Fans of the Apple AirPods have been waiting for the earphones to release since September 2015. Many were hoping that the Apple AirPods would be available on Black Friday, but many are already considering other brands after news surfaced that the device will not be available by Christmas.
Apple AirPods Will Be Absent Through Christmas
It has been three months since the Apple AirPods were announced, but the company failed to launch these. Apple previously stated that they need more time to work on the Apple AirPods after initial reviews revealed bugs and issues.
The anticipation of several fans have since gone down, with others resorting to other brands instead. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Apple AirPods have become a huge misstep for the company. Previously marketing head Phil Schiller described the Apple AirPods as one of their first devices towards a wireless future.
The earphones were supposed to work with the iPhone 7, which lacks a 3.5mm jack. It also boasts of an Apple W1 chip and up to five hours of playtime, with extra hours on the go. The Apple AirPods will be priced at $159 upon launch.
Apple's Misstep: No Apple Airpods Until 'Ready'
An Apple spokeswoman said that they do not believe in shipping the Apple AirPods before these are ready, and that they needed more time to prepare it for their customers. Although analysts believe that the delay of the Apple AirPods did not affect the sales of the iPhone 7, Apple's credibility has been marred.
iPhone 7 users were frustrated that they could not charge their handset while listening to music or calling. Missing the holiday season was a huge mistake for Apple. Engadget noted that although the Apple AirPods do not have a definite launch date yet, the W1 chip is available in two models of Beats headphones, namely the Powerbeats 3 and Solo3.
In the meantime, several brands are taking advantage of the window between Apple's announcement and the actual release of the Apple AirPods by featuring their own truly wireless headsets. During the first half of 2016, wireless headphones outsold wired models.
Many customers are expected to purchase wireless alternatives while the Apple AirPods stay in development. There are talks that the Apple AirPods will finally launch in January 2017, but an official confirmation has yet to be made.
