New AirPods and Apple Music HiFi may arrive next week (but don’t bet on it)

Now the AirTags are finally out, we need new unreleased Apple products to obsess over. So, please make some noise for the new AirPods and HiFi Apple Music!

Here’s the meat: a YouTuber with no real leaking history has said Apple will release the aforementioned products on May 18 via a press release. Should you believe this? Umm, kinda?

We know for certain that Apple’s going to release new AirPods at some point. I mean, the true wireless earbuds are so successful they outstrip the earnings of entire companies:

Saw this today, and was blown-away..
Apple’s revenue just from selling AirPods is more than the total revenue of: Spotify, Twitter, & Snapchat!

I don’t love Apple, but it’s truly incredible their accessories can produce more revenue than Twitter and Snapchat combined! ? pic.twitter.com/ikjdve2B1Y

— Jeffrey (@AlliDoisQuinnn) May 3, 2021

There’s literally no way on earth that Apple wouldn’t release a new model. Plus, there have already been a shit ton of leaks. New AirPods are definitely happening. We just don’t know when.

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The thing is, an actual reliable Apple leaker and analyst (shout out Ming-Chi Kuo!) has claimed new AirPods won’t enter mass production until Q3. This makes sense, as the headphones would be the Christmas gift of 2021.

Still, it’s very possible Apple will announce them soon, but next week? I have my doubts. It just doesn’t seem neat.

Let’s move onto Apple Music HiFi. Effectively, this is a rumour that Apple’s going to release a hi-res version of its streaming service, something Spotify did recently.

Now, the source of is from a dubious site called Hits Daily Double. The article also claims that Apple Music HiFi will cost the same as the regular subscription ($9.99). This doesn’t fill me with confidence of its veracity.

Apple’s own headphones are literally incapable of streaming hi-res audio (thanks, AAC Bluetooth codec), so to make this leap now seems a bit bizarre.

Of course, you can listen to Apple Music with different headphones — and I can see how offering this quality music at a lower price than its competitors could be successful — it just feels like a stretch.

So… can we expect to see new AirPods and Apple Music HiFi released on May 18? A few weeks before WWDC 2021? I wouldn’t hold my breath. But it is fun to talk about. FEED ME MORE RUMORS.

Story by Callum Booth

Callum Booth is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of TNW, where his reporting (show all) Callum Booth is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of TNW, where his reporting was cited widely, including in VICE, the FT, and the BBC. Callum’s writing has appeared in The Verge, The Daily Telegraph, Time Out, and many more. He covers the full spectrum of technology, with a particular focus on how it shapes our daily lives. And a lot of regulation stuff too. Outside of work, Callum’s an avid bookworm, a Fisherman’s Friends addict, and resolutely unshaven. Follow him on Twitter @CallumBooth or visit www.callumbooth.net.