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AirPods and high-end headsets highlight what could be the year of Apple's ear in 2019. According to a new report, Apple has no less than three new audio products in the works – the third is probably an improvement on the dull HomePod.
In addition to confirming the rumor that a new series of AirPods with a new chip and a hands-free Siri support are expected this year, Mark Gurman reports that Apple is working on a trio of audio accessories for next year. A pair of top-of-the-line Airpods wireless headphones paves the way as well as a HomePod refresh, but the most intriguing is a set of "studio-grade headphones".
The impact on your ears: Apple has long worked to blur the line between technology and music, culminating with its purchase of Beats Audio for $ 3.2 billion in 2014. While Apple has taken care to separate the two brands, the company has not been able to do so. The impact of this purchase can be seen (and heard) in its Apple Music streaming service, the AirPods wireless headphones and the high fidelity HomePod speaker. But with three major new products under development, Apple could become a leader in wireless sound. New products could also boost Apple Music subscriptions and iPhone sales.
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Gurman says the new wireless headphones will introduce noise cancellation and water resistance, two qualities that are lacking in first-generation buds. However, Gurman sources also indicate that the new AirPods will not have an IP rating like the iPhone or the Apple Watch. Instead, they will be better able to protect themselves from rain and sweat. Apple's current AirPods are not technically able to withstand water, although tests have shown that they are incredibly durable.
IDGA new HomePod is expected next year.
Note that the new AirPod models will not replace existing models, but rather an extension of the range, with a model "pro" high-end and more expensive.
The development of a pair of earphones on the Apple brand's ear is also under development. It is designed to compete in the space dominated by Bose and Sennheiser. Gurman says the new headphones will cost more than the Beats Studio3 cans, which retail for $ 350. For comparison, the Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II, with support for the Google Assistant and Adjustable Noise Canceling, are priced at $ 450.
This is not the first time we hear the rumor of a pair of high end headphones, being developed in Cupertino. Earlier this year, Ming-Chi Kuo, then an analyst at KGI Securities, reported that such a product was expected before the end of 2018, but Gurman accuses the "development challenges" of the delay.
The final product planned for 2019 is a new version of the HomePod smart speaker, although the details are rare. The report does not say if it would be a cheaper model or just a refresh of the existing device. HomePod sales have struggled since its launch in February, and Apple failed to mention its speaker during its quarterly conference call or keynote WWDC.
The report notes that Apple could rely more on Foxconn to manufacture its new products. The first generation AirPods were primarily manufactured by Inventec, but Apple struggled to maintain adequate inventory even more than a year after its introduction.
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