BCN pointed out that the product that drove Japan’s full wireless headset boom was Apple’s AirPods, which was launched in December 2016. At that time, fewer than 10 companies had rushed into the Japanese complete wireless headset market, but after the summer of 2017, The number of entrepreneurs rushed in has increased rapidly and has soared to about 30 at present.
The increase in the number of products, together with the stable supply of AirPods, also boosted the proportion of total wireless headsets in Japan’s overall headset sales from about 0.5% to 10.5% in approximately one year (December 2016-December 2017). And because the average price of a full wireless headset was as high as approximately 17,000 yen, it also boosted the average unit price of Japanese headphones to double from approximately 2,000 yen to approximately 4,000 yen in two years.
In terms of vendor-specific market share, Apple AirPods almost monopolized the Japanese market after it was sold in the Japanese market in December 2016. Its market share in September 2017 was as high as 83.7%. After that, it was due to Sony, BOSE, etc. Competitors grabbed and led to a shrinking market share of AirPods, but remained at a level of about 50%. In March 2018, AirPods still captured the market share of nearly half (46.0%) in the Japanese market; followed by BOSE's respectively. 13.1%, 10.6% of Sony and 9.0% of Softbank.
BCN pointed out that the background of the rising demand for full wireless headphones in Japan is mainly due to the popularity of smart phones, which makes consumers more and more accustomed to listening to music with smart phones, and Apple has abolished the headset hole since iPhone 7, boosting support for Bluetooth (Bluetooth). The increase in demand for headphones is also a big help.
BCN analyst involved in Yamaguchi pointed out, completely wireless headset market has just started, in terms of price or product diversification continues to evolve in the future, then perhaps become completely wireless headset standard of the day is not far.
Japanese intelligence Apple website iPhone Mania, CoRRiENTE.top December 19 last year, the report said citing 9To5Mac KGI investment adviser Kuo Ming-Ji famous Apple analysts said, Apple's second generation AirPods will be on sale in the second half of 2018. However, Kuo Ming-Ji did on the second generation AirPods specification details do explanation, saying only that might carry smaller than the existing quartz components.
The report pointed out that the current AirPods does not support wireless charging, but Apple has already announced that it will start selling wireless power panels AirPower that can simultaneously charge AirPods, iPhone X and Apple Watch in 2018. Therefore, it should be expected to expect to open in the second half of 2018. The next generation of AirPods sold will support wireless charging.