No More 'Wired Earphones' Included Starting from iPhone 12

Ming-Chi Kuo "Encouraging AirPods Sales Instead of Wired Earphones"
Removing Earphone Jack from iPhone 7 and Promoting AirPods Sales
AirPods Shipment Expected to Reach 93 Million Units

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Apple is expected not to include the wired earphones 'EarPods' that have been bundled since the iPhone 12 series. This is interpreted as an intention to naturally induce consumers who purchase the iPhone to buy AirPods.

On the 20th (local time), Ming-Chi Kuo, an Apple specialist analyst at TF Securities, said, "Apple will exclude 'EarPods' from the iPhone 12," and explained, "They will not provide wired earphones for free and can naturally promote AirPods sales through AirPods discount promotions during the year-end holiday season." Currently, the EarPods on sale cost 35,000 won (29 dollars), and AirPods cost 199,000 won (159 dollars).

Ming-Chi Kuo raised his forecast for Apple AirPods sales this year from 85 million units to 94 million units. At the same time, he analyzed that the possibility of new AirPods or AirPods Pro products being released in the second half of this year and next year is low. Instead of providing wired EarPods as a basic accessory with the iPhone 12, Apple is expected to encourage additional sales of the second-generation AirPods released in 2019 through year-end promotions.

Apple has bundled earphones since the first iPhone model was sold. In September 2016, Apple released the iPhone 7 along with AirPods, and even when the 3.5mm headphone jack disappeared from the iPhone 7, Apple provided EarPods with a Lightning connector. As the wired earphones changed to be plugged into the Lightning port, the sales of AirPods released together began to surge. Apple's AirPods account for more than half of the wireless earphone market share. As of 2019, AirPods shipments reached 58.7 million units, doubling compared to the previous year.

IT specialized media 9to5Mac explained, "There have been speculations for several years that Apple would offer AirPods at a discounted price, and this may be part of the promotion plan mentioned by Ming-Chi Kuo."