Apple reportedly has big plans for its audio device lineup in 2019.
According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Debby Wu, the iPhone maker is working on an upgraded model of its AirPods earbuds, a new model of its HomePod speaker, and a new pair of over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones, all of which could arrive next year.
Reports of new Apple audio gear have circulated for a few months now. A February report from Bloomberg said that Apple planned to release two new AirPods models, one with a stronger wireless chip and another with a water-resistant design.
The latest report corroborates that rumor but says the latter model will also feature noise cancellation. The report says the upgraded AirPods won’t be totally swim-proof and that Apple is working to improve their wireless range.
As a possible point of reference, Apple’s latest iPhones currently feature an IP67 rating for water resistance. The company also advertises Class 1 Bluetooth radios for newer Beats headphones such as the BeatsX, allowing connections from farther distances.
In any event, Bloomberg says these upgraded AirPods are expected to cost more than the existing pair, which go for $159, but will likely live alongside them as an upgraded model rather than a full-on replacement. The existing AirPods are still scheduled to be refreshed with better wireless tech and “hands-free Siri activation” later this year, according to the report. Apple is said to be looking into including a heart-rate monitor and other biometric sensors with future AirPods as well.
Meanwhile, both Bloomberg and longtime Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously tipped Apple to release over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones but noted that the company had dealt with production issues putting them together. The new report says that Apple now plans to release the headphones in 2019; they are still expected to use Apple’s branding and exist as a “higher-end alternative” to devices from the company’s Beats subsidiary. Beats currently sells a pair of noise-cancelling headphones at a list price of $350, so it seems safe to expect any Apple-branded pair to be fairly expensive.
The report mentions that Apple is working on a follow-up to its HomePod speaker as well, but it does not mention any details about the device beyond the fact that it may arrive “as early as next year.” It does say, however, that Apple is expanding its partnership with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn—which manufactures the bulk of Apple’s iPhones—to boost production of its future audio devices.
While the higher price of the iPhone X has helped Apple reinvigorate iPhone sales, the company’s “Other Products” segment has been its fastest-growing hardware category in recent months. Apple said Other Products revenue was up 38% year-over-year in its second quarter, reaching nearly $4 billion in total revenue for the period. While those products include new models of the Apple TV and Apple Watch, and while Apple has not broken out specific sales figures for the AirPods and HomePod, the company appears eager to make a bigger impression on the audio world in the coming months.
Apple did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
