Wireless charging support for AirPods coming in 2019, new design - in 2020
Apple is betting on its Airpods truly-wireless earbuds to be the best growth product in the future, experts say. The company is supposed to release an upgraded product with wireless charging support in the first quarter of the upcoming year. The updated design is slated to come out a year later, in the beginning of early 2020.
AirPods sales may grow from 16 million in 2017 to over five-fold by 2021. They just may be the trendiest Apple accessory ever, with numbers like these. Current iPhone users are far more likely to purchase AirPods than exchange their phone for a newer model.
The upcoming update will have the wireless charging support, while it’s not quite the same thing as the wireless charging case initially announced by Apple with the AirPower mat. The case for the Airpods will have a more expensive ‘rigid-flex board’ component. The hinge will be redesigned both in appearance and to include compliance with higher thermal requirements. The component cost will rise by approximately 60%.
Experts also claim, on a curious note, that the upcoming AirPods will also include the Bluetooth upgrade. It does seem that Apple will indeed fulfill its initial promise regarding the sale of the new charging case to AirPods owners. Meanwhile, the AirPods themselves will be upgraded.
The new design changes coming in 2020 are not entirely clear, and may include sweat resistance, Siri integration and other interesting features, according to the rumors.
The launch of the AirPower charging mat seems to be delayed or perhaps stalled for good, wince it is no longer mentioned in current media reports.
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