From the moment they were introduced, these wireless earbuds sparked controversy with their unconventional design and the removal of the iPhone’s headphone jack. However, despite the initial doubts, AirPods have risen to become one of Apple’s most successful products. Their seamless integration into daily life and significant contribution to Apple’s revenue have solidified their position as a market leader. Join us as we explore the captivating story of AirPods, from their turbulent beginnings to their triumphs and the exciting future that lies ahead.
Evolution of AirPods: From Controversy to Success
When Apple Inc. introduced AirPods seven years ago, the product’s design faced criticism, along with the controversial decision to remove the iPhone’s headphone jack.
However, the present success of these wireless earbuds is hard to ignore. AirPods have become one of Apple’s leading products, seamlessly integrating into daily life. They contribute significantly to Apple’s revenue, enticing customers to purchase or retain an iPhone.
AirPods have also outpaced the iPad and Mac in terms of sales growth, propelling Apple’s Wearables, Home, and Accessories category. The revenue for this group, which includes the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and HomePod, quadrupled since the introduction of AirPods, reaching $41 billion last year.
Apple’s commitment to continuous improvement has greatly popularized AirPods. The second-generation lineup incorporated hands-free Siri support and extended battery life. Additionally, the company introduced the AirPods Pro, featuring noise cancellation, and the over-ear Max model.
Now, Apple is gearing up to give AirPods a significant boost. The company is exploring groundbreaking features related to hearing health and body temperature monitoring. It also plans to introduce more affordable models and transition to USB-C charging ports. These enhancements will complement the previously announced software features of iOS 17, as well as the upcoming AirPods Pro and Max models.
Hearing Health Features and Potential as a Hearing Aid
One of the notable upcoming features is a hearing test that utilizes various tones and sounds to assess an individual’s hearing ability. This functionality aims to assist users in identifying potential hearing issues, similar to how the Apple Watch ECG app detects heart problems.
Furthermore, Apple is exploring the possibility of positioning AirPods as a hearing aid, a market worth $10 billion per year, waiting for innovation. The company has even recruited engineers from traditional hearing aid manufacturers to bolster this effort.
Body Temperature Monitoring
Apple is also actively working on equipping AirPods with sensors capable of measuring body temperature through the wearer’s ear canal. This method of data collection is considered more accurate than wrist temperature monitoring, which is currently employed by the Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra models during sleep.
While these health features may take several months or even years to materialize, there are other imminent changes as well. As part of the transition from Lightning to a USB-C port in the iPhone 15, Apple plans to implement the same shift in the AirPods Pro charging case. Additionally, the company intends to adopt USB-C for future generations of its audio products.
Timing of Upcoming Changes
Considering the historical upgrade cycles, it is unlikely that all-new AirPods Pro hardware will be imminently released, as the development process is still ongoing. The AirPods Pro follow a three-year upgrade cycle, with their initial launch in 2019 and an update in 2022. The regular AirPods have followed a similar pattern, with their launch in 2016 and subsequent updates in 2019 and 2021.
Another possibility for Apple to consider is reducing the price of its entry-level AirPods. While the second-generation models continue to perform well and offer value at their current $129 price point, a reduced price of $99 would make them an even more appealing choice and a tough competitor for Samsung Electronics.
