Apple to cut production of AirPods because people are buying cheaper wireless earphones
India Today
Apple is now expecting to manufacture AirPods between 75 million and 85 million units for 2021.
Apple AirPods are among the top-selling products in the iPhone maker’s kitty, but its sales may be losing steam. And that is why Apple has reportedly asked its manufacturing lines to reduce the production of AirPods wireless earphones by 25 to 30 per cent. Apple is facing huge competition in the wireless earphones market in the US and even though the iPhone maker is in the leading position, sales of the AirPods fell short of Apple’s expectations. Apple got AirPods manufactured more than it is selling, leading to a huge unsold inventory right now. According to Nikkei Asia, Apple is now expecting to manufacture AirPods between 75 million and 85 million units for 2021. It was previously hopeful about sales of more units, which is why its previous forecast suggested 110 million units. Apple’s plan to downscale the production of AirPods indicates that the demand for the premium wireless earphones that has become an integral part of Apple’s ecosystem is weakening, despite the double-digit growth in terms of percentages ever since AirPods were launched in 2016. The report has said, citing people familiar with the development, that the reduction in orders for AirPods will target the second quarter leading to the beginning of the third quarter. "The levels of inventory [in warehouses] and in-store stocks of AirPods are currently high ... and demand is not as strong as expected,” said the report. Apple reportedly asked its manufacturing partners to make around 80 million to 90 million AirPods units last year, a big stock of which is unsold and has become inventory. Now, Apple may be hoping the upcoming AirPods model, possibly the AirPods 3, will give momentum to the sales of its wireless earphones.
Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi's 'Bhool Chuk Maaf' will premiere on Prime Video on June 6, just two weeks after its theatrical release. Originally planned for a direct OTT debut, the film hit cinemas on May 23.
Fresh spy shots suggest the Mahindra Thar 3-door is set for another update, with design cues inspired by the Mahindra Thar Roxx and a more premium positioning in sight.
Samsung has been teasing its upcoming A-series devices since last week, without officially revealing their names. While speculation has largely pointed to the Galaxy A37 and A57, a lengthy video recently surfaced ahead of any official confirmation, revealing the key specs and pricing of the devices.
Sony will hand over most of its TV manufacturing to TCL in a deal likely worth Rs 8,300 crore, but the Bravia brand will live on. Consumers can expect familiar quality, even if the production behind the scenes changes. Here is everything you need to know.
Noble's first 100 days with the Neuralink N1 implant provide valuable insights into the future of mind-controlled devices. Neuralink is owned by Elon Musk.
The Oppo Find X9 Ultra is launching globally in April. It is Oppo's first Ultra-branded phone to launch outside of China.
The Bihar School Examination Board declared the Class 12 results for 2026 with the overall pass percentage announced today. A look at the Board's performance over the last five years shows how student success has evolved.
Nearly 200 AI safety activists protested in San Francisco, urging major AI companies to pause frontier AI development over growing existential risks and safety concerns.
Students who appeared for the Bihar School Examination Board Class 12 exams can now access their results through multiple platforms, including the India Today Board Results page for smoother and quicker access. With heavy traffic expected on official websites, this alternative option ensures students can check their scores without delays or technical glitches.
After fight with US Military, Anthropic starts searching for policy expert on weapons and explosives
Anthropic, the AI startup that found itself at odds with the Pentagon over unrestricted AI use, is now looking for an expert in chemical weapons and explosives. However, the company is not planning to build such weapons, but instead wants to formulate its policy in regard to weapons.
The Bihar School Examination Board will announce the Class 12 results at 1:30 pm today. It said the scores would come through the official portals, with the pass percentage, toppers and compartment schedule shared at the same time.
American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson believes that artificial intelligence has a lot of positives for humanity. However, the AI that could perhaps reach superintelligence and surpass humans may be nothing short of lethal for humanity, something he urges must not be developed.