Malcolm Owen
Prolific leaker Jon Prosser has offered a look at what the "AirPods Studio" could look like, with 3D renders showing metal and leather casing with mesh ear pads.
Following Monday's renders of "AirTags" event, Jon Prosser advised a second video was on the way covering "AirPods Studio" in a similar fashion. Prosser did warn in the "AirTags" video that "AirPods Studio" were unlikely to be appearing at the special event, which ended up being true.
Just as with "AirTags," Prosser received video depicting the "AirPods Studio" from his source which he handed over to "ConceptCreator" to produce renders in order to protect his source. Before the renders could be published, however, the leaker known as Fudge shared the video in a tweet.
What are AirPods Studio
In a continuation of the AirPods line, the "AirPods Studio" are thought to be a departure from the wireless earbuds design by being a pair of over-the-ear headphones. The premium personal audio accessory have been long rumored, and could contain quite a few features that AirPods already provide.
On top of the existing sensors in the AirPods and AirPods Pro for determining which earbud is worn, as well as for playing and pausing audio when removed from the ear, the "AirPods Studio" is thought to have more sensors to use. For example, a proximity sensor in the headband would determine how the headphones are being worn, and could automatically play or pause music.
Other sensors covering whether the headphones are worn back to front have also been suggested, meaning there wouldn't be a specific left-ear or right-ear speaker as usual. Active Noise Cancellation from the AirPods Pro is also thought to make an appearance, taking advantage of the enclosed earcups to create a better seal.
There have been suggestions that Apple may offer a lot of customization options for the "AirPods Studio," including lots of swappable parts, such as magnetically-held headbands and ear cups. A sports version may be offered made from plastic and rubber, while a luxury version may feature leather and metal, while the swappable nature could also allow for the use of specialized components, like sweat-resistant earcups.
Speculation from Prosser himself put the price of the "AirPods Studio" at around $349.
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Christine McKee
William Gallagher
Andrew Orr
22 Comments
I will buy these the day they come out, if they are what I hope they will be. The anticipation is killing me.
StudioPods is a better name. "Air" makes you think they are the light version.
With that said I want these to compete with high-end brands like Sennheiser and not crap like Bose. Beats can be Apple's "hip" casual brand and "StudioPods" could be their Pro line where they don't limit themselves.
I still don’t get why these are called “AirPods”. Aren’t they headphones? Aren’t AirPods those little guys that go in your ears?
If that's remotely close to the real thing, they look gorgeous.
If Apple comes out with over-the-ear phones with noise canceling, I'll order them on day 1. Especially if they look as durable as these do, I've been eyeing Bose's offering for years, but never actually taken the plunge. I hope that they offer them to be used with a headphone cord too, so that when the battery fails they can still be used as awesome headphones.