Apple AirPods release update: Major retailers disclose conflicting dates but holiday release still possible

The Apple AirPods are apparently making turns on every possible direction as the release of the long awaited wireless earpieces gets more mixed up by the day. Major retailers worldwide have disclosed conflicting release dates of the AirPods, making potential buyers dazed and confused. It also doesn’t help that Apple has continued to remain silent about its new product’s availability.

The new Apple AirPods were initially slated for an October release, but the tech giant delayed launch in order to spend more time making them suitable for customer use. The AirPods were supposed to follow shortly after the release of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. December is fast approaching and Apple fans are looking to purchase the wireless earphones by the time the holiday rush begins.

The Czech Republic retailer Alza.cz lists the AirPods to be available by December, possibly before the 25th. Another guess comes from a Chinese supply chain that anticipates a January 2017 launch for the Apple earphones, as noted by 9To5Mac. Meanwhile, a retailer based in Europe slated the AirPods to go on sale today, which obviously hasn’t pushed through.

In France, the large electronics retail chain FNAC believes that it will be able to sell the Apple AirPods by Nov. 30. According to Mac4Ever, FNAC is already accepting pre-orders for deliveries on said date. Apple has not made any further announcements about the AirPods aside from the fact that they are indeed “coming soon.”

Most fans still hope that the new AirPods will be made available in time for the holiday shopping season. Apple says that the AirPods can last up to 5 hours on a single charge, while the accompanying charging case can extend power for up to 24 hours. A charging time of 15 minutes can boost the AirPod’s battery life for up to 3 hours. Apple’s new wireless earphones will retail for US$159 (AU$215).