A new report from the sometimes-reliable Taiwanese publication DigiTimes says Apple is considering including their AirPods wireless earbuds in the box with the 2020 iPhones.
The report says “unnamed industry sources” tell them that “smartphone vendors including Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi are looking to bundle their new models with TWS earbuds next year.” “TWS” or “truly wireless stereo” earphones are earphones like Apple’s AirPods and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds.
This is a fairly tough rumor to swallow, even with the usual grain of salt-free seasoning. That’s due to the fact the retail price for a pair of AirPods is $159, and that’s pretty expensive for an accessory that would be included as a free pack-in for the iPhone, when millions of Apple users have been happy to hand over $159 over the past few years.
Apple has long included wired EarPods with a Lightning connector with each iPhone, those retail for $29 in the Apple Store and the website.
It’s possible that Apple could be considering bundling AirPods with the “Pro” model 2020 iPhones. We still have two months or so to go before the 2020 iPhones are unveiled, so don’t hold your breath.