The bundling of accessories that was once considered standard practice for companies has slowly phased out, with Apple being one of the first firms to begin shipping iPhones without wired earphones, eventually trickling down to charging cables and power bricks. The same practice has now been adopted on the newly announced AirPods Pro 3, which will not feature any charging cable in the box, giving Apple an opportunity to mint a truckload of revenue.
With an estimated 66 million AirPods units shipped in 2024, Apple can potentially make money off every AirPods Pro 3 sold through an additional accessory purchase
Where the AirPods Pro 2 continue to ship with a USB-C charging cable, the technical specifications of the AirPods Pro 3 reveal that Apple is distancing itself from this approach. While the usual reply on why the company chose this route would be sustainability and care for the environment, astute individuals will immediately know the real purpose of this decision; a chance to generate more accessory sales.
To make things easier to understand, it is estimated that Apple shipped 66 million AirPods units in 2024, and while that might not be the exact figure garnered by the AirPods Pro 3, let us treat it as an example. Those pre-ordering the premium wireless earbuds would surely want to order a cable from the company’s website to go along with their purchase, and with the company charging $19 apiece for this add-on, it can make as much as $1.254 billion in revenue from cable sales alone.
Whatever reason Apple might have for removing the charging cable from the AirPods Pro 3 box, chances are you have a plethora of USB-C accessories that can be used to top up these wireless earbuds. Despite customers thinking that this move will be a money-grabbing opportunity for the technology giant, there is no denying that the AirPods Pro 3 is packing some impressive features and hardware.
If you want to be one of the early adopters, you can pre-order a pair from Amazon for $249, or if you want to save some money, the AirPods Pro 2 are available on the online retailer for $199 after a 20 percent discount.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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