Apple-owned Beats currently sells high-end on-ear headphones that you can find inside the company’s own retail spaces, however, a recent report suggested that Apple is developing its own-brand high-end headphones that it’s going to launch later this year. According to reports, Apple is seeking to capitalize off of the AirPods’ success by launching its very own premium on-ear headphones.
Bloomberg reiterates earlier reports, suggesting that Apple is working on noise-canceling over-ear headphones that will rival similar products from the likes of Bose and even its own Beats by Dre brand. Aside from noise-canceling functionality, the new headphones will reportedly have similar wireless pairing functionality to the AirPods.
The report adds that Apple is planning to launch these headphones as early as the end of this year but it has faced “development challenges” which could end up delaying the release. There are also concerns that this new product could end up cannibalizing sales from the Beats brand that’s also owned by Apple.
Work on this product has been on-and-off over the past year, according to the report, with the company going through multiple redesigns of the product. The possibility that Apple might redesign the headphones again before launch hasn’t been ruled out. It may even decide to shelve the project altogether.
No word as yet on how much these headphones will cost. Apple hasn’t confirmed or denied these reports so far, so take then with a grain of salt until there’s more clarity on the matter.