Apple could give the next AirPods Pro a completely new design. That’s why I hope not

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The stems of the AirPods Pro give the earbuds a unique look and include useful touch controls.

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There are many things Apple could change about the AirPods Pro to improve them. Extend battery life. Make the pairing process easier on Mac devices.

But please don’t get rid of the stems.

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Apple could give its next-generation AirPods Pro a makeover that eliminates protruding tips, which would make them more like Samsung’s Galaxy Buds or Beats Studio Buds, Bloomberg reported. These new wireless earbuds are not expected to be unveiled at Apple’s next event on September 14, but according to Bloomberg, they could be launched in 2022.

Miniature technology is usually a good thing and something Apple has done historically. In 2005, the super-thin iPod Nano replaced the larger iPod Mini by comparison. And the bezel-less iPhone X wowed Apple fans when it debuted in 2017. However, contrary to this scaling approach, I actually love the AirPods stems. Yes, they may have seemed silly in 2016 before walking around with earphones was part of the cultural norm. (Not to mention that the original AirPods have significantly longer stems than the AirPods Pro.)

But in more recent years, they have become an important piece and a status symbol, not something to hide. The stems also offer some useful benefits that make the AirPods Pro more comfortable and easier to use than the rounder shaped earbuds.

So please, Apple, don’t change the look of the AirPods too much.

Read More: 5 Awesome Alternatives to AirPods Pro That Cost Far Less

The stems give the AirPods a distinctive look that makes them stand out

AirPods have an unmistakable appearance, and this is mainly due to their stems. If you see someone wearing a pair of glossy white earbuds with long tips, you know they’re wearing AirPods.

Although the stems of the AirPods Pro are noticeably shorter than those of the standard AirPods, they are still long enough to visibly distinguish Apple’s wireless earbuds from the rest. I can’t think of another pair of instantly identifiable wireless earbuds in the same way as the AirPods.

It wouldn’t matter if the AirPods didn’t become such a status symbol. The pronounced stems on the original AirPods at first invited teasing, and even the AirPods Pro got their fair share of ridicule when they were announced in 2019.

But the public perception of AirPods changed during that time period. AirPods quickly became a sign of wealth and well-being, just like the iPhone. A viral tweet from late 2018 joked that AirPods owners are the richest people in the world, even more so than Amazon CEO and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates.

The 10 richest people

1. Airpod2 users. Amazon CEO 3. Bill Gates4. People who refuse to shop on Walmart5. Mark Zuckerburg 6. Jay-Z7. People who say “let’s take this bread” 8. Floyd Mayweather9. Oprah 10. People with “” or “” in their bio

(@khaleed_id) December 18, 2018

sometimes i wear my airpods without playing music just so people know i am superior to them

antonio garza (@ antoniiogarza21) December 23, 2018

Airpods are used to show people that you are rich. Two airpods – rich. An airpod – very rich.

svs (@_svs_) August 10, 2019

During the 2020 lockdown era, AirPods were all over the television as manufacturers had to film remotely, as iMore pointed out. Part of the reason AirPods gained this level of attention in the first place is because they were so recognizable. I wonder if removing the stems also means removing that unique distinction.

Yes, there are other wireless earbuds with long tips, like the Anker Liberty Air 2 Pro. The difference, however, is that Apple has pioneered the long-stemmed look, which means the design is still generally associated with AirPods. Many of Apple’s competitors have already released wireless stemless earphones.

The next generation AirPods 3, which may launch this year, should stick to their suggestions. But it’s unclear whether this will hold true for future models. Reports from Bloomberg and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicate that the next version of the standard AirPods will look more like the current AirPods Pro. If accurate, it’s plausible to think that Apple’s design decisions for the AirPods Pro 2 could extend to the future models of the standard AirPods.

The stems of the AirPods Pro are really useful

AirPods Pro stems allow you to control media playback.

Angela Lang / CNET

Again, I really like the stems of the AirPods, especially since I find them practical. For one thing, they make it easier to insert and remove the earbuds as they provide more space to actually grab the earbud. I don’t feel like I screw in a peg or press a button in my ear every time I insert the AirPods or AirPods Pro.

More importantly, the stems of the AirPods Pro are a much better position for touch controls than the headset itself. On AirPods Pro, you can press the sensor located on the stem of the earphone to play or pause music. A double press on the stem allows you to jump forward, while a triple press skips backwards.

This is not the case with other wireless earbuds from Samsung, Sony, Bose and Amazon, among others. These headphones have touch sensors or buttons located on the actual earbuds to control music playback or activate active noise cancellation.

This means you have to tap or press the earbud to activate these controls via touch gestures, which can be uncomfortable and create more pressure on the ear. I’m sure there are many people who prefer this and would rather have earbuds that look more discreet (or sound better) than AirPods or AirPods Pro. But I’m not one of those people.

Also, I often accidentally operate the touch controls found on these other earbuds as I usually have to push them back into my ear during a workout.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 have a rounder design with no protruding earbuds.

Apple also already has a best-in-class design with the current AirPods Pro. I have tested earbuds from Samsung, Amazon, Sony, Beats and Anker over the years and still find Apple’s earbuds offer the most comfortable fit and safety.

My colleague David Carnoy even pointed to the winning design of the AirPods Pro as one of the main reasons why the AirPods Pro rank among our favorite wireless earbuds, even though their sound isn’t as good as some rivals.

It’s unreasonable to expect AirPods to look the same forever. This is not how technology progresses. If Apple removes the stems from the upcoming AirPods Pro, many will see it as an engineering feat as it would mean squeezing more tech into a tighter package. Just as the removal of the headphone jack starting with the iPhone 7 seemed to lead to better cameras and other improvements in the years to follow.

Of course, we won’t know for sure until Apple announces the second-generation AirPods Pro, if and when that happens. But if they get a new look, I just hope Apple finds a way to keep making them feel distinctly like AirPods.

Apple has a history of devising several input methods for new types of wireless devices, such as the Apple Watch digital crown. Maybe whatever Apple invents next will be even better, and I won’t miss the stems at all.

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