This is according to a report from Bloomberg who claims that come 2021, Apple could actually unveil a revamped version of the AirPods and AirPods Pro. Both these new models will reportedly come with a brand new design as well as upgraded wireless chips. While it was not mentioned, it is possible that we could see Apple introduce the U1 chip for better location tracking in the event you misplace one of the earbuds.
As for the new design, the report claims that Apple will actually ditch the stem for the AirPods Pro. Many mocked the initial design of the AirPods as they essentially looked like the EarPods with the wires cut off. The new design is said to be more of a buds-like design similar to the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus or even Google’s Pixel Buds, but this isn’t necessarily set in stone as apparently squeezing in the components into such a small design has proved challenging.
This suggests that maybe Apple hasn’t quite settled on its final form yet. Either way, take it with a grain of salt, but if you’re looking for an upgrade, you might be better off holding out until next year.