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Apple Increased AirPods Production Capacity, But Still Unable to Meet Demand

Tuesday August 1, 2017 5:21 pm PDT by Juli Clover
During today's earnings call covering the third fiscal quarter of 2017, Apple CEO Tim Cook briefly mentioned the company's super popular hard-to-come-by wireless earphones, the AirPods.

According to Cook, production capacity has been bumped up, but because of the high level of demand, Apple is still unable to make enough to reach supply/demand balance.
We're also seeing incredible enthusiasm for AirPods. 98 percent customer satisfaction based on Creative Strategy's survey. We have increased production capacity for AirPods and are working very hard to get them to customers as quickly as we can, but we are still not able to meet the strong level of demand.
Priced at $159, Apple's AirPods are wire-free earphones that feature Bluetooth and an Apple-designed W1 chip for a better connection and simple transfers between different devices. AirPods are equipped with an infrared sensor to detect when they're in the ear, and they support a range of touch-based gestures.

Since launch, AirPod supplies have been severely constrained and ship out from the online Apple Store in the U.S. in six weeks. That six week mark has not budged since December, but Apple retail stores occasionally have them in stock as do third-party retailers like Best Buy.

Related Roundup: AirPods 2
Tag: earnings
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Caution)
[ 198 comments ]


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farewelwilliams
20 months ago
and people were laughing their butts off right when Apple announced the price. looking at you MKBHD
Rating: 52 Votes
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darkpaw
20 months ago
"they support a range of touch-based gestures" - well, they support one touch-based gesture: double-tap, and it either invokes Siri, or it pauses your music.

I ordered mine in the 20-minute window they were available in the UK back in December 2016. Got them on 19th December. Haven't used anything else since. They are amazing. If you can afford them, place an order and wait a few weeks. You won't regret it.
Rating: 29 Votes
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AngerDanger
20 months ago

…While there is no doubt they look VERY goofy (come on gentlemen, they just do), but they are simply amazing: they fit your ear tightly and comfortable, and they dont fall out even while jogging…

I genuinely like how they look. They're just EarPods without the long, gangly cables. But to be clear…





Rating: 16 Votes
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bbeagle
20 months ago

Some people will buy anything with an apple logo at any price.


Most of the new Apple products don't have an Apple logo at all. Apple Watch, AirPods.

You need to come up with another excuse.

Plus, both of those products are the best in their categories, for great prices. AirPods - much cheaper than most fully wireless, and Apple Watch - very competitive price for what it does.

Again, you need to come up with better excuses.
Rating: 15 Votes
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b0nd18t
20 months ago
My god do I love my AirPods. They were in stock at Best Buy not long ago as posted on this site. Just pop them in your ear and you're good to go with no hassle. No a huge fan of the looks but whatever
Rating: 14 Votes
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jarman92
20 months ago

And they look ridiculous.... probably why no one is knocking them off.

And yet another ear bud from Apple that is not designed to actually stay in the ear. Every earbud I've gotten with an iPhone still sits in the boxes in the closet unused. I need them to stay in the ear or they are useless.


Ah yes, the fashion-forward tastemakers on the Macrumors forums. Tell me, what haute-couture headphones do you fancy instead?
Rating: 13 Votes
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wigby
20 months ago

And they look ridiculous.... probably why no one is knocking them off.

And yet another ear bud from Apple that is not designed to actually stay in the ear. Every earbud I've gotten with an iPhone still sits in the boxes in the closet unused. I need them to stay in the ear or they are useless.

No one product is ever for everyone and AirPods are no exception. I think they look fine and so do most owners of them. They also seem to have the best microphone quality which is partly a function of their “ugly” design. The same goes for the fit in your ear. I’ve run miles with them and I sweat a lot too so I’m always worried they will slip out of my ears but they never have. Obviously there are millions of happy customers and the only real complaints I’ve heard are from non-customers.
Rating: 10 Votes
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RadioGaGa1984
20 months ago

And they look ridiculous.... probably why no one is knocking them off.

And yet another ear bud from Apple that is not designed to actually stay in the ear. Every earbud I've gotten with an iPhone still sits in the boxes in the closet unused. I need them to stay in the ear or they are useless.


And more nonesense from someone who’s never even tried them.
Rating: 10 Votes
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chetttos
20 months ago
Surprise me the fact that there is no real competitor por AirPods. They are a genuine piece of tech that only Apple can do™
Rating: 8 Votes
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RF9
20 months ago

And yet another ear bud from Apple that is not designed to actually stay in the ear. Every earbud I've gotten with an iPhone still sits in the boxes in the closet unused. I need them to stay in the ear or they are useless.

I go running with them on. Ironically they stay in better than any other sport bud I've used. So I guess they either fit well or not st all.
They have never fallen out of
my ears.
Rating: 6 Votes

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