Apple’s AirPods continue to be a massive smash hit for the company. According to a new report, AirPods shipments are expected to double in 2019, compared to 2018. In all, Apple could sell a massive 60 million units this year.
Bloomberg says that the 60 million AirPods increase in demand is the result of “much higher than expected demand” for the AirPods Pro. The $249 AirPods Pro offer a slew of upgrades over the original AirPods. These include transparency mode, noise-cancellation, and better sounding audio. And all for just $50 extra, too.
However, higher than expected levels of demand can cause problems, too. According to the new report, Apple’s assembly partners are straining to deliver the needed quantities of AirPods. Other suppliers are competing to get into the manufacturing business. But some are still improving their processes in order to be able to do so.
If Apple does sell 60 million AirPods this year, it will be an absolutely seismic win for the company. At the start of this year, Above Avalon analyst Neil Cybart predicted that Apple would sell 40 million pairs of AirPods in 2019. At the time, that seemed a massive figure that would cement the AirPods as one of Apple’s biggest products. Now that figure seems comparatively paltry.
AirPods will definitely be one of this holiday’s most demanded items. If you’re thinking of buying some for a loved one (or, heck, yourself), you’d better move quickly, though. A recent study found that AirPods are the gift at the top of more US teens’ wish lists than anything else. Interest expressed through Google searches has increased 500% versus this time last year.
Source: Bloomberg
