Kuo: AirPods With Wireless Charging Case Expected in Early 2019, All-New Model in Early 2020

[ksec]

I still think in order to justify the drop of 3.5mm headphone jack they need to drop the price further for AirPod. I would love to see them dropping to $99. Which should still be with 50% margin after they recoup the R&D cost in the previous 2 years.

I wonder if the W3 chip will be used in the Wireless Version.

 

[ipedro]

Already planning for obsolescence for the AirPods I see. Unless Bluetooth makes a milestone jump, what’s the point exactly?

I guess you never heard of first generation products laying the foundation for what's possible with improvements over the years building on that. AirPods aren't waterproof and devices are all becoming Qi wireless charging compliant. Both of those are low hanging fruit. Apple has also had the time to improve the chips inside AirPods so that they're always listening for Hey Siri and can be made more battery efficient.

When was the last (first?) time you saw a first generation product coming out with no room for improvement? Why didn't Apple just launch the iPhone X in 2007 and instead had 10 years of improvements? Was it because of planned obsolescence? Get serious.

 

[calstanford]

Years and years for a minor non-update that was pre-announced a year ago.
Tim Cook's Apple

 

[Baymowe335]

They are also guiding a mere 3.1% year-over-year growth too for Q1 2019.

Q1 2018, they achieved 12.6% year-over-year growth.

I think that might have something to do with not innovating or coming up with new products. Instead, just capitalising on existing market.

But hey, they might launch a black Airpod in 2019 and you would consider that as 'innovating'.

Or, they might make a smaller/bigger iPhone in 2019 and that would be the greatest iPhone ever.

Let’s wait to see the numbers. $89-$93B is impressive and the larger the numbers, the more meaningful even small % gains can be. It’s more like 6% growth if you consider they guided for $84-$87B and actually got $88B in fiscal Q12018. If we assume they beat their own guidance by the same % they beat last year, we are looking at $94.5B, which is 7.3% growth.

Let’s see the number the put up. If it’s only $89B, I’ll be slightly disappointed, although we are still talking $1B in revenue per day, lol.

The strategy is working. Hard to say a company making well over double the total profit of any other company is in need of a strategy change. They are innovating in areas like silicon, FaceID, Watch, and AirPods.

Innovation doesn’t mean a new product every year. It’s refinement, adding features, software, security, internals, and the whole Apple package.

 

[FelixDerKater]

2020 model will actually stay in your ear.

 

[Morgenland]

Not going to buy unless they feature a more substantial and streamlined redesign.

View attachment 807954

I am always fascinated how many likes are given here at macrumors for really stupid pubertal comments.
[doublepost=1543809122][/doublepost]

Never liked their earphones.
About time they offered a decent in-ear silicone option with lightening jack.

Not Apples Problem that you do not like them....

 

[partsofspeech]

Probably the only Apple product that won’t be made flat for a while. But who knows? Apple design nowadays is about how it looks rather than how it works.

 

[davidhunter51]

Great product as far as charging case, but these things barely stay in my ears when I'm walking. If I tilt my head or try to jog, they are worthless as I have to keep adjusting the fit. So, basically I only use them at home for watching TV after the family goes to bed. Definitely need wrap-around ear stabilizers.

 

[bLackjackj]

Bought two pairs so far. I'm sure I'll buy more, it's really an excellent product simple as that.

Whats so good about them? As mentioned, they leak sound and are uncomfortable. i have a pair of wireless Sol Republic that come with 3 differen't sized silicon earpieces, that sit comfortably & snug. The Apple earpods are way overpriced for what you get and in fact the sound on the Sol Republics is also much better.

I will never get the obsession with 2 stupid looking white eardrops,..they even look ridiculous when I see people wear them.

Knowing there is a new one early 2020, why would you even bother getting the 2019 model??

 

[CVUSA]

Great product as far as charging case, but these things barely stay in my ears when I'm walking. If I tilt my head or try to jog, they are worthless as I have to keep adjusting the fit. So, basically I only use them at home for watching TV after the family goes to bed. Definitely need wrap-around ear stabilizers.

Try use foam cover.

 

[bbednarz]

It's so weird. Every person I know that has a pair absolutely loves them. Then you come in this thread on an Apple fancentric site and its pages of people talking about all the reasons they are bad.
[doublepost=1543810809][/doublepost]

Whats so good about them? As mentioned, they leak sound and are uncomfortable. i have a pair of wireless Sol Republic that come with 3 differen't sized silicon earpieces, that sit comfortably & snug. The Apple earpods are way overpriced for what you get and in fact the sound on the Sol Republics is also much better.

I will never get the obsession with 2 stupid looking white eardrops,..they even look ridiculous when I see people wear them.

Knowing there is a new one early 2020, why would you even bother getting the 2019 model??

