AppleInsider - Frontpage News - Sunday, February 25, 2018 at 1:17 AM
Apple to launch branded over-ear headphones as soon as this year
Capitalizing on early success with AirPods, Apple is readying a branded
over-the-ear headphone product that could launch as soon as this year,
according to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a note to investors seen by AppleInsider, Kuo predicts Apple to debut a
branded high-end, over-ear headphone with an "all new" design to add to its
growing audio accessory lineup. A specific launch timeline was not provided,
but Kuo believes the device is unlikely to debut prior to the fourth quarter of
2018.
Though not specified in the note, the headphones will likely feature wireless
connectivity. Kuo says Apple is aiming to deliver a product that boasts the
convenience of AirPods but with better acoustic qualities.
Similar to Apple's Beats brand, the over-ear model is expected to be more
expensive than the in-ear AirPods. According to Kuo, the company is looking to
pack in high quality audio components that will boost performance, but those
parts come at a price.
What Kuo means by an "all new" design is unclear, as over-ear headphones
typically fall into one of two categories: open or closed back. Aside from
materials and minor aesthetic variables, most headphones of this type share
basic commonalities, usually incorporating two ear cups connected by a band or
strap that arches over a user's head.
Current Apple supplier SZS, a metal injection molding specialist, is tipped to
be part of the project, potentially pointing to the integration of metal
enclosures. It should be noted, however, that MIM technology can be applied to
a number of internal components normally used in the construction of such
devices.
Also unknown is what audio hardware Apple intends to deploy with the new
headset. The company has a history of pioneering new technologies with its
recent audio equipment releases. AirPods, for example, incorporate the W1 chip
to assist with pairing. HomePod is even more advanced with a beefy A8 SoC
supporting adaptive acoustics involving beam forming microphones and tweeter
arrays.
Along with the over-ear headphones, Kuo predicts Apple will introduce an
updated version of AirPods in the second half of 2018.
Apple is expected to keep the overall AirPods design unchanged, and will
instead focus on internal component upgrades to the W1 chip and an inductive
charging case. To account for wireless charging capabilities, like higher
thermal requirements and a tweaked external appearance, Apple will use
different manufacturing methods, Kuo says.
Apple announced a wireless charging case for current-generation AirPods at last
year's iPhone event, but the accessory has yet to debut. Recent rumors suggest
Apple is planning a launch next month alongside the AirPower charging mat.
Kuo's prediction is in line with a Bloomberg report last week that said Apple
is currently working on a next-gen AirPods
model<https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/02/22/apple-said-to-be-upgrading-airpods-with-hey-siri-better-water-resistance>
that features built-in "Hey Siri" functionality.
Finally, Kuo believes Apple is enlisting a new supplier to account for massive
growth in AirPods production. Specifically, AirPods component orders are
expected to grow 100 to 200 percent in fiscal 2018, while shipments of
assembled devices will jump 60 to 80 percent over the same period. Kuo is
targeting AirPods shipments at 24 to 26 million units for 2018.
http://appleinsider.com/articles/18/02/25/apple-to-launch-branded-over-ear-headphones-upgraded-airpods-this-year
David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist
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WWW.DavidGoldfield.info<http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.info>
