AppleInsider Staff
Vietnamese website Tinhte.vn (via MacRumors) posted the video and accompanying high-quality images of the purported device on Saturday, noting the Apple-branded product will likely be introduced either alongside the sixth-generation iPhone.
The site believes the in-ear headphones came from a Vietnamese Foxconn plant as cable labeling reads "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in Vietnam." While the validity of the claims can't be verified, Tinhte says the build quality of the part has them convinced it is a legitimate Apple product.
Source: Tinhte
As for the design, the in-ear unit is somewhat a departure from current earphone models from Apple, featuring a truncated teardrop shape that is supposedly more comfortable than the gratis set supplied with the iPhone. It appears the alleged headphones are essentially a combination of Apple's current lineup and use dynamic, or moving coil, technology in a seamless chassis that partially enters the ear canal.
What looks to be two ports can be seen behind the headphone's protective mesh grate, hinting at a dual-driver, balanced armature system akin to the one seen in Apple's higher-end after-market in-ear unit. The use of such tech is unlikely, however, as the slits seen on the back of the earpiece and bottom of the stem are not in line with such a setup, which usually calls for a sealed chassis to perform optimally.
Also of note is the apparent lack of an inline microphone and volume controls, two features necessary for use with an iPhone, however the tell-tale TRRS connector (3.5mm headphone jack with four contacts instead of a stereo headset's three) needed for mic functionality can briefly be seen near the end of the video. It is possible that the mics are embedded within the headphone itself, though it is impossible to make any definitive judgment from images and video alone.
Apple is widely expected to release the next-generation iPhone on Sept. 12, with a U.S. release to follow on Sept. 21.
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79 Comments
If only they were wireless.
The font for "R" and "L" is unlike any Apple has used so far, but Apple is known for completely reinventing things we take for granted.
I'm looking at these things, scratching my head and trying to figure out how they work. Either mine are weirdly shaped or they don't make ears today like they used to.
I'm looking at these things, scratching my head and trying to figure out how they work. Either mine are weirdly shaped or they don't make ears today like they used to.
The face of the bud with the letter on it goes into your ear in the same way that the flat, open, speakery face of the current do. The tiny speaker grill there feeds sound in the old way and the front-facing one bounces it through your ear another way.
I'm sure they'll explain how it's better. That is, if these are even real and make any sense at all. I would have assumed the opposite facing way to be true…
I wonder how well the bass is on these compared to the ones shipped today? The ones I got with my iPhone 4s are ok but I wish they were better fit into my ear for exercise. They keep falling out even though I use the little tensioner.