What's so good about them?
-Stupid easy pairing and switching across different devices.
-Stay connected extremely well.
-Very comfortable, to the point where I forget they are in my ears.
-No wire at all.

If I am out and about or going to a run/to the gym I do not care for perfect sound quality. They sound more than good enough for day to day use.

A lot of other true wireless headsets look more like hearing aids than headphones. Do AirPods look a bit odd? I guess, but with the amount of people that have them now its become common place...

Early 2019 is at least a year before anything would come out in 2020. A years worth of use is pretty substantial. There will always be an upgrade on the horizon.

 

[Brien]

Real curious what a new design would look like. Doesn't feel like a lot of room to mess with the current model. Looking forward to something innovative. Come on Apple, blow my ear away. ;-)

Improved sound quality? Better battery life? Color options?

 

[Abazigal]

Whats so good about them? As mentioned, they leak sound and are uncomfortable. i have a pair of wireless Sol Republic that come with 3 differen't sized silicon earpieces, that sit comfortably & snug. The Apple earpods are way overpriced for what you get and in fact the sound on the Sol Republics is also much better.

I will never get the obsession with 2 stupid looking white eardrops,..they even look ridiculous when I see people wear them.

My Airpods are by far the most comfortable pair of wireless earbuds I have owned. I can leave them in my ears for hours on end (even when I am not listening to anything) and not feel any sort of discomfort.

Not once have they fallen out of ears, and they have been very convenient to use and store. Sound quality is decent for podcasts and music streaming.

Truth be told, I initially felt a little self-conscious when I first wore them in public, but quickly got over it. If other people have issues with the way I look, that’s their own limitation, not mine.

Knowing there is a new one early 2020, why would you even bother getting the 2019 model??

Thing is - these are all still rumours. This article came from the same guy who claimed the Airpods would be refreshed this year. If you had held off getting them, you would not have been any better off compared to just buying them anytime earlier in the year.

If anything, you actually lost months of utility.

2020 is still quite some time off. At the price, no harm getting the 2019 Airpods (especially if the battery life in your current Airpods is starting to get worse for wear), then upgrading to the 2020 version if it proves to be a significant improvement.

This isn’t some $3k laptop we are talking about.

 

[BeatCrazy]

This product always makes me chuckle - both here and industry "experts" said just bad things about this at launch and now I see them everywhere....always a nice touchstone for me about the reality of things vs the internet of things....

I got my pair in December 2016. I remember wearing them while walking in downtown Dallas thinking “is everyone staring at these crazy things in my ears?”. Now 2 years later, seems like everyone is wearing them. Totally normal.

 

[bLackjackj]

It's so weird. Every person I know that has a pair absolutely loves them. Then you come in this thread on an Apple fancentric site and its pages of people talking about all the reasons they are bad.
[doublepost=1543810809][/doublepost]
What's so good about them?
-Stupid easy pairing and switching across different devices.
-Stay connected extremely well.
-Very comfortable, to the point where I forget they are in my ears.
-No wire at all.

If I am out and about or going to a run/to the gym I do not care for perfect sound quality. They sound more than good enough for day to day use.

A lot of other true wireless headsets look more like hearing aids than headphones. Do AirPods look a bit odd? I guess, but with the amount of people that have them now its become common place...

Early 2019 is at least a year before anything would come out in 2020. A years worth of use is pretty substantial. There will always be an upgrade on the horizon.

That was supposed to convince me? I have tried them.

1. I have "stupid easy pairing" with my Sol Republic,..in fact it just works.
2. My Sol Republic's stay connected
3. My Sol Republics are comfortable,..not just hard plastic in my ear!
4. I have no wires either.
5. I too have perfect sound quality at 1/2 the price.
6. They fit perfectly (1 of 3 sizes) and don't look like dorky white teardrops falling from my ears.

And your point?
[doublepost=1543812822][/doublepost]

I got my pair in December 2016. I remember wearing them while walking in downtown Dallas thinking “is everyone staring at these crazy things in my ears?”. Now 2 years later, seems like everyone is wearing them. Totally normal.

Ahhh no,..not in Australia. I see them only once in a while.
[doublepost=1543812967][/doublepost]

Great product as far as charging case, but these things barely stay in my ears when I'm walking. If I tilt my head or try to jog, they are worthless as I have to keep adjusting the fit. So, basically I only use them at home for watching TV after the family goes to bed. Definitely need wrap-around ear stabilizers.

They don't need stabilizers, just soft silicon. Apple clearly are to cheap to provide for various sized ears! My Wireless earplugs NEVER fall out, because the manufacturer has catered to everyone.

 

[Michael Scrip]

I will never get the obsession with 2 stupid looking white eardrops... they even look ridiculous when I see people wear them.

Quick question:

When did we... as a society... decide that having ANYTHING hanging from our ears is a good look?

I guess earrings would be the closest thing. But anything else?

