Apple to release an upgraded version of its AirPods in Q1 2019: Ming-Chi Kuo

Many were expecting that at the **Apple** event this year in September, the company would launch its next-generation **AirPods** , but that did not happen. However, it now looks like they may soon hit the markets, most likely in the first quarter if 2019. According to a report by 9to5Mac, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the company will release an ‘upgraded model with wireless charging support’ in Q1 next year. He adds that AirPods will see a dramatic growth, with 16 million units in 2017 to over 100 million by 2021. In Kuo’s opinion, they are Apple’s most popular accessory ever. [caption id=“attachment_4593661” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Apple AirPods. Image: Apple[/caption] He further goes on to say that, besides the second-generation AirPods in 2019, there will also be AirPods with an ‘all-new design’ which we should expect to see in 2020. We might see a ‘rigid-flex board’ internal component upgrade, which will cost more in terms of manufacturing; the hinge of the charging case will also be redesigned. An upgrade in **Bluetooth** specs is also expected. Besides these, no other details regarding what upgrades Apple’s new AirPods might offer are currently available. Recently, we saw a **leak** on Twitter showing off lots of AirPod cases packed together and stacked one on top of the other. According to the leak, the cases belonged to the next generation AirPods by Apple.