Update: Well that didn’t last long! Already it seems that AirPod demand has exceeded supply, as shipping times have been pushed back past Christmas into 2017.
Apple’s long-awaited, sometimes derided wireless AirPods are finally available to buy through Apple’s online store — priced at $159.
While it’s not known when they’ll be available for sale in brick-and-mortar Apple retail stores, you can breathe a sigh of relief, since orders placed through Apple’s online store are currently showing a pre-Christmas delivery date of December 21.
Apple’s AirPods were originally shown off at the company’s September iPhone event, with a reported shipping date of sometime in October.
Unfortunately, Apple seemingly ran into problems over the weeks that followed, as the AirPods were then delayed — with the Wall Street Journal pinning the blame on audio glitches with the device.
In a recent email reply to a customer asking for a release date, Tim Cook said that Apple was finalizing the launch and anticipated that Apple would “begin to ship over the next few weeks.” Looks like he was proven correct!
Early reviews of the wireless buds were mostly positive, though some testers remarked that there’s still lots of room for improvement.
Will you be buying Apple’s wireless AirPods? Leave your comments below.
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
8 responses to “AirPods finally available with shipping in time for Christmas”
Why bother with these. Get the new Bragi’s.
Lol. They’re a joke of a company. Had the originals. Utter tosh.
lol obviously you’re a fan of garbage connections.
Now shipping in 4 weeks!
Really? :-O
Here it is still 22 dec..
Offcourse i buy them.
Wish the BeatsX were rushed to market instead. Never been impress with the Earpods. They don’t sit in my ear correctly, and even if they did they don’t block enough ambient.
Using LG Tone for now as a daily device, and Bose QC35 for home/travel listening.
I was attempting to order a set this morning as soon as I saw the announcement but was having a glitch using part of the purchase with some Apple Store credit. I finally got it figured out but in that 15-20 minute time span the shipping date went from Dec. 21 to Dec. 29.
As of now (Tuesday afternoon) Apple shows a 4-week shipping date. Yikes! I don’t feel so bad now. :D