AirPods Studio ready for launch — here’s when Apple’s Bose killers are coming

By Roland Moore-Colyer
published

AirPods Studio leak claims Apple’s over-ear headphones are entering mass production right now

AirPods Studio
(Image credit: Image Credit: Curved)

Apple’s AirPods Studio (opens in new tab) headphones look more imminent than ever, with a new leak suggesting the high-end cans will be ready for the company's WWDC event in just a few weeks.

According to DigiTimes (opens in new tab)’ sources, the AirPods Studio have entered mass production, which would indicate that Apple may be getting them ready for its June 22 developer conference. DigiTimes didn’t mention any specific sources to link this rumour to, but the publication’s Apple predictions have been on the money before. 

“As Apple is likely to accelerate dropping its wired earphones, the vendor will resume normal shipments for AirPods 2 (opens in new tab) in the second half of the year and its new over-ear headphones, dubbed ‌AirPods Studio‌, has also kicked off production, all securing growth momentum for rigid-flex boards suppliers for the devices,” DigiTimes said, according to a snippet grabbed by MacRumors (opens in new tab).  

This tracks with previous chatter we’ve heard, which has Apple slated to drop the EarPods wired headphones (opens in new tab) from its iPhone 12 (opens in new tab) box, and try and encourage people to buy its AirPods wireless earbuds or the AirPods Pro. And by launching a new pair of over-ear headphones ahead of the iPhone 12 launch in September, Apple will be giving its fans a broader choice of headphones for its new handset.

The AirPods Studio aren’t expected to be cheap, with a rumoured price of $349 that puts them in the same ballpark as top wireless headphones such as the Bose 700 (opens in new tab) and Sony WH-1000XM3 (opens in new tab). However, they will offer active noise cancellation and other smart features, including ear detection and a custom equalizer to allow for better control over the headphones’ audio output. 

Whether Apple can compete with the best wireless headphones has yet to be seen. But the AirPods Pro impressed us, and with the AirPods 3 (opens in new tab) on the horizon, Apple could be poised to deliver an aural one-two punch to the established players in the wireless headphones world. 

Roland Moore-Colyer
Roland Moore-Colyer

Roland Moore-Colyer a Managing Editor at Tom’s Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he’s also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face. 

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Headphones