Apple’s high-end headphones may be released before the end of the year

Another report points to Apple working on its own pair of high-end, noise-canceling, over-ear headphones, with a launch slated for as early as the end of this year. The headphones will purportedly rival brands like Bose and Beats by Dre, (which Apple owns), Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the product’s development. But, the new headphones have apparently also faced similar problems as the HomePod, which was delayed and went through multiple redesigns.

Apple has been working on the headphones on and off for the last year, and the new headset will have wireless pairing like the AirPods. But, Bloomberg sources said there was a possibility that the design of the headphones would be overhauled, or the entire project could be scrapped altogether. This new report supports a previous memo released from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities last week who said Apple is working on a pair of headphones that are as “convenient as AirPods with better sound quality.”

There’s no indication of how much these headphones may cost, but given that the HomePod costs $349 and is priced higher than other smart speakers in the market from Sonos and Amazon, it’s likely that the Apple headphones will come with a premium price. Beats’ higher-end headphones cost around $300, while Bose and Sennheiser also have models in that price range.