Apple’s popular wireless earphones “AirPods” are expected to launch with wireless charging support in the first quarter of 2019 and an upgraded design is set to roll out in 2020, says KGI securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
According to Kuo, AirPods are expected to witness a dramatic increase in the sales with shipments rising from 16 million units in 2017 to over 100 million by 2021.
“Existing iPhone users are more likely to buy AirPods than upgrade their phone itself,” added Kuo.
Apple has already announced a wireless charging case with the AirPower mat in September 2017.
The new AirPods case in 2019 will have a ‘rigid-flex board’ internal component upgrade, which is believed to be more expensive to manufacture. The charging case hinges will also get a facelift to support appearance changes and higher thermal requirements, and the cost of the component is expected to rise by approximately 60 per cent.
While Kuo did not reveal any information about the new design of the 2020 AirPords, previous rumours have suggested features like sweat resistance and Siri integration.
Launched in 2016, Apple AirPods are powered by Apple W1 chip, which enables AirPods to deliver high-quality audio and a long-lasting leading battery life in a completely wireless design.
AirPods eliminate the hassles of wireless headphones, by just flipping open the lid of its innovative charging case and with one tap, they are instantly set up and ready to work with your iPhone and Apple Watch.
