AirPods seem to have overcome early skepticism and Apple plans for adequate supply to avoid shortages
Apple Inc. rolled out second-generation AirPods Wednesday, adding hands-free Siri access, 50 per cent longer talk time and optional wireless charging to a product that’s key for expanding revenue beyond iPhones.
The new version looks and costs the same, at $159, and will be available in stores next week. The latest model adds a new H1 processor that Apple says increases talk time and the ability to summon Apple’s voice assistant simply by saying, “Hey Siri,” without touching the ear buds. Apple said the new chip also lets AirPods connect twice as fast to other devices.
The headphones are a key way for Apple to expand revenue as it sells fewer iPhones. Sales of the smartphone over the holiday quarter were lower than expected. At the company’s shareholder meeting earlier this year, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook noted that the company is “rolling the dice” on new products and has a “long, great roadmap” of products related to the Apple Watch and AirPods.
AirPods seem to have overcome any early skepticism. According to a report earlier this month by Counterpoint Research, Apple sold about 35 million pairs in 2018, accounting for almost three-fourths of the market for wireless earphones. Apple doesn’t break out revenue for the device. The original AirPods faced significant supply shortages for months after their initial launch but Apple seems to be correcting that this time around.
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