Whereas gross sales of Apple’s AirPods look like flatlining in the US, Apple’s extremely anticipated launch of its AirPods Professional 3 later this yr ought to give gross sales a much-needed enhance, says a brand new report from Client Intelligence Analysis Companions (CIRP).
In line with CIRP, round 44% of iPhone homeowners situated in the US now personal Bluetooth earbuds, up from the 41% of householders who reported proudly owning them in 2024. Amongst these Bluetooth earbud customers, 59% say they use AirPods, up a small bit from 57% in 2024. Nevertheless, the 2025 numbers have proven a return to the 2023 degree. CIRP says roughly 26% of all iPhone homeowners within the U.S. at the moment use AirPods.
Whereas the brand new information reveals Apple is recovering a bit in terms of its share of the Bluetooth earbuds market amongst iPhone customers, it’s regarding because it reveals no actual development past Apple’s earlier heights. Whereas the scale of the general market is slowly increasing, Apple is merely holding on to its piece of the pie, not grabbing a further portion.
Whereas Apple has a agency grip on the earbuds market in terms of iPhone customers, the corporate’s AirPods lineup faces rising competitors from Bose, Samsung, and different earbud producers. AirPods Professional 2 had been launched practically three years in the past, in September 2022.
The AirPods Professional 2 at launch featured an H2 chip, improved noise cancellation, and extra. In September 2024, Apple obtained approval from the US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) https://www.idropnews.com/information/airpods-pro-2-get-fda-approval-for-use-as-hearing-aids/222219/for AirPods Professional 2 earbuds to behave as over-the-counter listening to aids.
Listening to aid-related options embody lively listening to safety, a listening to check, and a listening to support characteristic. Customers take a listening to check utilizing their AirPods Professional 2 earbuds and iPhone, and may then view a abstract of their check outcomes, which is saved privately and securely within the Well being app, and might be shared with the consumer’s healthcare suppliers.
If the exams detect listening to loss, a customized sound profile is created that permits the AirPods Professional 2 to make dynamic sound changes to extend sound as wanted.
The listening to support check and options can be found in a number of nations across the globe.
We’ve been seeing a number of substantial reductions within the worth of AirPods Professional 2 over the previous few months, indicating Apple and retailers may very well be trying to filter inventory of the earbuds to make means for the third-generation AirPods Professional. Or, Apple may very well be merely trying to enhance the amount of AirPods Professional 2 gross sales for the present quarter. Maybe it’s somewhat of each.
Throughout Amazon Prime Day earlier this month, we noticed the value diminished from $249 to $149, the most important markdown I can bear in mind for the second-generation mannequin. That worth discount was shortly matched by each Walmart and Finest Purchase, whereas Apple maintained its $249 worth on its retail web site and in its retail shops.
Apple will probably announce the approaching launch of AirPods Professional 3 later this yr, probably in September, alongside Apple’s new iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Professional lineups, and Apple Watch fashions. The third-generation AirPods Professional are anticipated to supply enhanced sound and improved ANC, coronary heart charge monitoring, and extra.