AirPods Studio headphones may not arrive until possible ‘November event’

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AirPods Studio will apparently look much like this.
Apple’s is prepping a pair of over-the-ear headphones, possibly as part of phasing out its Beats brand.
Render: Jon Prosser/cconceptcreator

Mass production on Apple’s over-the-ear AirPods Studio headphones won’t be completed until October 20, claims Apple tipster Jon Prosser. That would mean that, if they’re unveiled at Apple’s October 13 “Hi, Speed” event, they may not be available until the end of the month or the beginning of November.

According to Prosser, this timeline means it’s questionable whether Apple will announce the new headphones next month. He suggests that Apple might instead announce them via press release or at an as-yet-unannounced “November event.”

The AirPods Studio could offer Apple’s ultra popular AirPods technology in a form factor more reminiscent of Beats’ line of headphones. This would fit with rumors that Apple could kill off the Beats brand it bought for $3 billion in 2014. Previous examples of this have included changing the name of the Beats 1 radio station to Apple Music 1.

AirPods Studio coming in time for the holidays

If Prosser’s source is accurate, it wouldn’t necessarily put the kibosh on AirPods Studio headphones come October 13. The first-gen AirPods were announced with the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 on September 7, 2016. They didn’t open-up for preorders until December 13. However, the second-gen AirPods and AirPods Pro were released very quickly after being announced.

If previous AirPods are anything to go by, the AirPods Studio headphones will be a big holiday seller. That means Apple will want them in sufficient numbers a good few weeks before the festive season.

As to Prosser’s suggestions of a November Apple event? Such a thing would certainly be out of keeping with Apple’s history. But last month’s iPad and Apple Watch event showed that Apple can create a compelling event with just two or three products. The website AppleTrack.org considers a November event to be highly likely.

What are your hopes for AirPods Studio? Does this excite you as a product category? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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