Another Mark Gurman scoop, with caveats high up.
From Bloomberg’s Apple Turns Up Audio Ambition With High-End Headphones:
[Apple] is working on noise-canceling, over-ear headphones that rival headsets from market leaders like Bose and even the company’s own Beats by Dre brand, according to people familiar with the product’s development. The company plans to launch the headphones as early as the end of this year, but has faced development challenges that might push back the release, the people said.
Third paragraph:
It’s possible Apple will redesign the headphones again before launch, or scrap the project altogether, they warned, asking not to be identified discussing private development work.
My take: It’s possible Apple will release this new product on the reported schedule, unlike, say, AirPods, HomePod or the iPhone X.
Here’s what I want: An Apple Watch for the ears. The whole field of hearing aids is ripe for disruption. And I say that as one who should be wearing hearing aids but refuses to pay the price they want for the better ones.
If they cancel out the noise from “supply chain rumours” and Ming-Chi then count me in for a pair,.
JB I am totally in on the idea of Apple hearing aids. It is a huge and growing market and Apple certainly has the tech knowledge to succeed. I have often wondered why Apple hasn’t already made the move, particularly with Cook’s interest in and devotion to medical needs. Top quality hearing aids already cost a fortune. Apple could deliver twice the quality without charging a dime more. Not that I have anything against dimes.
The inroads Apple is making into health and the expertise and equipment it has developed IMO place it far ahead of the pack, and certainly in a prime spot to make a big move. I’m pretty sure we’ll be reading suggestions from the analyst community that Apple spin off “Apple Health” into a new entity. The Street would love it, although I think splitting Apple up at all and losing the vertical integration of not just software and hardware but now services too would be a mistake.