Apple’s next major iPhone, likely called iPhone 12, might be the first Apple phone to come without earpods in the box.
Driving up demand for Apple’s wireless earbuds, the AirPods. Kuo says that Apple might offer a special AirPods promotion in late 2020, which — combined with an earbuds-less iPhone 12 — should be good for AirPods sales.
Although there is no official confirmation on the exclusion of Earpods, the official confirmation will only come when Apple 12 launches.
If true, this might be the beginning of the end for EarPods, which launched in 2012.
Currently, the EarPods with Lightning Connector can be bought separately for $29, and the version with the 3.5-millimetre plug costs exactly the same. The wireless AirPods start at $159, while the AirPods Pro cost $249.
Whether Apple will also launch new AirPods this year is another, more complicated question. Kuo says Apple is more likely to launch new versions in the first half of 2021, while leaker Jon Prosser recently said that new, cheaper AirPods are coming in May 2020.
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