Clues discovered inside iOS 14 suggest Apple’s first branded over-the-ear headphones are on the way
- Icons found in an early version of Apple’s iOS 14 foreshadow the headphones
- The symbols suggest that headphones will come in at least two colors
- Prior reports suggest the headphones will cost about $399
Code buried in Apple’s next iOS update further fuels rumors that the tech giant’s plans to release its first ever company-branded pair of over-the-ear headphones.
The latest clue comes courtesy of 9to5Mac, which obtained an early version of the upcoming iOS 14 that has yet to be released by Apple.
Inside the code, 9to5Mac discovered two icons depicting over-the-ear headphones that appear to be symbols used to convey battery life and volume.
As noted by 9to5Mac the icons appear in two colors, white and black, suggesting that they may stray away from Apple’s all-white line of AirPods wireless earbuds.
Outside of foreshadowing the general shape and profile of the headphones, however, the icons do little to elaborate on exactly what to expect from the devices.
Icons discovered in iOS 14 by 9to5Mac (pictured) suggest that Apple’s over-the-ear headphones are on the way
Images that circulated on Twitter courtesy of YouTuber, Jon Prosser, offered the first hints at the imminent arrival of headphones.
Those pictures showed evidence form Target employees in the US who had been reporting a mysterious addition to their product database called, ‘Apple Airpods X Generation.’
The pictures depict the product name on an official Target UPC scanner, a tool used to check inventory at stores, and suggest that it hasn’t yet arrived.
A picture posted by YouTuber Jon Prosser depicts a Target UPC with a product description called ‘Apple Airpods X Generation’
Pictures also suggested the the price of the mysterious Airpods X Generation will be $399 and that they could come in three different colors.
Apple has long been rumored to be developing over-the-ear headphones.
Both a Bloomberg report from last year and prior findings from analyst Ming Chi-Kuo who often predicts forthcoming hardware from Apple, suggested that an over-the-ear headphone product would be released in 2018.
However, Bloomberg reported last year that plans to release those headphones were delayed due to ‘developmental challenges.’
Whatever the product is, AppleInsider suggest that the name in Target’s database – Airpod X Generation – is likely not the final title.
The price, according to sources cited by Appleinsider who work at Target, is most likely accurate, however, and the existence of placeholders in the system usually indicate that the product will arrive in the next several months.
New headphones will likely be one of many products release by Apple this year.
In addition to Apple-branded tracking tags, Apple is reportedly gearing up to release four new iPhone 12 models this September, including a ‘Mini’ iPhone with a 5.4-inch screen, according to a new report.
All four new iPhone 12 models – Pro, Pro Max, standard model and ‘Mini’ – will support 5G, according to a prior report from LetsGoDigital.