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The first-generation AirPods launched almost a decade ago, sparking a surge of more affordable “copycat” products. These allowed phone manufacturers to capture a new market while Apple maintained its dominant share of wireless earphones. However, consumers have limited budgets, and the latest data shows that AI headsets costing $70 or less currently dominate the Chinese market, with 60.1% of total sales. As a premium company, Apple has only one segment to target.
According to Runto Technology and MyDrivers, inexpensive AI headsets make up more than half of the Chinese market. Products priced below 500 yuan ($69.76) account for 60.1% of total sales, up from 18.8% in the second half of 2024. Apple’s AirPods are not included in this category but have still gained some popularity.
The latest data reveals that AI headsets in the $139-$209 range capture 27% of the Chinese market, indicating continued sales for Apple’s AirPods lineup. The affordable AirPods in Apple’s range are the AirPods 4, currently available on Amazon for $99.99. These do not include active noise cancellation or silicone ear tips, and an affordable version would undermine Apple’s reputation as a high-quality product manufacturer.
The chart shows that products priced between 1,000-1,500 yuan ($139.50-$209.25) capture another 27% of the market, while those above 1,500 yuan account for just 4%. The most Apple can do is add more features to its AirPods line, which we expect with the upcoming AirPods Pro 3 launch.
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News Source: MyDrivers
