Apple Delays AirPods, October Launch No Longer Happening

When Apple debuted its AirPods in September, the company said the wireless earbuds would launch in late October. Now that it's late October, people have been wondering if a release is imminent, but as it turns out, the AirPods are delayed.

Apple today told TechCrunch that it needs "a little more time" before the AirPods are ready for a public release, without specifying the reason behind the delay.

airpods-2

"The early response to AirPods has been incredible. We don't believe in shipping a product before it's ready, and we need a little more time before AirPods are ready for our customers," an Apple spokesperson said to TechCrunch.

Apple did not provide TechCrunch with updated launch information, so it is no longer clear when the AirPods will be available for purchase.

AirPods are Apple's premium headphone solution for the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, which do not include a headphone jack. AirPods, powered by Bluetooth and an Apple-designed W1 chip, are entirely wireless with no cords between them.


They include advanced features like infrared sensors to detect when they're in the ear, beam forming microphones to reduce external noise, and accelerometers to respond to touch gestures.

AirPods have been in the hands of reviewers since September and have garnered largely positive reviews for the fit, the features, the simple setup, and the easy recharging.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

Verizon New

Verizon is Down: iPhones Show 'SOS' Mode Due to Network Outage [Resolved]

Wednesday January 14, 2026 10:18 am PST by
Verizon is experiencing a major outage across the U.S. today, with hundreds of thousands of customers reporting issues with the network on the website Downdetector. There are also complaints across Reddit and other social media platforms. iPhone users and others with Verizon service are generally unable to make phone calls, send text messages, or use data over 5G or LTE due to the outage....
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

Wednesday January 14, 2026 7:09 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026: The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, Macs, and More

Thursday January 15, 2026 11:19 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the United States, according to the company's website. Most of the values declined slightly, but some of the Mac values increased. iPhone ...
maxresdefault

Google Gemini-Powered Siri Will Reportedly Have These 7 New Features

Tuesday January 13, 2026 7:52 pm PST by
Apple and Google this week announced that Gemini will help power a more personalized Siri, and The Information has provided more details. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. As soon as this spring, the report said the revamped version of Siri will be able to… Answer more factual/world knowledge questions in a conversational manner Tell more stories Provide...

Top Rated Comments

asleep Avatar
120 months ago
They lost one...
Score: 122 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BobertKennedy Avatar
120 months ago
Airpods are a cruel joke to keep you going back for more.

Score: 67 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Moriarty Avatar
120 months ago
I guess Apple lost them all.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thefredelement Avatar
120 months ago
Oh man, BUT I NEEDED THEM.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Icaras Avatar
120 months ago
Bummed out about the news! I was really looking forward to getting these, but a least my ears won't blow up now :eek:
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ginkobiloba Avatar
120 months ago
"AirPods are Apple's premium headphone solution for the iPhone 7 ('https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-7/') and the iPhone 7 Plus"

Maybe premium in price and in wireless connectivity, but certainly not premium in sound quality.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)