Report: AirPods Pro 3 Needed to Turn Around Sales Flatline

[MacRumors]

The AirPods market appears to be flatlining in the United States, but the launch of AirPods Pro 3 later this year could boost sales, a new report claims.

According to a new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), approximately 44% of iPhone owners in the United States now report owning Bluetooth earbuds, up from 41% in the previous year. Of those, 59% say they use AirPods. This represents a small gain from 57% the year before, effectively bringing the figure back to its 2023 level. This means AirPods are used by roughly 26% of all iPhone owners in the United States today.

While the data reflects a recovery in Apple's share of the Bluetooth earbuds market among iPhone users, it does not indicate meaningful growth beyond previous highs. The size of the market is increasing slowly, and Apple is maintaining its portion, but not expanding it.

AirPods face growing challenges from competitors including Samsung, Sony, and Bose, as well as a wide array of low-cost alternatives. Apple released the AirPods Pro 2 in September 2022, featuring the H2 chip, improved noise cancellation, enhanced Find My integration, and more.

AirPods Pro 2 were offered at a substantial discount during Amazon Prime Day earlier this month, with the price reduced from $249 to $149. Best Buy and Walmart quickly matched the pricing, despite Apple maintaining its full price on its website and in stores.

The $100 discount represented one of the steepest markdowns ever for the current-generation model. CIRP speculated that Apple and Amazon may have sought to clear out existing inventory ahead of the anticipated launch of a new model. The more likely explanation was apparently a desire to drive high-volume sales through temporary margin flexibility.

The AirPods Pro 3 are likely to be announced later this year, perhaps alongside new iPhone and Apple Watch models in September. The new model is expected to feature improved ANC, enhanced sound, design tweaks, and heart rate monitoring.

The refresh is expected to target both new customers and existing users with degrading batteries or older models. CIRP says that, as one of the most frequently reordered items on Amazon, AirPods provide Apple with an opportunity to capitalize on a faster-moving product line amid slowing iPhone upgrades.

Article Link: Report: AirPods Pro 3 Needed to Turn Around Sales Flatline

 

[mixmastermike]

Consumers are quickly learning that there are better and cheaper alternatives. I see this as a win since it should drive down the price of Airpods (it won't, Apple's greedy).

 

[fan_boyin]

Apple should launch AirPods Pro in black along with white which can eventually boost sales. Also, why dont Apple introduce buyback for older versions Airpods.

 

[Evagoras2001]

Apple should launch AirPods Pro in black along with white which can eventually boost sales. Also, why dont Apple introduce buyback for older versions Airpods.

Exactly my thoughts !!! In black would be so nice 💯

 

[fan_boyin]

Exactly my thoughts !!! In black would be so nice 💯

yes if one check above in Airpods images on website they show it in black shadow...

 

[entropys]

Well, it could also be that everyone is still very happy with their APP1&2s.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

AirPods Pro 2 were offered at a substantial discount during Amazon Prime Day earlier this month, with the price reduced from $249 to $149. Best Buy and Walmart quickly matched the pricing

I wonder who is incurring the potential loses on these sales. Is it Amazon, Walmart or Best Buy? Or is Apple temporarily lowering their wholesale costs to these retailers

I rarely use the noise cancellation feature on my Pros and will probably start using the more affordable regular AirPods when I go for long walks - I only use 1 AirPod at a time anyway because I don’t want to be caught off guard if I need to react quickly to my surroundings (with me walking alongside a busy street) the noise cancellation doesn’t even work in that scenario - both AirPods need to be used at the same time to enable noise cancellation

But I do occasionally use the noise cancellation and it does work great when I use them every time I’m traveling on planes as well as busy metro stations, etc especially with the improvements made on the last version:

Apple Announces New AirPods Pro With H2 Chip for Up to 2x Noise Cancellation and More

Apple today announced the second-generation AirPods Pro with an upgraded H2 chip that provides up to twice as much active noise cancellation and...

www.macrumors.com

 

[svish]

Not sure whether it will have new health related features. But think for sure it will have better ANC capability along with overall better sound. Price should remain the same. A new model should help boost the sales.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Plot twist: they are renamed “AirPro Pods 3, Tim Apple Special Edition.”

