Apple is planning to release an updated version of its AirPods wireless earbuds in the second half of 2018, respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims in a new note to clients.
While he doesn’t share too many details about what the new AirPods will do differently, he does suggest that they will adopt a smaller quartz component — quite possibly making them even smaller than the first-gen model currently available.
Supply chain challenges
In his note to investors, Kuo also sheds a bit of light on the current supply issues Apple is having with the AirPods. At present, AirPods are next to impossible to find, and shipping estimates are currently showing up as taking place in January, despite other devices like the iPhone X now showing next day delivering. According to Kuo, the problem involves the device’s rigid-flex printed circuit board, which is causing a supply chain bottleneck.
Perhaps due to this lack of availability, Kuo thinks Apple will experience increased calendar Q1 sales for the AirPods. He also suggests that Apple will double its AirPod shipments next year to 26 million+ units.
AirPods are among the most beloved new products that Apple has launched in years, with around 98 percent of customers describing themselves as either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with Apple’s wireless buds.
Do you own a pair of AirPods? What do you think of them, and what would you like to see Apple improve in a second-generation model? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Via: 9to5Mac
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.
6 responses to “Listen up: Updated AirPods are supposedly coming in 2018”
I like my Air Pods because of the lack of a cord and the ease of charging. Not having a volume button used to annoy me but I just use the controls on my phone. My biggest gripe is that the should be less smooth so the won’t fall out of my ears. They should also be less hard in case you fall asleep with them.
Love my AirPods for the convenient case and lack of tangled wires. They stay in we’ll, despite at times feeling like they could fall out. Sound quality is good enough for what I use them for. They also seem to hold a charge fairly well for their size and the case makes recharging a thoughtless process. Only suggestions would be a 4-dot LED charge indicator on or inside the case that perhaps lights up when the case is opened to indicate charge for quick reference and a darker color way like gunmetal, charcoal or black. I don’t always look at my iPhone’s notification screen to check charge and this might help those using them with non-Apple handsets. With my Apple Watch, the AirPods are one of my favorite gadgets.
Instead of spending time making them smaller, they should come up with a way to get them to actually make a seal in your ears. They sound like trash currently because they just sit in your ears.
They sound very good if you bought them for their intended purpose. These are not high end headphones for audiophiles.
I have had airpods for around 8 months now and they are hands down my go to headphones these days. I use them with a pixel 2 xl now and they still work great. Missing a few features because the phone is Android but it’s not a big problem for me.
I have tried some of the cheaper alternatives and none of them come close to these in terms of ease of use and functionality. They are not going to win any prizes for sexiest headphones but they get the job done.
Price for what you are getting is reasonable compared to other truly wireless buds out in the world today.
Very much like the idea of them but haven’t bought them as too afraid they’ll fall out, I’ll lose them, and I’ll be out a LOT of money!