When Apple in September took the controversial step of announcing an iPhone without a headphone jack, it announced an accessory that provides a workaround: A pair of wireless earbuds called AirPods, which it said would ship in October for $159.
Now Apple is changing its tune.
The Cupertino, Calif. tech titan told tech news site CNET it needs “a little more time” to ship the AirPods. “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,” a company spokesperson told the site. It’s unclear exactly when the AirPods will be available.
That’s not to say iPhone 7 owners are completely without headphone options. The device comes with an adapter making it possible to use standard-issue headphones via the smartphone’s Lightning charging port, as well as wired earbuds that connect the same way.
Still, it’s an unusual misstep for a company that isn’t known to miss self-declared deadlines. Apple fans may find solace Thursday, when the firm is expected to unveil new Mac desktop and laptop computers.
