Apple AirPods release date, price, specs news 2016: Wireless headphones to ship in the next few weeks, says Apple CEO
The wait may soon be over for Apple's wireless headphones, but could another delay be imminent?
First introduced to the public during the iPhone 7 event back in September, the AirPods was initially expected to be released in late October, then in mid-November, but no release announcement was made at each point. Now, current rumors are suggesting that the Apple accessory may finally be launched before the year ends.
This speculation was inspired by a recently published article on MacRumours wherein it was reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook, in response to an unhappy fan's email inquiring about Airpods' release date, has hinted that the wireless headphones may begin shipping "over the next few weeks."
It seems that the Cupertino tech company has encountered some difficulties during the production process, but now that things are being finalized, according to Cook, the AirPods may just make it in time for the holidays. Otherwise, a January 2017 release is the next best guess.
The upcoming wireless headphones are rumored to sell at $159, which is the same amount it is rumored to sell for in pounds. According to the official product page, the price will be inclusive of the AirPods, a lightning to USB cable, and a compact wireless charging case that extends the accessory's industry-leading five-hour battery life to more than 24 hours.
Fresh out of the charging case, the AirPods can instantly turn on and connect to an iPhone, an Apple Watch, an iPad or a Mac and can seamlessly switch between these devices. It is equipped with a custom Apple W1 chip, which provides intelligent and high efficiency playback on a consistent and reliable connection. The wireless headphones also have infrared sensors that detect when the accessories are in the user's ears, and can automatically play or pause the audio when necessary.
With its beamforming microphones, the AirPods are also able to focus on just the sound of the user's voice, thereby filtering out background noises. The wireless headphones' motion-detecting accelerometer makes it easy to access Siri with a double tap.
Although the product specifications are out, Apple has yet to provide confirmation on the AirPods' actual release date.
