Beats earbud fans could soon get their hands on a new addition to the lineup if a report is seen 9 to 5 mac (Opens in a new tab) It turned out to be true.
The news appears to reveal a new version of the popular Beats Studio Buds which we’ve described as a “surprisingly affordable” option, and we’ve consistently rated them as one of the best cheap noise canceling headphones out there. But a new version called Beats Studio Buds Plus could bring more features at a similar price.
There’s no comment from Apple-owned Beats, but a 9To5Mac source reports that the new Studio Buds Plus model could come with additional features like audio sharing, automatic device switching, and “Hey Siri” support, just like the AirPods and other Beats wireless headphones.
The original Studio Buds were unable to support these features due to the lack of Apple’s H1/H2 chip. And it appears that after an update to the original 9To5Mac story, a source has confirmed that while the new Beats Studio Buds Plus won’t have an Apple chip, they will have a new custom chip that supports these extra features.
While the new design looks almost identical to the original Beats Studio Buds (and we expect them to be available in white, red, and black color options), the Plus version could also be available in a new black option that will have Beats’ trademark gold accents (pictured above). It is also believed that the release will feature press-and-hold media controls for play/pause, as well as the ability to switch between noise canceling and transparency modes.
There’s no clear information on whether the original Studio Buds, at $149, will be replaced by the Plus model, or if they will continue alongside the premium-priced Plus. But we will keep you updated with any additional information we discover.
Could Apple be working on AirPods Pro Lite?
According to 9To5Mac, the report also mentions an unreleased version of the Apple AirPods.
While it’s unclear if this model is a revision of the regular AirPods or the rumored AirPods Pro Lite, it could be more fuel to suggest a new compromise between the AirPods Pro and the standard AirPods 3 is on the way.
Again, we’ll keep you posted on developments.
