Words by Danielle Perry
Tech giant Apple is working on a new pair of noise-canceling, over-the-ear headphones, following the shocking success of their Airpods, according to a new Bloomberg report. With work being on and off the headset in the past year, The company planned to release the new headset at the end of 2018. Thanks to a potential redesign, however, the release date can be pushed back even further.
The Cupertino-based giant has encountered similar problems with the Homepod during its development stage, including endless redesigns according to sources. They issued a warning stating it is possible that the headphones will be redesigned again before the launch date or just scrap everything all together.
The new headphones are to target the high-end market, with Apple’s in-ear Airpods and the Homepod speaker, released earlier this year. This new product will be the latest in a line of music-based products and services from Apple. The company’s biggest purchase was a $3 billion investment into Dr. Dre’s Beats headphone line in 2014, a deal that revolutionized the headphone industry.
Apple is likely going to find a new supplier in developing the headphones, in contrast to their manufacturing partner, Inventec Corp., a current Apple manufacturing partner that develops their Homepod speakers and Airpod headphones. Primax Electronics Ltd. and Shin Zu Shing Co., current Apple suppliers, are to partner with Apple on the new headphones, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The Apple headphones will likely use audio technology similar to the Airpods, making them more expensive to produce and increase the price.
