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After 12 years since their launch, Apple is reportedly preparing to discontinue its EarPods.
Aaron Perris, a MacRumors contributor, took to X (formerly Twitter) to post that retail giant Target has listed all three models of Apple EarPods — 3.5mm, Lightning, and USB-C — as “Non-Carry Forward.” This suggests that Apple may have discontinued the EarPods.
I am hearing reports that today, Target has listed all 3 models of Apple EarPods (Lightning, 3.5mm, and USB-C) as "Non-Carry Forward" which means these products are soon to be discontinued. pic.twitter.com/IIKPwxqgxa
— Aaron (@aaronp613) September 9, 2024
It’s important to note that there has been no official confirmation from Apple regarding when or if it plans to discontinue the EarPods. However, the timing of this news, just ahead of Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event, strongly suggests that this could happen soon.
EarPods were introduced in 2012 as an accessory for the iPhone 5 and iPods. Until the launch of the iPhone 7, Apple included a 3.5mm jack in its iPhones, so the original EarPods also featured a 3.5mm standard headphone jack.
However, with the release of the iPhone 7 and AirPods in 2016, Apple removed the 3.5mm jack from its devices. As a result, Apple introduced a new version of the EarPods with a Lightning connector, which was used to connect to the only remaining port on the new iPhones.
Last year, Apple made the decision to switch to USB-C with the iPhone 15 series, and as a result, it introduced the third version of EarPods with a USB-C connector.
If the reports turn out to be true, this could be a good decision by Apple, as the EarPods lag significantly behind the AirPods. In comparison to the AirPods, where Apple has made numerous innovations, the EarPods remain a simple wired headphone from Apple. Additionally, while AirPods can be connected to nearly all Apple devices, including the Apple Watch, this is unfortunately not possible with the EarPods.
Although the EarPods are generally popular among Apple users due to their excellent microphone and low price point, Apple might discontinue them eventually to keep up with advancing technology.
