Following a recent report that said that said that Apple's next AirPods could feature a new design, photos have leaked out that purportedly show off the third generation AirPods.
This updated AirPods design is similar to the AirPods Pro, as you can see in the images above and below from Chinese site 52audio (via MacRumors). Above is the shell for the earphone itself which is bigger and more oval-shaped than the current AirPods, plus the piece of the charging case that'll hold the AirPod in place.
Below is a render that reportedly shows what the full design of these third gen AirPods will have. In addition to the bigger, more oval-shaped earphone, the stem of the new AirPod is shorter than the first and second generation models, similar to the AirPods Pro.
This leaked design lines up with what we've previously heard about the third generation AirPods. It's said that they'll have a design similar to the AirPods Pro, including shorter stems and replaceable ear tips, the latter of which is another feature that the current AirPods don't have.
One feature of the AirPods Pro that's not expected to make it to these third gen AirPods is active noise cancellation.
Rumors have said that Apple could launch these updated AirPods in the first half of 2021.
While this new design is still very much a rumor, it does seem plausible. Apple has stuck with the same design for the first two versions of AirPods, so it could feel like it's time to update the look of its truly wireless earbuds. And it's already got a different design for the AirPods Pro, so it could bring that Pro design to the regular AirPods.
It's also rumored that Apple could launch a new version of the AirPods Pro with an updated design next year that would ditch the stems entirely and have a compact, rounder shape.