New Apple-made headphones surface in FCC filing ahead of launch

A newly discovered FCC certification suggests Apple could be preparing to launch another over-ear headphone product soon.

The filing, spotted by Aaron Perris and reported by MacRumors, references an Apple device with the model number A3577.

The FCC has just leaked an upcoming Apple product

A3577 – "Bluetooth over-ear headphones" was just spotted in the FCC database pic.twitter.com/41yRWnodOM
— Aaron (@aaronp613) May 22, 2026

Unreleased Apple headphones appear in FCC certification

The documents describe the product as “Bluetooth over-ear headphones” with “an integral battery, microphone, and antenna.” The filing also states that the documents were prepared for Apple, though most technical details remain hidden under a confidentiality request.

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At the moment, it remains unclear whether the product belongs to the AirPods Max lineup or if it is actually an upcoming Beats release.

Part of the confusion comes from Apple using similar model number formats across both AirPods and Beats products.

For example:

AirPods Max 2 used model number A3454
Original AirPods Max used A2096
Beats Studio Pro used A2924
Powerbeats Pro 2 used multiple A31-series model numbers

The filing may point to a new Beats headphone

Because Apple recently updated the AirPods Max lineup, the filing may be more likely tied to a future Beats product instead. Beats currently sells products like the Beats Studio Pro and Beats Solo 4, though neither lineup has received a major refresh recently.

FCC filings often appear shortly before product launches because companies need wireless certification approvals before devices can officially go on sale.

Apple has not publicly commented on the filing yet, and there are currently no additional details about features, design changes, or launch timing. Even so, FCC certifications usually surface close to launch, suggesting Apple could announce the headphones sooner rather than later.

Additional details will likely emerge through future certifications or supply chain leaks before Apple officially unveils the product.

Do you think this mystery headphone is a new AirPods Max model or an upcoming Beats release? Share your thoughts in the comments below.