Apple could bundle its AirPods with the new iPhones in 2020, according to reports.
DigiTimes has suggested that several vendors, including Samsung and Apple, will bundle their new smartphones with truly wireless stereo earbuds in 2020 to offer users more value and increase the competitiveness of their smartphones in an increasingly crowded market.
This report should be taken with a pinch of salt, as AirPods start at $159 and so bundling them together with the new iPhone could see figures return to $1,000+ unless Apple has found a way to cut costs and make a cheaper version of its popular wireless earbuds.
What’s more, AirPods are now a popular product category for the company, allowing Apple to add a new revenue stream to its bow and reduce its reliance on smartphone sales.
Apple’s latest AirPods product, the AirPods Pro, are so popular that Apple has reportedly doubled production to meet demand.
The company is expected to ship 60 million AirPods in 2019 alone, thanks in part to the success of the new AirPods Pro and the earlier AirPods 2.
For several years, Apple has offered wired versions of its AirPods product – known as EarBuds with a Lightning connector – in the box.
These cost Apple very little to make and are available for just $29 on its website for those who are looking for a replacement product.
Though there’s no guarantee Apple will ship AirPods with the next iPhone, there’s certainly a case for the company to offer something more advanced than the standard EarPods.
Bundling AirPods with the iPhone 12 could no doubt make the AirPods the world’s best-selling wireless earphones, and give Apple another market-leading product.
The company may choose to offer the AirPods as part of the high-end iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max models to cut costs and offer EarPods with the cheaper iPhone 11 successor.
All three 2020 iPhones are expected to feature a bunch of new changes including under-the-screen fingerprint recognition and 5G capability.
Adding AirPods to the mix would make the new devices even more compelling, encouraging more consumers to upgrade.
Could you see Apple offering AirPods for free with iPhones? Let us know what you think on Twitter and check back soon for more Apple news and rumors, as and when we get them.