 

[Sami13496]

Just when I was about to buy my first pair of AirPods Pro, it looks like a new model is coming out soon. I guess it makes more sense to wait now?

 

[matsan]

I’ve noticed more and more people here in Sweden are using wired headphones with their iPhones. Guessing the price of AirPods here is starting to be too high for kids and teens (and their parents). Pro 2 at $336 and AirPod 4 without NC at $188.

 

[applegeek2024]

for me, this is one product apple got it right and I have 2 pairs(need them all day).

Hope they don't screw this one up. Oh boy

 

[Killa78]

They don't last. One of the worst Apple products as far as longevity is concerned. Never again.

 

[AlexESP]

Consumers are quickly learning that there are better and cheaper alternatives. I see this as a win since it should drive down the price of Airpods (it won't, Apple's greedy).

Or, more probably, the obvious reason is that they were launched almost 3 years ago, and sales will go up when Apple announces a new model.

 

[artifex]

Just when I was about to buy my first pair of AirPods Pro, it looks like a new model is coming out soon. I guess it makes more sense to wait now?

Depends on how much you think you'd use the features you think the model that hasn't come out yet will have.
The current model didn't lose any of the functionality that made you ready to buy it, so if you can still get a good deal you might be better off with that. Especially if your plan is to only use them a couple years. By then the kinks for whatever new health stuff is coming should be worked out before the newest model when you're ready to replace them.

I just got some cheap noise cancelling TWS buds during a sale last week, but if I start to lose my hearing I'll be thinking about the hearing aid functionality in the Airpods Pro 2 and later, because they'll become a relative bargain. Hopefully they iterate on even more processing and perhaps more frequency bands in the meantime. Wouldn't hurt for them to also add an Android app for the hearing aid stuff at least.

 

[Art Mark]

My daughter and many of her 18-24 year old friends are using over the ear headphones and have dropped use of the AirPods. I think AirPods are feeling a bit like 'old person' equipment for some reason...

 

[nostaws]

i love my airpod pros. frequently, i find myself wishing i had a decent pair of wired headphones.

 

[Kulfon]

In my view, Apple will not recover. Overall. The strategy was to milk the same cow for more than a decade. No innovation. Now people see exciting products from competition and will not want to pay more for less.

Btw, why do you think students of top musical schools are not allowed to use in ear wireless headphones?

 

[tomtad]

I’m not sure full price new AirPods Pro, regardless of new features, will be the sales boon they think it will be.

 

[bollman]

both AirPods need to be used at the same time to enable noise cancellation

Um...

Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes for AirPods - Apple Support

You can switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes on your AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, depending on how much of your surroundings you want to hear. You can also turn off noise control.

support.apple.com

"To use Active Noise Cancellation with one AirPod only, use your iPhone or iPad to go to Settings > Accessibility > AirPods, and turn on "Noise Cancellation with One AirPod." Then press and hold the force sensor to switch between noise control modes."

 

[gigaguy]

I found the AP2 sounded great. I prefer it's silicone eartips over the non-pro hard plastic. But the right earbud stopped working and they were never usable for phone calls. My previous AP1s broke also but Apple extended the warranty on those because of their problems. Am I eager to pay possibly even more for AP3s?
No. I don't need health features and these are just too prone to break for the price. I've gone back to using some old Beats Flex buds with the wire between the earbuds. They work fine and cost much less and have lasted 2-3x the life of Airpods... I was tempted by the recent $149 price on new AP2s which I could live with. We'll see, they are so easy to use when they work..

 

[tonie walker]

just let it be all about better sound, fit, and battery life. I don’t need health features my watch can do that. Timmy is always looking for a way to bump the price

 

[rbbloom99]

Apple should launch AirPods Pro in black along with white which can eventually boost sales. Also, why dont Apple introduce buyback for older versions Airpods.

I have “noise hypersensitivity” and practically live with my AirPod pros in my ears. Anytime I’m in public. Black would be so much less noticeable than the stupid while. Hey Apple, help us handicapped people out please.

 

[AstroChris88]

They don't last. One of the worst Apple products as far as longevity is concerned. Never again.

That's why I prefer wired headphones lol.

 

[Johnstrass2]

Well, it could also be that everyone is still very happy with their APP1&2s.

Yes. We should be celebrating that Apple is not making disposable devices.