Apple may launch AirPods Studio headphones sooner than expected: Report

Apple is reportedly planning to launch the long-rumoured over-ear noise cancelling headphone under Apple branding dubbed AirPods Studio. 

The high-end headphones were first rumoured in February 2018 by former KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Later, it was estimated that the headphones would launch sometime in the second half of 2020. Still, a new report from Digitimes indicates that the production of the new headphone is already underway and it could be unveiled sooner than expected. 

As per Digitimes, Apple is likely to kill its wired earphones production and resume the AirPods 2 production in the second half of the year. The source also claims that production for Apple rumoured AirPods Studio headphones has now begun.

Apple AirPods Studio: What to expect?

There has been a lot of confusion around the launch of Apple's premium over-ear headphones. It will be the first Apple-branded over-ear headphones ever. As per YouTuber Jon Prosser, the new headphones will join the AirPods lineup alongside the AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro, and it's supposed to be different from Apple's Beats lineup, which happens to have a wide range of over-ear headphones.

As per the rumours, AirPods Studio will come with Active noise-cancelling, which cuts down unwanted noise to let you focus on the audio. It is likely to come with a transparency mode that reduces the audio volume and let you hear the ambient noise.

Bloomberg reported that Apple had tested at least two versions of the headphones - a high-end premium variant and a fitness-oriented made with lightweight materials. Both the options are said to have magnetically swappable ear cups and headband padding that will let users customise its look by merely switching the padding, similar to Apple Watch bands.

As per a report by 9to5Mac, it is said to have AirPods-like sensor-based ear detection feature that stops the music when the earphones are taken off. In place of ear detection, Apple is working to include sensors that can detect whether the headphones are on your head or neck. It is said to boast of a new sensor that will enable the headphones to recognise left and right ears to route audio channels automatically. Which means, there won't be fixed left or right earcups and can be worn without checking for left and right channel.

The price is rumoured to be USD 350 (approx INR 26,500). If this turns out to be accurate, it will compete against other noise-cancelling headphones from companies like Bose and Sony.

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