Apple Says AirPods Are 'Incredibly Popular' as Availability Remains Limited

Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday said AirPods continue to be "incredibly popular" and a "runaway hit" for the company.

"AirPods are incredibly popular and we're seeing them in more and more places—in the gym, in coffee shops, wherever people are enjoying music on their Apple devices," said Cook, following Apple's earnings report. "This product is a runaway hit, and we're working hard to meet the incredible demand."

Apple does not disclose AirPod sales, and instead groups the wireless earphones into its broad "Other Products" category in earnings results, but there's at least a few reasons to believe they're very popular indeed.

For starters, Apple reported $3.9 billion revenue from its "Other Products" category in the March quarter, an impressive 38 percent increase over the year-ago quarter. Apple said its wearable and home products like the AirPods, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and HomePod accounted for over 90 percent of that growth.

Second, Apple said unit sales of both AirPods and the Apple Watch reached a new all-time high for the March quarter, without revealing specifics.

Third, since launching in December 2016, AirPods have rarely been in stock on Apple's online store. Orders placed today still face a one-week delivery estimate, suggesting Apple can't keep up with strong demand, may be experiencing mass production challenges, or some combination of those two factors.

Barclays analysts recently forecasted that AirPods shipments may approach 30 million units in 2018, while former KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimated 26-28 million shipments on the year.

Looking ahead, Apple plans to release a wireless charging case for AirPods to be used with its AirPower charging mat, slated for release in 2018. Beyond that, Mark Gurman reported that Apple may release new AirPods with "Hey Siri" functionality as early as this year, and a water-resistant pair as early as next year.

AirPods are available for $159 on Apple's online store. Limited supplies are also available at select Apple retail stores.

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Top Rated Comments

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MrTemple

7 months ago

If they had rubber buds, I’d buy them in an instant. The hard plastic doesn’t sit in my ears well or comfortably.

Rating: 14 Votes

Relentless Power

7 months ago

Undoubtedly this product has been extremely successful. And I don’t think it’s just because of them being wireless, it’s also because of the technology (ease of Pairing, pulling one AirPod out to play/pause music, ect) , the battery life coupled with the convenience of portability with the charging case. I think something else worth noting, is compared to the competition, they are priced affordably. The sound is adequate, loud and crisp.

Rating: 9 Votes

Relentless Power

7 months ago

They always have them on the shelf in my campus bookstore. Didn't think there was any shortage.

Perhaps not everyone is aware your campus bookstore sells them. Most who are interested or think to purchase the AirPods, likely flock to stores like Target, Best Buy or local Apple stores. (And of course online purchases.)

Rating: 8 Votes

Aluminum213

7 months ago

Best new Apple product since the original iPad

The only thing I’d want improved is battery life

Rating: 7 Votes

Dave245

7 months ago

I’m not surprised, I’ve seen a lot of people with AirPods out and about in London including myself, they are a great little pair of earphones and very popular.
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What a load of rubbish, no shortage, just not selling....just like the HomePod !

Have you been out recently? I see people with them on a daily basis, the AirPods are very popular!

Rating: 7 Votes

Jim Lahey

7 months ago

Airpods are fabulous. Particularly when used with an Apple Watch.

Rating: 6 Votes

Jim Lahey

7 months ago

Oh yes.
Every time I head outside for some exercise I leave the iPhone on my desk and marvel at how far I've come from my walkman in the 80's to a watch on my wrist playing music wirelessly to buds in my ears.

I feel sorry for those who find them uncomfortable to wear as I often forget I'm wearing them after I've turned them off. They are sublime in every respect.

The best bit for me is the "freedom" of having no wires hanging around you. It allows you do manual labour chores without the worry of catching them up in what you are doing. It's so liberating.

I actually don’t play music directly from my watch. I use the Now Playing app on the watch as a remote control, while my phone is elsewhere/nearby/charging, but the end result is the same - freedom. Volume up/down with the crown wheel is very nice :)

As for the audio quality, in my opinion AirPods deliver great sound for the purpose of which they’re intended - which is surely casual/fitness/outdoors/urban etc. The way some guys dribble on you’d think they walk down the high street with a pair of Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus strapped to their head :D

I don’t think I’d use them for video though, as I’m very sensitive to lip sync, and the Bluetooth connection does introduce some latency in my experience.

Rating: 5 Votes

Seoras

7 months ago

Airpods are fabulous. Particularly when used with an Apple Watch.

Rating: 4 Votes

ghostface147

7 months ago

I see them more and more these days out in public. Still crazy that they are not the easiest to find. Not as hard as a few months ago though.

Rating: 4 Votes

PickUrPoison

7 months ago

Compressed < lossless audio files
Bluetooth < wired headphones
Earbuds < IEMs < over ear headphones

Compromise after compromise. It’s a race to the lowest common denominator.

Life is full of compromises.

Wired over ear headphones are difficult to use in a lot of situations in which wireless earbuds excel. Two different products, each have various advantages and disadvantages depending on your needs.

Rating: 3 Votes

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