Apple planning AirPods Pro Lite? Um, wouldn’t they just be AirPods?

Apple has generally used the term ‘Pro’ to describe the best tech it has to offer, whether it’s the MacBook, iPhone, iPad or, more recently, the AirPods true wireless buds.

However, according to somewhat sketchy reports coming out of the Far East, Apple might be preparing to throw an oxymoron our way in the form of the AirPods Pro Lite.

Yeah, you’re not the only one to think it. Wouldn’t AirPods Pro Lite just be your standard AirPods? However, what the report likely means is a more affordable version of the new design debuted by Apple within the AirPods Pro.

While we can see those shorter stems coming to a new model – along with the more secure fit and ambient noise detection tech – we find it unlikely Apple would include the active noise cancelling technology that’s a signature of the AirPods Pro value proposition.

Related: AirPods Pro review

The report from DigiTimes (via MacRumors) cites the familiar sources in the Taiwanese supply chain and suggests Apple could launch the more affordable version of its true wireless buds in the coming months.

Mentioning how Apple plans to spread its production of new gadgets like the Apple Watch, iPad, Apple Watch and others to combat the disruption caused by the coronavirus, the report says:

“Apple, maintaining partnerships with supply chains in both Taiwan and China, may have its Taiwanese partners handle more production of new-generation ‌iPad‌, ‌Apple Watch‌, AirPod Pro Lite and ‌iMac‌ devices to be released later, as the epidemic has raised risks of raw materials supply shortages and shipments disruptions arising from uncertain resumption of normal operations at components suppliers and assembly plants in China, the sources said.”

DigiTimes hasn’t been the most reliable of sources down the years, but that’s not to say the launch of an AirPods Pro Lite set isn’t on the cards. We’d be highly surprised if they were called that, though.