Apple's AirPods a smash hit, shipments could reach 28M in 2018
Declaring AirPods "the most important accessory in Apple's wireless ecosystem," analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he believes the company could ship between 26 million and 28 million units of the completely wireless headphones next year.
Those sales, according to the KGI Securities analyst, would represent 100 percent year over year growth. The predictions were made in a note issued to investors on Monday, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider.
AirPods shipped in late 2016, but Apple has struggled to keep up with demand for much of their availability. That has changed in recent months, with an improved assembly process and increased capacity from adding a second manufacturer.
While Inventec used to be the sole supplier of AirPods, Luxshare-ICT has reportedly joined the mix recently. As a result, he sees Luxshare-ICT potentially edging its way into Apple's HomePod supply chain as well.
The $159 AirPods include Apple's custom W1 wireless chip, which allows easy pairing across a range of devices signed into the same iCloud account. The accessory is expected to soon be enhanced by a wireless charging case that will be compatible with Apple's AirPower charging mat.
Those sales, according to the KGI Securities analyst, would represent 100 percent year over year growth. The predictions were made in a note issued to investors on Monday, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider.
AirPods shipped in late 2016, but Apple has struggled to keep up with demand for much of their availability. That has changed in recent months, with an improved assembly process and increased capacity from adding a second manufacturer.
While Inventec used to be the sole supplier of AirPods, Luxshare-ICT has reportedly joined the mix recently. As a result, he sees Luxshare-ICT potentially edging its way into Apple's HomePod supply chain as well.
The $159 AirPods include Apple's custom W1 wireless chip, which allows easy pairing across a range of devices signed into the same iCloud account. The accessory is expected to soon be enhanced by a wireless charging case that will be compatible with Apple's AirPower charging mat.
Comments
So it’s always the same meme from the so-called techie crowd. People who buy Apple products are stupid and that’s really the only explanation that crowd has for why something like the AirPods have succeeded in the market place.
So here I sit, waiting still. I'm sure someone reading this knows there is no refresh or upgrade coming and if that's the case I'd be happy to know.
For another view from the UK, the capital of anti-Apple envy, see the Macalope:
https://www.macworld.com/article/3239354/phone-accessories/if-you-don-t-have-anything-nice-to-say-about-airpods-write-it-up.html
Airpods are great though.
So people can bitch and whine all they want about the MacBook Pro, or over priced earbuds, etc. The fact of the matter is that they're selling, and selling very well. So I have to say that you are in the extreme minority and it may not seem that way because those who whine are the loudest so it seems like its a massive failure, but in reality its just not true. Its quite obvious with the new MacBook Pro that people don't necessarily care about the USB-C only thing, or the new keyboard, touch bar, etc. If it were an issue, people wouldn't buy them. And don't give me this BS that well people are forced to buy them because they're so embedded into the platform. BS!
I think we're also entering a new era where computers, and other devices are different on the inside and some are really struggling with that. We're entering a day and age where you may not be able to tinker inside anymore. Its the way of the world...the way things are going with not just Apple, but many other computer manufacturers as well. Hell, even cars are going this route to some extent. This again, is an area where those who don't like this are loud so it seems like a bigger issue than it really is, but in the grand scheme of things, its not really that big of a deal because 99.9% of folks don't care to do this and never will so its a nonissue. I'm not an engineering/design expert, but I gotta believe its a lot easier to design something where everything is integrated versus having to create expansion slots, ports, holes in the case, etc. I would also think its more reliable as well. Maybe I'm wrong though, I don't know.
As its always been, even when Steve or anyone else was running Apple, they aren't going to make everyone happy 100% of the time. I think it was even Steve who said "You can make some of the people happy, some of the time, but you cannot make some of the people happy, all the time" (I'm paraphrasing there). When you have the amount of customers Apple does, it doesn't matter what you release, you're always going to make some happy and some unhappy. And, some may leave the platform as a result, but I have a feeling that Apple is also introducing a lot of new people to the platform. When more start leaving than entering, then you may have a leg to stand on, but until then, you really don't have an argument. You can not like what Apple is doing, but that doesn't mean you have a valid argument.
This despite the media’s insistence that Apple is befallen within disaster after disaster. Makes one scratch their head, doesn’t it?
I call it Marco Arment's Techie Echo Chamber of Doom, Worry, and Concern (tm).
Of all the bluetooth headphones I have tried in the last 4 years, the AirPods have been the most reliable, have the best battery life, fit amazing well and best of all sound like headphones are supposed to sound.
The lack of controls (and Siri responding poorly to my commands) is the only downside but I readily forgive that for the truly awesome sound that these units produce.
To Airnerd - I suspect the next gen will be out in Q1 next year so maybe wait until then. Otherwise the current version it is a great Xmas present (to yourself
https://www.apple.com/feedback/airpods.html