Upgraded Apple AirPods Coming Second Half Of 2018, Analyst Says

Apple’s AirPods wireless headphones for the iPhone have been selling like pancakes and it looks like an upgrade is on the way. An analyst believes that a new and upgraded version of the Apple AirPods is in the works and that it will be released during the second half of 2018.

On Tuesday, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a couple of notes regarding Apple’s products. He told investors that he expects that Apple will release an upgraded version of the AirPods during the second half of 2018 and that it may have a higher average selling price, according to AppleInsider.

Unfortunately, Kuo didn’t give a lot of information on what these new pair of AirPods will feature, but he did specifically mention that it will come with a smaller quartz component from one of Apple’s suppliers, TXC. Since there’s very little information given by Kuo on the new upgraded Apple AirPods, this might suggest that it won’t have any major updates regarding its design and other capabilities.

The new 2018 AirPods will most likely look the same as the current model. If there are any upgrades, like the mentioned quartz component, it might be internal changes that will simply go unnoticed by consumers.

Back in September, when Apple first revealed the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, the tech giant also previewed the AirPower wireless charging pad and the new AirPods wireless charging case. AirPower is capable of wirelessly charging an iPhone, an Apple Watch and AirPods all at once. The new AirPods charging case comes with the same wireless charging technology that allow users to charge the case and the AirPods themselves. Apple didn’t mention pricing or availability for AirPower and the new AirPods wireless charging case, only stating that it would be out by “early next year.”

As pointed out by 9To5Mac, AirPower could be released sometime during spring, while the new AirPods charging case will come out at a later date. It would seem a bit weird that Apple would release a new charging case just months before releasing a new pair of upgraded AirPods.

It’s possible, although highly unlikely, that the new 2018 AirPods might simply come with the new wireless charging case. Kuo did say that the upgraded AirPods could have a higher average price than the current version. An included wireless charging case could be the reason for the higher price.

Apple’s original AirPods were first announced back in 2016 alongside the iPhone 7, 7 Plus and the Apple Watch Series 2. It was first made available later in December. The AirPods is the first pair of wireless headphones that featured Apple’s W1 chip, which made pairing with iOS and macOS devices a lot easier.

Sales for the current AirPods remain strong and Apple continues to struggle to keep up with demand. As reported by CNBC, the AirPods appear to have already been sold out just before Christmas and potential buyers will now have to wait for early next year. Kuo also says that he believes that AirPods supply will improve in 2018 and that shipments could grow by 100 percent year over year to 28 million units.