Ah, it’s that time of year again – Apple‘s latest iPhone announcement comes tomorrow. Rumors have been flying as of late suggesting that the newest phone will not have a headphone jack, making any current existing headphones that require plugging in obsolete. With this announcement could also be a new wireless headphone product from Beats, according to a leaked email sent by Beats’ PR team.
This email was sent to French-speaking journalists inviting them to the Sept. 7 event and also referred to new Beats products that have not been announced yet. It revealed that there will be new products from Beats by Dre released at the event.
Apple purchased Beats by Dre in 2014, so it comes as no surprise if this rumor is true and we will be seeing new wireless headphones come shortly. It’s unclear whether the product will be Bluetooth to run alongside the already existing Beats products that run via Bluetooth, or if they will be new headphones built specifically for the Lightning port. Though this will be up in the air until the event, KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo, a well-established Apple analyst has his own theory. He wrote in a note reported on by MacRumors, 9to5Mac, and AppleInsider:
“We believe Apple will position Beats in the midrange market once it launches Apple’s own-brand Bluetooth headphones, in order to maximize profit with a dual-brand strategy…Â We also believe Apple will have its own-designed Bluetooth-like communication chip, given its higher requirements for power-saving, communication specs, and potential rapid growth of Bluetooth headphone shipments.”
Word on the street is that Apple is also set to release its own pair of high end AirPods to go alongside its new Aux-less iPhone. Of course since its Apple, the AirPods will eschew Bluetooth that exists in every wireless device made in the past 5 years in favor of a proprietary wireless technology. Of course Apple will describe a myriad of reasons why its technology is better, perhaps better battery use or higher fidelity are the given reasons. However Apple also knows that fanboys will only be able to use its AirPods with Apple devices at whatever price they set. If other device makers want to be trendy they will have to pay up to put the technology in their devices. The iPhone will still have Bluetooth capabilities, but Apple will certainly attempt to shift people off of it and onto their technology.
As for now, we’ll have to wait and see what rumors are true. The event starts in San Francisco at 1pm ET.
