Apple will launch its Beats Studio Buds next month, according to a report. The rumored wireless earbuds, which its believed US soccer player Alex Morgan posted a picture of herself wearing yesterday, are thought to be a step up from the Powerbeats Pro, with a number of improvements but without ear hooks. Apple, of course, acquired the Beats brand in 2014 from its co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre for a cool $3 billion.
The Powerbeats Pro were first launched in 2019. They are true wireless earbuds with over-ear hooks to help keep them in place, unlike Apple's AirPods or AirPods Pro. They run on Apple's H1 chip that provides Bluetooth connectivity and Siri support. There's no active noise-canceling or spatial audio support with the Powerbeats Pro, though. As such, there is room for a more advanced set of earbuds from Beats and it's believed that the Beats Studio Buds will fill that gap.
It's now also been suggested that the Beats Studio Buds will arrive on Wednesday, July 21. That report comes from Front Page Tech founder John Prosser, who has a reputation for reliable tech leaks. Prosser says he has it on authority from a "trusted source" that an announcement about the Beats Studio Buds will be made on the morning of that Wednesday, most likely as a press release.
Beats Studio Pro: What To Expect
In terms of design and specs, the Beats Studio Buds are expected to be closer to Apple's AirPods Pro 2 than they are the Powerbeats Pro. LeBron James was seen sporting what are thought to be a pair of the Beats Studio Buds and, in addition to having no ear hooks, there were no stalks to speak of as there are with Apple's AirPods or AirPods Pro. It's thought the AirPods Pro 2 will have shortened stems too, albeit not completely removed.
Elsewhere, the Beats Studio Buds are expected to feature active noise cancelation to filter out background sound from the listening experience, instant pairing for easy switching between devices, and, of course, Siri support. They're also expected to be offered in a variety of different colors, with a charging case to match.
There are still a lot of unknowns about the Beats Studio Buds. It's not clear how much they'll cost, for example, or what their battery life will be like. However, if Prosser's report is accurate then it won't be long before those details are revealed, with that launch date due in a little over a month's time.
Source: Front Page Tech, Alex Morgan/Instagram