Mike Wuerthele
A French reseller has started pre-orders of the Apple wireless AirPods, and is telling customers that the highly sought-after device will ship on Nov. 30.
According to Mac4Ever, French retailer Fnac has started the preorder process, with the AirPods retailing for € 179.99 , one euro more than Apple's online price. Orderers are being informed that the order will ship on or around November 30.
In the beginning of November, reports circulated that AirPods wouldn't ship until January. AppleInsider was told that there was "no way that these are getting pushed to January."
Additionally, AppleInsider has learned that some Apple retail stores already have demonstration units, and are awaiting word from Cupertino to start demonstrating the product.
Several venues have also received hardware for review. Those arrived prior to the quiet reveal that the AirPods wouldn't ship in time to meet an original "late October" ship date.
Apple has still not yet officially revealed a release date for the product.
Apple's AirPods, Powerbeats 3, Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones all feature a the Apple-designed W1 chip that makes it easier to pair with multiple Apple devices. In addition to the W1, AirPods also include beam-forming microphones, accelerometers, infrared sensors, and a small charging and carrying case that will provide more power on the go as well as the mechanism to sync with the iPhone 7.
Stay tuned to AppleInsider's Accessories Price Guide over the next few weeks for the latest prices and availability on Apple's new AirPods.
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7 Comments
Just in time for last-minute Christmas shopping hysteria: "I need AirPods! Where can I get them?!" I remember -- not so fondly -- the early days of searching Apple stores for Apple Pencil.
CAVEAT ABOUT HOW RELIABLE THIS ISAnybody in France or Belgium will tell you - if you buy products from Fnac, good luck with their predicting shipping dates. Ive stopped using them (im in France) because on a number of occasions i've done a pre-order and then it's been cancelled by Fnac.