High demand for the AirPods Pro has reportedly pushed Apple to double production of the wireless earbuds, while the AirPods are said to be under consideration to be bundled with next year’s iPhones, according to separate reports.
Apple asked supplier Luxshare Precision to double production of the AirPods Pro to 2 million units per month in an attempt to meet the surging demand for the high-end earphones, according to Nikkei Asian Review.
Customers are clamoring to ensure their purchase of the AirPods Pro due to the mostly positive reviews for the accessory, including that of Digital Trends’ Caleb Denison, who described them as “a great set of compact, comfortable, and remarkably effective true wireless earbuds.”
The Nikkei Asian Review report also said that Apple asked Luxshare and Goertek, another Chinese manufacturer, to increase production of the regular AirPods at their facilities in Vietnam, but it was unclear by how much.
In a separate report, DigiTimes said that Apple, amid the continued popularity of the regular AirPods, is thinking about bundling the wireless earbuds with the 2020 iPhones. Other brands said to be considering bundles with truly wireless earbuds for their new smartphone models next year include Samsung and Xiaomi.
The report has drawn skepticism due to the regular starting price of $149 for the AirPods, which may be too high to be included as a free out-of-the-box accessory without raising the price tags of next year’s iPhones. In addition, DigiTimes has been hit-or-miss in its reports involving Apple.
However, there remains the possibility that Apple thinks it is time to replace the wired earphones that come with its iPhones. Bundling AirPods may happen for next year’s high-end models, though with 10 months to go before the 2020 iPhones, it will take a while before Apple confirms or debunks DigiTimes’ report.
For potential customers who are looking to buy the wireless earbuds now instead of waiting if they are bundled with the 2020 iPhones, Best Buy is currently offering discounts for the AirPods and AirPods 2 through Cyber Monday, but the retailer’s supply may run out first.
The AirPods Pro, however, are better than the AirPods in every way, so customers willing to spend $50 more should spring for Apple’s newest version of its wireless earbuds.
