Apple’s new premium headphones will have magnetically-swappable parts, according to a new report from reliable Apple insider Mark Gurman, who writes for Bloomberg.
In his latest report, Mark has shared new information on Apple’s upcoming wireless headphones, which are reportedly set to be unveiled at the virtual Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
Gurman believes that Apple has been prototyping at least two wireless headphone models, an affordable model that’s designed for fitness with breathable materials, and a premium version for professional users, manufactured using leather-like fabrics like the Beats Studios.
Speaking of the new headphones, Bloomberg reports: “Prototypes of the headphones have a retro look with oval-shaped ear cups that swivel and a headband connected by thin, metal arms.
“The arms stem from the top of the ear cups rather than the sides, the people added. They asked not to be identified discussing products that haven’t been announced.”
Sources at Bloomberg suggest that the earpads and headband on the new headphones can be attached to the frame of the headphones magnetically, meaning that users can swap them out for different colors and styles to improve fitness and aesthetics, adding new value.
The headphones are widely predicted to feature wireless pairing with iOS devices and have advanced noise-canceling features to provide a premium listening experience.
What’s more, Siri has been integrated with both touch and voice mechanisms to control playback.
Regarding pricing, Gurman suggests that Apple will set the price of the new headphones at around $350, which puts them in a similar price bracket to premium Bose headphones.
Apple wants to target the higher-end of the headphone market, so it may be that the company launches several versions of the product for different audiences, like professional musicians and everyday users who’d wear the headphones when working out in the gym.
The COVID-19 crisis has cast doubt over the rollout of the new headphones, but Gurman has added that Apple’s Chinese manufacturing partner has “yet to fully recover” from the disruption lockdowns have caused.
This could mean supply chain issues or slow rollouts, as we have seen from other Apple products like MacBooks and the AirPods Pro.
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