Initial rumors suggested that the Apple AirPods may launch in October 2016, although a delay caused the date to be pushed back to 2017. However, a recent report hinted that the Apple AirPods, which will supposedly replace the headphone jack on all next-generation Apple products, may arrive sooner in December 2016.
Apple AirPods Release Date: December 2016 Launch Pegged
A new report from Alza.cz, a Czech Republic retailer, Apple AirPods may launch in December 2016. Although the reasons remain uncertain, Apple may be capitalizing on the Christmas season.
Other sources predict that the Apple AirPods will be ready for launch in November, although a more conservative take would set production before the end of the year, to allow a January 2017 release. A number of online shops have already listed the Apple AirPods, although the launch dates have significantly varied.
On Apple.com, the AirPods were listed as currently unavailable and coming soon. Other online places listed the Apple AirPods to be available by Black Friday or Cyber Monday. These mean that there is no confirmed date of release at the moment.
The reason for the initial delay was also unknown. Some speculated that there were issues in manufacturing. Apple indicated that they needed a little more time to guarantee that the product was ready for customers. Overall, Apple has yet to confirm whether the Apple AirPodswill indeed release before the end of 2016, so users should take the news with a grain of salt.
Apple AirPods Key Features Identified
9to5Mac wrote that the Apple AirPods are expected to eliminate the 3.5mm headphone jack on future products for good. The battery on the wireless earbuds can run up to five hours on a single charge and features a rechargeable carrying case that allows up to 24 hours of extra battery life.
The Apple AirPods also feature quick charging, powering up for three hours or use after 15 minutes of charging. Apple AirPods will link to a product via Bluetooth and houses the new Apple W1 chip for fast pairing with Apple device sand easy switching between iCloud devices. It also conveniently accesses Siri, Apple's virtual assistant.
The Apple AirPods are expected to cost $159 upon launch. More updates and details are expected soon.
