Beats to skip Studio Wireless headphone update in 2016, report says
Apple-owned Beats won't be updating its over-ear Studio Wireless headphones in 2016 due to a lack of battery life improvements, according to a report published Thursday.
Citing a source close to Apple, CNET reports Beats is not planning to release an update to its popular Studio Wireless headphone model anytime soon, adding that a 2016 model is apparently out of the question. Battery life improvements, or more specifically a lack thereof, are at the heart of Beats' decision.
Beats was able to squeeze out longer play times in its two latest wireless headphone models thanks to Apple's W1, a custom designed low-energy Bluetooth chip also incorporated into the company's upcoming AirPods product. The two W1-powered Beats models -- Solo3 Wireless and PowerBeats3 Wireless -- were introduced during Apple's iPhone 7 special event earlier this month. A neckband-style model called BeatsX and the entry-level EP also debuted during that launch.
Thanks to the W1 chip the Solo3 Wireless has three times the battery life of its Solo2 counterpart. The chip, however, can't offer the same results in the Studio Wireless due to that model's active noise cancelling technology.
With sales staying steady for the current Studio Wireless model, Apple isn't likely to rush the release of an updated Studio Wireless model.
Citing a source close to Apple, CNET reports Beats is not planning to release an update to its popular Studio Wireless headphone model anytime soon, adding that a 2016 model is apparently out of the question. Battery life improvements, or more specifically a lack thereof, are at the heart of Beats' decision.
Beats was able to squeeze out longer play times in its two latest wireless headphone models thanks to Apple's W1, a custom designed low-energy Bluetooth chip also incorporated into the company's upcoming AirPods product. The two W1-powered Beats models -- Solo3 Wireless and PowerBeats3 Wireless -- were introduced during Apple's iPhone 7 special event earlier this month. A neckband-style model called BeatsX and the entry-level EP also debuted during that launch.
Thanks to the W1 chip the Solo3 Wireless has three times the battery life of its Solo2 counterpart. The chip, however, can't offer the same results in the Studio Wireless due to that model's active noise cancelling technology.
With sales staying steady for the current Studio Wireless model, Apple isn't likely to rush the release of an updated Studio Wireless model.
Comments
in any event apple didn't design this product line or its price points. but based on how successful it remaims Beats was clearly a slamdunk acquisition.
Or at least an optional battery expansion wristband.
With Apple'a speed of innovation I'm surprised they can't "crack" this issue. This leads me to believe the Beats team is completely separated from Apple.
I just can't understand how the company that makes the best products on the planet (6s, 7, SSD 5 and 4k iMac, etc.) can also make the worst, more overpriced, piece of sh*t that damages their brand so much (all the products mentioned on the first paragraph + iPhone 6 with gimped RAM that guarantees a short useful lifespan, all iPhones between the 4 and 5s with their pathetic small screens, old Mac Pros, etc.).
I just don't get it. They might profit from it, but it damages their brand and user experience so much.
With Apple'a speed of innovation I'm surprised they can't "crack" this issue. This leads me to believe the Beats team is completely separated from Apple.
Tim needs to bring this division in and let Jony and Co put some Apple into these things before the brand and value of "Beats" is further tainted who ever is running this product dep definitely isn't Cuppetino IMO
iPhone with gimped ram? get real and come off it. iPhones have the best longevity in the industry. always have. iPhone 4-5s had awesome screens and were in fact so popular that they re-released that size in the SE. so you got that wrong, too. don't feel bad tho, you aren't a pro at product design. apple is.