Apple to Stop Sale of Rival Earphones, Speakers

Apple is no longer selling headphones and wireless speakers from competitors such as Sonos Inc., Bose Corp. and Logitech because the company is making plans to launch its own new audio products.

Bloomberg reports show the technology giant has long sold third-party hardware on its website, one of the largest e-commerce operations in the world. All headphones and speakers from Bose, speakers from Logitech’s Ultimate Ears brand and Sonos’s latest smart speaker disappeared from Apple’s online store at the end of last month, according to checks by Bloomberg.

Employees at Apple’s physical retail locations were also instructed to remove the products for sale at stores in recent days. The moves come as Apple develops multiple new products to expand on its audio strategy. The first Apple-branded over-ear headphones could be announced as early as this year, According to Bloomberg reports. The company has also been working on a smaller version of its HomePod smart speaker.

Apple said it regularly makes changes to the products it sells as new third-party accessories are released and the needs of customers’ change. It also said its stores continue to sell a curated group of third-party accessories to help customers get the most out of Apple devices.

As of Monday, the only headphones offered by Apple are its own AirPods and AirPods Pro, in addition to products from its Beats subsidiary.

The only smart speakers on Apple’s website are its own HomePod and Beats Pill+ speaker. It sells one third-party product that could be considered a speaker, a Pioneer-made conference room speaker that plugs into an iPhone, but that product doesn’t compete with any apple offerings.

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