Apple AirPods Release Date Possibly Delayed Until Jan. 2017: Report [u]

Could we see AirPods delayed until early 2017? If the following report from Chinese publication Economic Daily News (via Digitimes) is accurate, suppliers are said to ship AirPods in January 2017:

Apple originally planned to release the AirPods at the end of October, but has postponed release. Inventec is expected to begin shipping AirPods in January 2017, the paper noted.

Inventec is expected to see increased revenues of 7 per cent year-over-year in 2017 to reach $23.83 billion USD, thanks to landing a contract to build Apple’s AirPods.

Apple’s new wireless AirPods—priced at $219 CAD—are the ultimate companion headphones for iPhone 7 users, who lack a headphone jack. They were slated for a “late October” release date, but Apple delayed them, citing the need for more time to ensure they will be ready to be shipped.

Apple’s website currently lists AirPods availability as ‘Currently unavailable’. Many expect AirPods to be released for sale soon, to take advantage of the upcoming holiday shopping season. If they are indeed delayed until January 2017, that would be a definite missed opportunity for Apple. Let’s hope this rumour isn’t true.

Update: AppleInsider reached out to Apple, who responded they do not comment on “rumours or speculation.”

Furthermore, sources tell the site there is no official delay until January, with one unnamed source saying there was “no way that these are getting pushed to January.”

Meanwhile, U.S. retail sources tell AppleInsider they have AirPods available in store for demos, and that they are “just waiting on the word to start.”

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