Apple gave a clear indication that they were preparing to launch new speakers and headphones. Apple’s online store no longer sells any audio devices beyond Apple’s own. They simply don’t have enough products to cover all the gaps they’ve created. Well, they currently can’t cover every gap they’ve created.
Because Apple removed items from so many categories, both speakers and headphones, it seems obvious that Apple is going to cover all of their bases with a few of their own products in a variety of price ranges. This could mean Apple is preparing to launch the new AirPods Studio and HomePod mini immanently.
Rival Audio Equipment Pulled
No more speakers or headphones without an Apple logo or Beats logo.
Did you know Apple used to sell Fitbit products? Then they introduced the Apple Watch. Fitbit products mysteriously left the Apple Store. Now, where you could previously find speakers and headphones, Apple’s audio section of their store looks a little bare. Everything that makes sound is made by Apple.
You can only find Apple’s AirPods, AirPods Pro, HomePod, and various Beats headphones and speakers on Apple’s Store. If you weren’t aware, Apple does own Beats. The rest of the speakers, from Marshal headphones to Bose and Sonos, are gone.
Apple supposedly removed products last week. Don’t think you can head to an Apple Store either. It seems retail employees have already removed the packages from the shelves.
Not that you can get to an Apple Store in the U.S.
New Products
We’ve heard that Apple is preparing a smaller verion of the HomePod, a HomePod mini, as well as over-ear version of the AirPods, the AirPods Studio. These would feature the noise cancellation of the AirPods Pro, but in an over-ear design. They’d compete directly with Apple’s own brand, Beats, and the Beats Studio headphones. However, Apple products are typically drab or “elegant,” while Beats products are lively splashes of color. Apple will likely continue to keep the two brands separate, as they cater to a wider market when working together.
I got a taste of these features when I tested the Beats Solo Pro on-ear headphones. These sounded marvelous, with balanced sound and excellent noise cancellation. However, they were extremely uncomfortable. I couldn’t listen to them for over half an hour without needing to take them off. I’d be in pain by the end of just one album. Perhaps that’s why Apple decided to skip the on-ear design and jump right to over-ear headphones for their AirPods Studio. However the design is a little… polarizing.
A HomePod mini could help bring Apple’s HomePod speaker to a larger audience with a more affordable price. It could also help Apple get Siri into more homes. Currently, all devices that feature Siri do so as a secondary function. This could be Apple’s first dedicated “always-on” assistant in the home.
Apple may reveal new products as early as next week, including the new iPhone 12 and possibly a new Apple TV. Invites could be going out tomorrow (that is, later today, Tuesday, October 6th).
Sources:
- Mikey Campbell, AppleInsider
- Juli Clover, MacRumors
- Filipe Espósito, 9to5Mac
- Mark Gurman, Bloomberg
- Wayback Machine, Internet Archive