks right now.

    But we can take a look at the next probable dates when Apple could announce the mysterious earbuds. Naturally, what comes to mind first is Apple’s September event – the company’s flagship event where it always reveals its big iPhone releases. This isn’t at all unlikely, as the original AirPods were unveiled at precisely such an event. So, this year, we might see the new AirPods Pro Lite launch alongside the iPhone 12 series.

    Alternatively, the AirPods Pro got their own “online” release in November last year, which was after the big iPhone event had long finished. So the possibility of Apple launching the new AirPods Pro Lite at any time later this year is also quite real. No single release window currently has any real backing, though. Hopefully, we get more AirPods Pro Lite leaks soon that would narrow the options a bit.

    Ah, this is the other money question: how much are the AirPods Pro Lite going to cost! The only lead we have in terms of pricing is that the Pro Lite are supposed to be positioned between the AirPods and AirPods Pro.

    The basic AirPods cost $159.The same AirPods but with a wireless charging case come in at $199. The premium AirPods Pro cost $249.

    Now, that obviously doesn’t leave much room for the Pro Lite to slot in, does it? The way things stand right now, we can’t really see how the rumored model could squeeze itself into the line-up. That said, the TWS (true wireless stereo) market is beginning to saturate, and, as usual, Apple is starting to feel some pressure from the more affordable segments. With that in mind, Apple might want to push the price of the regular AirPods a bit lower to fend of the players in the low-$100 space.

    A fairly conservative possibility would be to have the AirPods at $149, and then the AirPods Pro Lite at $199, and the Pro at $249. That would make for a nice, even distribution across the TWS price spectrum. But this, of course, is pure speculation. Regardless, the $200 mark is roughly the area we expect Apple to position the Pro Lite in, if the model ever comes to light.

    At this point, there is absolutely no information with regards to the eventual AirPods Pro Lite specs. There is some debate going on around the tech community what the middle-of-the-road earbuds should be like, and while some see active noise cancellation as a must-have feature, we believe it might as well not be present.

    ANC is fairly taxing and makes for a great premium differentiator. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro also brings a superb audio quality enhancement over the regular AirPods. With this in mind, it wouldn’t surprise us if the mythical AirPods Pro Lite keep the same design as the AirPods Pro, and deliver the same superb audio quality, but lose the active noise cancellation. This doesn’t seem so unthinkable if you consider the rubber-tip design of the Pro (and possibly the Pro Lite), which is among the best when it comes to the rubber material, the fit and the comfort. Thus, Apple could easily market the Pro Lite as having passive noise cancellation, and call it a day.

    Aside from all that, as we said, if we can trust that the nickname Pro Lite describes the rumored model accurately enough, we’d expect it to keep the same physical design and audio quality. Also, there will surely be Hey Siri support, as well as the same degree of water-resistance.