AirPods to Hit $100B Revenue by 2026: Apple Pushes Health Tracking & AI Features
According to a newly published report by market research firm Counterpoint Research, Apple’s AirPods series is projected to surpass a cumulative revenue of $100 billion by 2026. This milestone not only underscores Apple’s dominance in smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices but also affirms its unassailable leadership in the true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud market—driven continuously by innovation and feature-rich development.
Counterpoint Research notes that in 2024, Apple introduced the more competitively priced AirPods 4, which also features active noise cancellation. This strategic move effectively lowered the entry barrier to the AirPods lineup, making the product more accessible to price-sensitive consumers—particularly in emerging markets and among student demographics. The strategy aligns with Apple’s broader effort to expand iPhone market share in these regions, creating a dual engine for growth across both hardware and services.
Beyond price adjustments, Apple has also begun positioning the AirPods as wearable devices with applications in healthcare. Counterpoint highlights that the AirPods Pro 2 has already incorporated FDA-certified, clinical-grade hearing aid functionality, offering a transformative solution for users with auditory assistance needs. Looking ahead, AirPods are expected to introduce additional health monitoring capabilities such as heart rate and body temperature sensors, solidifying their role within the smart health ecosystem.
In parallel, Apple is actively integrating its “Apple Intelligence” technologies across a broader range of devices. Future iterations of AirPods are expected to support features like real-time language translation and enhanced gesture-based controls, complemented by Siri integration and seamless cross-device connectivity. This evolution transforms the earbuds from simple audio accessories into intelligent platforms for interaction, content creation, and wellness management.
The report further analyzes that, as the global iPhone user base continues to expand, AirPods remain a vital extension of the Apple ecosystem, with strong potential for future demand. With Apple’s concerted efforts to diversify its product lineup—offering varying price points and differentiated features—AirPods are poised to attract not only loyal Apple users but also new adopters previously hesitant to invest in premium TWS audio devices.
Counterpoint Research estimates that annual revenue from AirPods will grow by approximately 2.4% in 2026 compared to the current year, pushing cumulative sales past the $100 billion mark. As competition in the “smart earbud” market intensifies, Apple is expected to further leverage its integration of hardware and software to solidify its market leadership and drive AirPods toward increasingly intelligent and versatile use cases.
