AirPods Release Date Near: Shipping After Christmas

Apple’s AirPods are now available on the company’s website and will deliver on Dec. 29, just after Christmas, Apple announced Tuesday.

AirPods are priced at $159 and will begin arriving in Apple stores, Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers next week.

Apple noted that the AirPods will begin shipping in “limited quantities” at launch, which was rumored before.

“Customers are encouraged to check online for updates on availability and estimated delivery dates. Stores will receive regular AirPod shipments,” Apple said.

The AirPods are enabled by a “new ultra-low power Apple W1 chip,” have a five hour battery life of listening time on one charge and 24 hours of music playback when charged with the travel charging case, the company says.

“AirPods introduce an effortless wireless listening experience packed with high-quality audio and long battery life,” Apple said in the announcement. “These magical wireless headphones use advanced technology to reinvent how we listen to music, make phone calls, enjoy TV shows and movies, play games and interact with Siri, providing a wireless audio experience not possible before.”

The AirPods were announced during Apple’s September event alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The AirPods were supposed to launch in October but the release date was delayed.

The AirPods’ release date was delayed because Apple was apparently having trouble syncing audio between the two separate wireless earphones, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Apple was also working on what to do when a user loses one of the earphones, or if the battery dies in just one of the ear pieces, the report says.