Apple retailer claims 2-3 month delay for W1-equipped BeatsX

Apple's AirPods aren't the only W1 wireless chip product having problems — a customer who pre-ordered the the BeatsX In-Ear Headphones has been informed that there will be at least a 2-3 month delay on shipping.

An AppleInsider reader was informed by authorized Apple reseller B&H that Beats still does not exactly know when they will ship the item. No additional detail was provided.

The BeatsX In-Ear Headphones utilize Apple's W1 chip, the same as the oft-delayed Apple AirPods. Apple's custom W1 wireless chip, allows for fast pairing, and a robust connection between an audio player and the audio device. The currently shipping PowerBeats 3 headphone includes the W1.

It is not clear what the problems with the AirPods, and the BeatsX are. One report from Friday claimed that continued delays for Apple's AirPods headphones are reportedly related to troubles in syncing audio between the two separate earpieces. However, that report was refuted by one later in the same day postulating that the issue was related to building the technology at scale.

In November, the same retailer claimed that the BeatsX would ship in December. Around the same time, Fry's noted a Dec. 5 ship date.

13 Comments

webweasel 138 comments · 16 Years

About 7 years ago

Another possibility is that they don't want to launch the Beats X in case it canibalizes sales of Air Pods when they eventually launch... And they've put the UK price up too.

smiffy31 202 comments · 12 Years

the same as the oft-delayed Apple AirPods

They have been delayed exactly once up till now, how is that oft ?
What's with all the doom and gloom its a pair of headphones. People are making out that this is a catastrophic failure, as usual they are working till they are as near to their idea of perfect as they can. Everyone who has tried a pair has said they work great, so this is almost certainly a production problem. Companies who do not have to produce millions of anything to not be called out for creating a deliberate shortage and are willing to use their end users as testers obviously don't have this problem.

webweasel said:

Another possibility is that they don't want to launch the Beats X in case it canibalizes sales of Air Pods when they eventually launch... And they've put the UK price up too.

Apple have NEVER cared about cannibalising their own products, either way they make a sale.

Metriacanthosaurus 880 comments · 8 Years

smiffy31 said:

the same as the oft-delayed Apple AirPods

They have been delayed exactly once up till now, how is that oft ?
What's with all the doom and gloom its a pair of headphones. People are making out that this is a catastrophic failure, as usual they are working till they are as near to their idea of perfect as they can. Everyone who has tried a pair has said they work great, so this is almost certainly a production problem. Companies who do not have to produce millions of anything to not be called out for creating a deliberate shortage and are willing to use their end users as testers obviously don't have this problem.

Well, some folks are using it as a jab against the headphone-jackless iPhone, considering Apple's vision for a wireless world requires there to be wireless headphones that don't suck...which is exactly what the W1-equipped products are.

Also, missing the Christmas holiday for a affordably priced gift/accessory like this is a massive failure of management. It is very telling.

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

I’m beginning to think Apple marketing started writing checks that Apple engineering couldn’t cash. In my opinion it’s almost certain that problems have arisen with the W1 chipset.