Apple is reportedly doubling production of the AirPods Pro from 1 million to 2 million units per month. That suggests that even Apple is surprised by how big a hit they have proven.
The AirPods Pro production report cites sources familiar with Luxshare-ICT, one of the Apple supply chain companies building the AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro are produced at a pair of Luxshare factories in mainland China.
Jeff Pu, a veteran tech analyst at GF securities, estimates that Apple will ship 80 million wireless earphones in 2020. Last week, a separate report claimed that Apple could sell 60 million AirPods this year.
Apple has seemingly been impressed by Luxshare’s ability to deliver the quantities (and quality) Apple demands. Nikkei Asian Review notes that:
“Luxshare has a “wolflike” culture that values aggressiveness, an executive at an Apple supplier added. ‘Their team is young and moves so fast … They told me that you guys are great but you are not combative as a wolf to adapt to rapidly changing business dynamics.'”
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. But you may be leaving it a bit late if you’re planning to buy them as a holiday gift for family — or, heck, yourself. Shipping times on Apple.com show that people ordering now likely won’t receive their earbuds until after Christmas.
You can check out our review of the AirPods Pro here. Spoiler: We really, really liked them!
