In addition to the iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Pro, Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2, Apple yesterday launched some renewed AirPods Pro 2. The main novelty about this product is that its charging case has abandoned the Lightning port in favor of USB-C. However, this also brings bad news.
Apple does not plan to sell the new AirPods Pro 2 case as a separate accessory. This means that those who own the previous version of this generation of headphones won’t be able to simply swap out the Lightning case for the one with USB-C.
In this way, if they no longer want to continue being tied to Apple’s proprietary cable and connector, They will have to buy new AirPods Pro 2. A decision that is already causing controversy, considering that they have only been on the market for a year and that they are not cheap. Today they cost $249 in the United States and 279 euros in Europe.
Apple did not explain why it will not offer the USB-C case as an accessory that users of the “original” AirPods Pro 2 can purchase separately. In principle, everything would aim to be part of your commercial and marketing strategy, and no one should be surprised if this is indeed the case.
It is logical to assume that those from Cupertino argue that this variant of the second generation brings other new features. For example, the improved IP54 rating which makes both the case and the headphones now more resistant to dust. Still, the determination may be a nuisance to the public. Especially considering Apple’s plan to offer greater integration of the AirPods Pro 2 with the Vision Pro.
There will be no USB-C cases for the “original” AirPods Pro 2
Although no further reference was made to the matter during the presentation of the iPhone 15, Apple reported in the press release after the event that AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C case will support lossless audio when connected to the Vision Pro.
“The H2 chip in the new AirPods Pro and Apple Vision Pro, combined with an innovative wireless audio protocol, unlocks powerful 20-bit, 48kHz lossless audio with a massive reduction in audio latency,” the Californians indicated. .
This may be another of the arguments that Apple uses to justify the impossibility of selling the renewed AirPods Pro 2 case separately. Although, in principle, the original model of the second generation of these headphones should not be technologically prevented from achieving the sameif it were possible to exchange the Lightning listener for one with USB-C.
In fact, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, was one of those who expressed his disappointment about the matter. The renowned journalist public on to the update worked (with the Vision Pro), from a technological point of view.
With the introduction of the new AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, Apple has discontinued the model of the same generation with Lightning. The renewed variant can now be reserved in the apple’s online store and will be available from next September 22. For their part, the second and third generation AirPods have not been updated and continue to be sold in the existing versions.