Apple-branded over-the-year headphones may launch this year

Apple is reportedly set to launch another high-end audio product this year. According to a report in Bloomberg, “The Cupertino, California-based technology giant is working on noise-canceling, over-ear headphones that rival headsets from market leaders like Bose and even the company’s own Beats by Dre brand.” The report quotes people familiar with the product’s development plan.
The report further adds that the company has plans to launch the new headphones as soon as the end of the year 2018, however, some development challenges may delay the release.
Apple is said to be working on the headphones since over a year now. The headphones are said to be high-end with noise-cancellation capabilities as well as feature wireless pairing like AirPods. There’s also speculation that the headphones will rival brands like Bose and Beats by Dre.
So far there is no information on the price of the headphones, but rumours suggest it to be a high-end device.
The report says Apple has been influenced by the success of its AirPods. In December 2017, Ming-Chi Kuo said in a research note that he sees Apple double shipments of AirPods in 2018. The numbers may touch 26-28 million units. The KGI report terms AirPods as ‘Apple’s most important accessory product’.
Apple launched AirPods in the year 2016 along with Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus smartphones. The company, however, initially faced supply constraint issues with AirPods. The wireless headphones finally hit the market in December 2017.