Will Apple Lower the Price of AirPods 1 as the New Generation AirPods 2 Relaxes?

The current generation of AirPods, AirPods 1, has already seen a decline in price. Currently, it’s not even sold in official Apple Stores anymore. Apple has already introduced the 2nd generation of AirPods and the 1st generation of AirPod Pros, which have advanced features and improved design.

Current Market Scenario

Considering the upcoming release of AirPods 2, it is hoped that Apple will lower the price of the older models. Personally, I find AirPods to lack the wow factor compared to newer series, which bring features that many true wireless earbuds have had for some time. The specifications for AirPods 2, compared to most other true wireless earbuds I have reviewed, do not justify the high price unless one is a fanatical Apple user.

Historical Pricing Strategy of Apple

Traditionally, Apple’s approach with its products involves releasing the new version often at a similar price to the old one, followed by discontinuation of the old product. In such situations, Apple offers rebates to retailers to sell the older stock at a discount. However, once all the stock-on-hand is sold, the older model will likely be hard to find.

Apple is known to put significant effort into determining the optimum price for its products and prefers keeping prices high. This strategy differs significantly from that of iPhones, where older models gradually decrease in price as new models are launched. For most other Apple products, the new generation is typically introduced at a similar price to the older one, and the older generation is eventually phased out.

Future of AirPods 1

It is highly unlikely that Apple will continue selling the 1st generation AirPods when the new generation AirPods 2 is released. Initial sales are likely to see retailers attempting to clear their inventory at discounted prices, but once this stock is sold, there is a good chance that AirPods 1 will disappear from the market.

Conclusion

Given Apple’s historical practices and the current market scenario, it is reasonable to expect that the older AirPods 1 will see a price drop when the more advanced AirPods 2 is introduced. Retailers might offer significant discounts to sell off the remaining stock, making them more accessible to consumers. However, long-term availability is likely to be limited. For now, if you are considering purchasing AirPods 1, it might be a good idea to keep an eye out for these discounted offers.