Apple Delays AirPods, October Launch No Longer Happening - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Delays AirPods, October Launch No Longer Happening

When Apple debuted its AirPods in September, the company said the wireless earbuds would launch in late October. Now that it's late October, people have been wondering if a release is imminent, but as it turns out, the AirPods are delayed.

Apple today told TechCrunch that it needs "a little more time" before the AirPods are ready for a public release, without specifying the reason behind the delay.

airpods-2

"The early response to AirPods has been incredible. We don't believe in shipping a product before it's ready, and we need a little more time before AirPods are ready for our customers," an Apple spokesperson said to TechCrunch.

Apple did not provide TechCrunch with updated launch information, so it is no longer clear when the AirPods will be available for purchase.

AirPods are Apple's premium headphone solution for the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, which do not include a headphone jack. AirPods, powered by Bluetooth and an Apple-designed W1 chip, are entirely wireless with no cords between them.


They include advanced features like infrared sensors to detect when they're in the ear, beam forming microphones to reduce external noise, and accelerometers to respond to touch gestures.

AirPods have been in the hands of reviewers since September and have garnered largely positive reviews for the fit, the features, the simple setup, and the easy recharging.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

european union eu

EU iPhone Users Get AirPods-Like Pairing and Notification Forwarding for Third-Party Wearables in iOS 26.5

Monday May 11, 2026 1:50 pm PDT by
iOS 26.5 introduces several interoperability changes for third-party wearables, which means European iPhone users have access to new capabilities when using non-Apple accessories. To comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple is letting third-party wearables access some features that have historically been limited to the Apple Watch and AirPods. Proximity pairing - Third-party...
AirPods Hearing Aid Thumb 1

Apple Watch Hypertension Alerts and AirPods Hearing Aid Feature Expand to More Countries

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:53 am PDT by
Apple today said Hearing Aid features are now available for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 in Italy, Romania, and Czechia, while Hypertension alerts have expanded to Israel. The Hearing Aid option allows the AirPods Pro to be used as an over-the-counter alternative to a traditional set of hearing aids. The AirPods Pro can improve sound to mitigate mild to moderate hearing loss,...
airpods pro 3 pink

Your Next AirPods Will Have Eyes

Friday May 15, 2026 8:39 am PDT by
Apple's fourth-generation AirPods Pro could well watch the world for you, with the upcoming earbuds widely tipped to have built-in cameras. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the camera-equipped AirPods Pro have already reached "advanced" testing, suggesting that the design is virtually locked in and mass production is imminent. Each earbud is expected to feature a tiny built-in infrared...

Top Rated Comments

asleep Avatar
125 months ago
They lost one...
Score: 122 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BobertKennedy Avatar
125 months ago
Airpods are a cruel joke to keep you going back for more.

Score: 67 Votes (Like | Disagree)
125 months ago
I guess Apple lost them all.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thefredelement Avatar
125 months ago
Oh man, BUT I NEEDED THEM.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ginkobiloba Avatar
125 months ago
"AirPods are Apple's premium headphone solution for the iPhone 7 ('https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-7/') and the iPhone 7 Plus"

Maybe premium in price and in wireless connectivity, but certainly not premium in sound quality.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Icaras Avatar
125 months ago
Bummed out about the news! I was really looking forward to getting these, but a least my ears won't blow up now :eek:
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)