Apple may have another interesting product in the pipeline. Bloomberg reports that the company is developing new wireless headphones with an over-ear design. Should this push through, it will be the first Apple-branded over-ear headphones to be released.
These new high-end headphones will reportedly sport interchangeable parts, like ear pads and headbands, and will utilize magnetic elements to do so. The oval-shaped ear cups will also be able to swivel and the band will extend from the top of the ear cups instead of on the side like most headphones. The modular design and magnetic parts were designed so that users can switch out to more appropriate parts when working out or doing other activities. It’s a similar approach to how the company designed the Apple Watch and its interchangeable parts.
The report also details that these new headphones will likely adopt the same technology on the AirPods or AirPods Pro. It’s expected to have noise-cancellation technology, voice control, touch controls, and Siri. Apple will be positioning this new device to rival against high-end offerings of Bose, Sennheiser, and Sony. With that in mind, the price will presumably also hover around the USD$ 300 price point or even go higher.
Additionally, there could be at least two variants available. There could be a fitness-focused model that will use lighter, breathable fabrics and a more premium version using leather-like fabrics.
These new headphones have been in development for two years and Apple is rumored to release it later this year. It’s highly probable, though, that the release may be pushed back due to COVID-19 and how it has affected various manufacturing plants in China. Apple, in particular, has Chinese company GoerTek Inc. as its partner for the handling and assembly of its current line of headphones. The company has reportedly not fully recovered from the pandemic’s effects.
