According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who issued a new research note says that Apple plans to release two new headphone products, one is the new AirPods which support "Hey, Siri", and the other is an "own-brand, high-end over-ear headphones", and it could as soon as the third quarter of 2018 (fourth fiscal quarter) begin shipping to customers.
 |
| Image Credit Highsnobiety |
The analysts emphasize that the handphone will be produced by Primax, SZS to handle the metal forming process, and using a new design that different from Beats Studio 3, at same time, it has comparable convenience compared to AirPods, with the sound quality is even better than AirPods.
Apple to have own-brand, high-end over-ear headphones with all-new design; to be as convenient as AirPods with better sound quality; shipments to begin 4Q18F at earliest; Primax & SZS will be the key suppliers & will benefit from high ASPs. We believe that after AirPods and HomePod, Apple’s next addition will be high-end over-ear headphones, making its acoustic accessory lineup more complete. Existing suppliers Primax and SZS will be Apple’s partners on this new product. Primax will receive assembly orders on its familiarity with the acoustic business, and SZS is likely to use MIM technology advantages as leverage to become the exclusive or main MIM part supplier. The new headphones will be priced higher than AirPods and should help boost the business momentum of Primax as the assembly provider.
The company is also expected to release second-generation of AirPods. AirPods 2 basically unchanged in shape, but to use the new W2 chip to further enhancing the battery life and improve Bluetooth sound quality. AirPods 2 supports Hey Siri voice commands, plus a new charging case that will be capable of wireless charging function.
