Apple to boost AirPods production in 2018: Report

Apple is finally ready to shake off the supply constraints for its AirPods and make them more ubiquitous in 2018.

According to a report by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that was provided to MacRumors, suggest that the company will amplify the production of the earbuds up to double the total number in 2017.

Kuo predicts that Apple will increase Airpods shipments up to 26 to 28 million units in 2018. Kuo also called the buds Apple's ‘most important accessory product.’

The analyst sent out a note to clients, claiming that Apple has improved production of the product and the demand has also continued to pick up. Delivery times have dropped to a range of 1 to 3 days which Kuo says is partly due to an improved assembly process and boosted manufacturing capacity from Apple.

The AirPods have been a commercially successful device, even after there were production delays and concerns about consumer reception. The company doesn’t disclose exactly units it sold in 2017 — Kuo’s 13 to 14 million units is just an estimate — Tim Cook says Apple’s wearable business is roughly the size of a Fortune 400 company on its own.

To recall, Apple launched the Airpods last year alongside the iPhone 7 priced at $159 (Rs 15,400 in India). The wireless AirPods traditionally aimed to compensate for the removal of headphone jack from the iPhone 7.

According to a published patent, Apple is working on new AirPods technology that won’t just be able to charge Apple’s wireless earphones but also other Apple devices like iPhones, iPads and MacBooks.