Last week, Apple announced its wireless AirPods earphones would not be ready for their scheduled release before the end of October.
Now new reports are suggesting what Apple described as “a little more time,” actually means January 2017.
The news comes from the Economic Daily News in China, via Apple supplier Inventec, who says they don’t expect to start shipping the audio accessories until the new year.
Apple is yet to comment on any further delay beyond its initial statement, which did not offer a revised shipping date.
However, a SlashGear source described the supply chain claim as "pessimistic," stating they were still on track to arrive before the holidays.
The buds, which attempt to atone for the lack of a headphone jack in the iPhone 7 were announced in early September alongside this year’s handsets.
Initially Apple said: “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.”
Since the announcement, the W1 chip-enabled AirPods have received a mixed reception.
They’ve been derided for their toothbrush-like design and the proprietary W1 tech that means they won’t work with non-Apple products.
They have also been criticised for their astonishing $159/£159 price-tag and their lose-ability.
Some reviews have dubbed them “like wearing a toothbrush” while others have claimed they’re “just as bad as you thought they’d be.”
They've also been praised for their relatively secure fit and the ease of connecting to an iPhone.
