Apple Rumored To Be Revamping Earbuds

While Apple’s long been praised for its music players and smartphones, one area the company’s never received many accolades for is its earbuds, which come bundled with the aforementioned devices.

Neowin reports that according to leaked pictures and video, however, that may change when Apple’s new iPhone is announced.

New video and pictures posted in a blog post on Viatnamese website Tinh te claim to show the new earbuds, which have been redesigned to better direct sound in a user’s ear canal. According to the blog post, the earbuds have a smaller profile than Apple’s current version and feature improved sound quality. Specifically, the bass in the new earbuds is “more powerful,” and the earbuds “fit in the ear without discomfort.” The earbuds are said to be manufactured at a Viatnamese factory operated by Phax Co.

The individual who uploaded the video and pictures bolstered his claims by providing an image of the cord, which has the following printed on it: “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in Vietnam.” The poster also stated the build quality of the earbuds are what he would expect from an Apple product, although he stated he was unable to confirm their authenticity.

Currently, the earbuds that come bundled with Apple products have a rating of less than 2.5 of 5 starts on Apple’s store website. Many reviews on the website state the earbuds have poor sound quality and durability. The earbuds have been largely unchanged since Apple first launched the iPod in 2001.

Apple’s new iPhone is expected to be announced at an event later this month, with the new smartphone’s release coming shortly after.