Apple earphones get first redesign since 2006

Apple may have a redesigned set of its earphones headed for the next iPhone if Vietnamese site Tinhte is indeed in possession of the genuine article. While Apple’s earphones have reached an iconic status, featuring in numerous ads promoting the iPod over the years, their sound and fit have been less than stellar. The new earphones feature a spherical design and appear to aim for a more secure in-ear fit, as the video embedded below shows.

Tinhte has had a good track record for getting either iPhone prototypes or information on forthcoming processors and displays, so it is quite likely that these new earphones are the real deal. A translation of the video has revealed that these earphones were made in Vietnam at the Phax Co factory and they carry the words ‘Designed by Apple in California Assembled in Vietnam.’ Most of Apple’s earphones have been assembled in China, but some have been assembled in Vietnam in the past. The current style first appeared in 2006.

While most Apple iPhone and iPod customers continue to use the supplied Apple earphones, they are the first thing that audiophiles abandon usually in favor of something a little more high-end and offering better sound quality -- a quick search of the Apple online store will yield dozens of different alternatives exemplifying this. When the new iPhone arrives, readers can expect that Electronista will offer our thoughts on the new handset and the new earphones when they launch. [via Macrumors]

by MacNN Staff