After coming out with its first-ever high-end audio speaker HomePod, Apple could soon follow it up by launching its own high-end headphones, said a Bloomberg report. The report claimed that Apple’s second music accessory, which will be laced with noise-cancellation and be in the over-the-head mould, will be positioned as a high-end product.
These speculated high-end headphones could make their debut by end of this year, unless Apple faces bumps, something which delayed the launch of the HomePod from 2017 to early 2018.
Interestingly, the Apple’s headphones will be seen competing with established music accessory giants like Sony, Bose and even its own Beats by Dr Dre.
The report also adds that the product has gone through multiple strategy changes, and could either end up as a different looking headphone, or could be shelved forever.
Whichever way you look at this development, we’re not surprised that Apple wants to chip in with its very own branded headphones. The success of AirPods might have played a big role in Apple’s strategy. According to the latest Apple figures, the AirPods – a part of the company’s wearable product segment – have contributed greatly to Apple’s growth.
Reports suggests that the headphone market is likely to generate over $20 billion in annual revenue by 2023.
But for the rumoured, unnamed Apple headphones to succeed in a crowded and competitive market, they’ve got to make sure that the pricing strategy doesn’t end up in the HomePod alley, which at $349, many reckon is priced higher than the Sonos and even the Amazon Echo Plus.
To its credit, Apple has decent credibility in the audio segment, but going head-to-head with the Bose and Sony's of the world, you’d need to be more than just decent. The end-of-year timeline could also imply that the headphones could make their first appearance alongside the next generation of iPhones.
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