Apple Headphones

Apple’s AirPods earphones have been a surprise hit.

Now, the company is planning a push into the high end

Of the market.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant is

working on noise-canceling, over-ear headphones that

rival headsets from market leaders like Bose and even

the company’s own Beats by Dre brand, according to

people familiar with the product’s development. The

company plans to launch the headphones as early as

the end of this year, but has faced development

challenges that might push back the release, the people

Said.

Work on the Apple headset has been on-and-off over

the past year. The company encountered similar

problems with the HomePod during its development,

including multiple redesigns, according to the people.

It’s possible Apple will redesign the headphones again

before launch, or scrap the project altogether, they

warned, asking not to be identified discussing private

development work.

An Apple spokesman declined to comment.

The latest plans call for headphones targeting the

high-end of the market, replicating Apple’s approach

with the $349 HomePod speaker, released earlier this

year. In addition to noise-canceling capabilities, Apple

plans to include similar wireless pairing functionality to

the AirPods, according to the people familiar with the

product’s development.