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Next-Gen AirPods to Spark Intense Competition in Smart Earbuds Market Next Year

Wednesday December 5, 2018 2:45 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Continuing improvements to Apple's popular AirPods wireless earphones will trigger an intense round of ear-device innovation and competition in 2019 as tech companies look to other avenues for growth amid declining smartphone sales, according to respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a research note published today and obtained by MacRumors, Kuo predicted that AirPods, which are the most successful current Apple product, will rapidly grow in popularity next year when upgraded models appear, with many brands to follow Apple's steps with their own competing products. Kuo also laid out how he expects the in-ear devices to evolve over the coming years in the context of Apple's ecosystem.

We believe that the AirPods are more than just earbuds for Apple and will become increasingly important in Apple's ecosystem for the following reasons. (1) They increase the switching costs for users to Android from the iOS ecosystem. (2) This is an important device for voice assistant/AI services because it can easily enable the voice assistant. (3) The ear is a perfect sensing area for detecting various health data. It may integrate with the Apple Watch to offer better health management in the future.
For an idea of the potential health integrations Apple has in mind for future AirPods, a new patent awarded to Apple on Tuesday (spotted by 9to5Mac) shows AirPod-like devices performing heart rate monitoring and taking body temperature measurements.

With smartphone shipments slowing, more brand vendors are said to be paying attention to wireless earbud sales as a way to generate growth in the near-term, with a view to long-term strategic improvements in the ear-device space, according to Kuo.

Google and Amazon are expected to become Apple's main competitors in the emerging market, due to the former's Android influence and the latter's mature Alexa voice assistant. AirPod-like products from both companies are expected to be launched in the second half of next year.
We believe that AirPods' success has drawn Google and Amazon's attention and these two companies will launch AirPod-alike products in 2H19. The combined shipments of two brands will likely reach 10–20mn units in 2H19. Goertek (assembly) and Unitech (Rigid-flex PCB) are sole suppliers for Google and Amazon. We think that Google and Amazon are Apple's main competitors because Google is the most influential brand in the Android ecosystem and Amazon has the best voice assistant service.
Earlier this week, Kuo said he expected Apple's AirPods to see "dramatic growth" over the next two years, with new AirPods with a wireless charging case to debut in the first quarter of 2019, and an "all-new design model" following in the first quarter of 2020.

Kuo also said that fewer than 5 percent of iPhone users currently own AirPods, and with over 1 billion iPhone users worldwide, there are "great potential growth opportunities" for the accessory. Almost a year ago, Kuo predicted Apple would launch upgraded AirPods in the second half of 2018, but Apple's difficulties in bringing its AirPower charging mat to market likely impacted those plans.

Just ahead of Apple's October media event, Kuo said he was uncertain about the timing for an AirPods update, suggesting the new models could come late in the fourth quarter or early in the first quarter of 2019.

Related Roundup: AirPods 2
Tags: Ming-Chi Kuo, AirPods Guide
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
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Top Rated Comments

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BruiserBear
12 months ago
I continue to be amazed at how well these sell given how ridiculous they look on people.
Rating: 22 Votes
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tromboneaholic
12 months ago

I continue to be amazed at how well these sell given how ridiculous they look on people.

They look the same as the regular EarPods without wires, and these days people with wires are starting to look a bit silly....
Rating: 12 Votes
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Scottsoapbox
12 months ago
Smart earbud market? Now you're just making things up.
Rating: 11 Votes
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daveheinzel
12 months ago
Of all the Apple products I’ve owned over the past few decades, AirPods might be my favorite. I love them so much.
Rating: 11 Votes
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deckard666
12 months ago
Again brand awareness is everything - I see an android watch or in-ear headphones and have no idea which brand they belong to whereas both the airpods and apple watch are instantly recognisable. Well done A :)
Rating: 10 Votes
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bluush
12 months ago
AirPods refuse to stay in my ears, have mediocre sound and look ridiculous. Apple has a long way to go in order to improve these things. As of now, they simply see them as a way to generate more revenue because their lack of creativity with the iPhone is hurting them.
Rating: 9 Votes
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BvizioN
12 months ago
For me, removing that headphone jack was one of the best things Apple did. I just can't imagine going back to wired music listening.... never again!
Rating: 7 Votes
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smoking monkey
12 months ago
Starting to see them everywhere recently in Japan. Only the past 2 months though. Before that it was like finding hens' teeth. They are a great product and they totally changed my experience with the iPhone as I consume content on it due to work and travel. It used to drive me crazy getting constantly caught up with those cables.
Rating: 5 Votes
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pete2106
12 months ago

Of all the Apple products I’ve owned over the past few decades, AirPods might be my favorite. I love them so much.


Same, they really are under-appreciated. They are the best product Apple has released in recent years and they don't get the appreciation they deserve.
Rating: 5 Votes
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tromboneaholic
12 months ago

what about people who are concerned with having bluetooth technology right next to your head on both sides.

I imagine they won't buy Amazon's or Google's headphones either.
Rating: 5 Votes

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