When did 36" of wires hanging from our heads become acceptable?

 

[Wags]

Years and years for a minor non-update that was pre-announced a year ago.
Tim Cook's Apple

If people are buying them they don’t care to improve. Just holding back until they need too.

 

[dazz87]

That cant be just it? Only wireless charging on gen2.........

 

[bbednarz]

That was supposed to convince me? I have tried them.

1. I have "stupid easy pairing" with my Sol Republic,..in fact it just works.
2. My Sol Republic's stay connected
3. My Sol Republics are comfortable,..not just hard plastic in my ear!
4. I have no wires either.
5. I too have perfect sound quality at 1/2 the price.
6. They fit perfectly (1 of 3 sizes) and don't look like dorky white teardrops falling from my ears.

And your point?
[doublepost=1543812822][/doublepost]

Ahhh no,..not in Australia. I see them only once in a while.
[doublepost=1543812967][/doublepost]

They don't need stabilizers, just soft silicon. Apple clearly are to cheap to provide for various sized ears! My Wireless earplugs NEVER fall out, because the manufacturer has catered to everyone.

Truthfully, I couldn't care less if I convinced you of anything. Not like there was any chance of it anyway.

You asked what was so good about them. I answered.

 

[bLackjackj]

Truthfully, I couldn't care less if I convinced you of anything. Not like there was any chance of it anyway.

You asked what was so good about them. I answered.

Seems like you cared. Too bad you didn't.
[doublepost=1543814563][/doublepost]

Quick question:

When did we... as a society... decide that having ANYTHING hanging from our ears is a good look?

I guess earrings would be the closest thing. But anything else?

When did 36" of wires hanging from our heads become acceptable?

 

[KyNY]

I still think in order to justify the drop of 3.5mm headphone jack they need to drop the price further for AirPod. I would love to see them dropping to $99.

Price is what is holding me back. By most people's accounts, the batteries only last a couple years. At around $170, that seems like a steep price to pay for a two year "rental".

Assuming the batteries are in the elongated area, how difficult would it be to make the batteries user replaceable and sold by apple? Just unscrew the bottom and pop in a battery.

 

[Two Stacks]

I hope Apple improves the batteries on the next series because the current ones are junk. My two year old AirPods last for maybe an hour of music listening before dying. I haven’t even used them that much, maybe two or three times a week. Many people are having the same issue. For the money I’d rather buy a couple of nice regular Bluetooth headphones that will last longer.

How long should the battery last in your opinion before it needs to be replaced? 5, 6 years? Don’t you realize you use and charge them multiple times a day, more than your watch and phone? Mine are a year old and I see no battery life difference.

 

[Wanted797]

Literally just got some of these on Saturday. Was hanging out for a new model at the iPad event but nothing came though.

It’s the first product I’ve had since I used my first iPhone where I feel it’s something truly game changing. It’s like walking with a voice talking in my head. I can defiantly see this becoming a ‘normal’ way to interact with our devices. Now if only Siri could catch up....

 

[Analog Kid]

2 years only is horrible for this price.

Oh - that's awful. Here I was thinking the price was too high, having to charge them was inconvenient, and carrying them is no better than carrying old headphones, but on top of all that, they only last two years?

What kind of crap quality is that? Batteries that only last two years is what I expect for a Dell or HP branded product. Apple used to pride themselves on having batteries that still lasted 80% as long after 1000 charge cycles - three years in it was still plausible to manage to go all day without needing to plug in part way through.

I get that Apple pricing is the latest dead horse everyone wants to beat, but there's not much traction to be had here. They're not that expensive for what they are, and their quality has been impeccable.

At $150 over say 300 days a year for 2 years I've paid $0.25 a day for them. I think that's a steal for the utility I get from them.

I use them hours a day, every day. Primarily for video conference calls through my Mac, but also for phone calls, watching movies on the iPad and listening to music. I find them invaluable.

It's remarkable that they get the run time they do for those tiny little batteries-- the fact they need to drive those batteries hard doesn't surprise me or disappoint me. I've put them through well over 1000 charge cycles over those two years.

Is there a way to check the battery health on the AirPods or just guess? Mine seems to run down pretty quick while on the phone.

Not that I know of. I just noticed that I couldn't get through an hour meeting anymore without swapping them back and forth to the case to charge, and the volume was fading when listening to music on the street. Finally I started getting unexpected disconnects, presumably because they couldn't hold the supply voltage up under load.

 

[gavroche]

If the new case also features usb c charging, then lightning is officially dying. Hopefully that’s the case and next year’s iPhone follows the latest iPad’s lead.

pun intended?
[doublepost=1543819914][/doublepost]

as someone who is constantly annoyed by them on the train and plane I agree.

I always worry people can hear them when I walk in an office or something. I can never hear my wife's when she uses hers... but I don't know what volume level she has it at.