Next year, Apple is reportedly planning to release a high-end version of its wireless AirPods, a second version of the HomePod smart speaker, and its first over-ear headphones, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
Consumers haven’t seen Apple as an audio company in a while, as the iPhone ate the market for the iPod, and music streaming eat into downloads. But if Bloomberg is correct, this move would not only renew Apple’s appeal to audiophiles, it’s also perfectly on-target with the company’s current revenue model, as this chart from Statista shows.
Apple’s audio products are categorized under the company’s “Other Products,” a segment that also includes other devices like Apple Watch and Apple TV. It’s basically made up of anything that isn’t a smartphone, tablet, or laptop – all of which has been leveling off of late. Meanwhile revenue from “Other Products” has more than doubled since 2015. With the introduction of three new audio products in 2019, that number could go up even further.