2025 is well underway now, and we've had some big launches already. We've seen new AirPods come along, as well as Sony's flagship WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones. But there are more headphones and earbuds that are just over the horizon, rumored to be filled with revolutionary new features and specs.
Some are going to arrive sooner rather than later, but they're all still in some way a mystery. We've got potential new AirPods and Sony's next pair of wireless ANC earbuds waiting for us in the future. But what is each of them going to look like, and how are they going to perform?
Nothing is certain, including release date — but that doesn't stop us from getting all excited about them. Here are some of the most exciting potential headphone launches that I'm looking forward to.
AirPods Pro 3
The AirPods Pro 3 might be coming sooner than you expect. There's Apple's September event coming up soon, and there are signs pointing towards their imminent announcement. Given that the AirPods Pro 2 are now 3 years old, a refreshed model seems incredibly likely.
While no one has complete details, rumors tell us that there's plenty to look forward to: Improved ANC is almost certainly on the cards, but there are rumblings of the heart rate monitor seen the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. They're likely to get some form of a new design as well, with potentially smaller stems.
There are some that would have you believe there'll be a touchscreen on the case, but there isn't any clear indication to show that's the case.
And while we're pretty sure that we're going to see something at the September event, we're still not completely certain. Neither do we know the price — although we're hoping they stick at the same $249 as the previous model.
We'll have to wait until September to see more.
AirPods Max 2
The AirPods Max were first released in 2020, and the only refresh they've seen was a basic upgrade that added a new USB-C port this year.
Given how slow Apple has been to make even minor changes to the Max, it doesn't seem incredibly likely that the AirPods Max 2 are right around the corner. Still, there are some big rumors about what we might see when Apple decides that the time is right for the world to see some new AirPods Max.
The most exciting rumor is around a new connection method (beyond Bluetooth) for those Hi-Res tunes in Apple Music.
On the list of potential upgrades are a new case to replace the useless model that came with the first generation, allowing for greater protection of the headphones, and new controls with touch panels similar to Sony's touch controls.
The most exciting rumor is around a new connection method (beyond Bluetooth) for those Hi-Res tunes in Apple Music.
Unfortunately, there's little more to glean, and we're not totally sure about what date we can even expect an announcement. Still, I'm excited to see what Apple has in store for us with the next pair of AirPods Max.
Sony WF-1000XM6
Sony's brand-new WH-1000XM6 over-ears haven't even been out a full year yet, but I'm already looking forward to its next in-ear flagships, the Sony WF-1000XM6.
Now, admittedly, the WF-1000XM5s are still an excellent pair of earbuds, but they're starting to look a little old now after Bose released the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds.
There's very little out there about the XM6 earbuds, although there are a couple of things we're hoping for: Better sound would be nice and increased battery life. ANC improvements to bring them up to par with the Bose competition would be good as well — but again, there's little news around what we're going to get.
We're not even sure when we're going to get them, but it tends to be about a year after the release of the over-ear flagships. That means we're 8 months or so away from a potential look at the new earbuds — and I can't wait.
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