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Apple could be launching new headphones. But if you were waiting until the newest AirPods or Beats release to make your next purchase, unfortunately we don’t have many clues about what line-up they’ll be part of just yet.
A recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing unearthed by X user @Aaronp613 shows Apple has registered new “Bluetooth over-ear headphones.”
This means that the new headphones, if they do see the light of day, won't be part of Apple’s in-ear AirPods range. But as MacRumors, which spotted the news, notes, there is nothing about the diagram or product number (A3577) that clearly reveals which product line the headphones will belong to.
Apple offers two types of over-ear Bluetooth headphones at present: its Beats line, which it acquired in 2014, and the AirPods Max, a larger, bulkier version of its AirPods line, which debuted in 2020.
MacRumors notes that it’s been a while since Apple’s Beats line got an update, meaning the headphones could potentially be part of the Beats brand. The latest iteration of the Beats line, Beats Solo 4, was released on May 2, 2024, arguably making it more due for an update. Meanwhile, Apple’s Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones were released in July 2023.
Apple’s AirPods line was updated far more recently, with updated AirPods Max over-ear headphones shipping just last month in April 2026. But this is still entirely speculation. There is also the possibility the headphones could be part of an entirely new headphone brand, though there is nothing to suggest this in terms of recent Apple rumors.
There may be forward-looking new features set for future AirPods, if rumors are correct. Earlier this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman revealed that Apple has reportedly entered the final stage of testing new camera-equipped AirPods.
The long-rumored AirPods could be one of Apple's first AI wearables, although they reportedly aren’t built to take pictures or record videos directly but instead “act as eyes” for Siri, providing the data needed to answer queries. For example, they could provide real-time cooking advice based on the ingredients in front of you.