Fresh clues about Apple’s next entry-level earbuds have shown up in software code, suggesting the company is already working on a successor to the AirPods 4.
According to MacRumors, the macOS 26.7 Tahoe update contains two internal device codes: B868M and B868E. These line up closely with the ones used for the AirPods 4 (B768M and B768E), which came out in September 2024. The similar naming strongly points to the AirPods 5 and a version of the AirPods 5 that includes active noise cancellation.
Reports so far say the AirPods 5 should get Apple’s new H3 chip. That upgrade is expected to bring better sound quality and lower latency compared with the H2 chip in the AirPods 4 and the recent Pro models.
For context, AirPods 4 offers up to 5 hours of listening on a single charge, 4 hours with ANC enabled, and around 30 hours total with the case. The higher-end AirPods Pro 3, which launched last year, also sticks with the H2 chip. It offers a continuous playback of 8 hours with ANC on (thanks to larger batteries in the earbuds) and about 24 hours total with the case, while adding a sealed in-ear design, stronger noise cancellation, and extras like heart-rate sensing.
The same macOS update also mentions an unreleased Beats Solo Buds model, showing that Apple is still developing products under the Beats brand as well. These kinds of software references are pretty typical for Apple and often appear months before anything is officially announced.
For now, the B868 codes are the clearest sign yet that work on the regular AirPods lineup is moving forward. As Apple gears up for its usual fall product cycle, more details on the AirPods 5, whether they show up later this year or in 2027, will probably surface through additional software finds, supply-chain leaks, or an official reveal.
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