If you were hoping to add a pair of Bose headphones, Logitech speakers, or a Sonos smart speaker to your cart alongside an iPhone purchase, you're out of luck. Apple has removed all non-Apple audio equipment from its online and retail stores.
Recommended by Our Editors
The removal of rival audio brands by Apple was first noticed by Bloomberg, which has since confirmed with some of those brands that this is indeed the case. Bose said Apple no longer sold its products, and another brand affected by the change, Ultimate Ears, was informed by Apple that, "they will no longer carry third-party speakers at retail from September onwards."
The reason for the change? We've been hearing since February that Apple is preparing to launch its own headphones, which are expected to be called AirPods Studio. Manufacturing apparently started in May with a release planned for this year. Once launched, Apple will offer its own earbuds and over-ear headphones, alongside Beats products and the HomePod smart speaker, so it doesn't really need audio equipment from other brands taking up shelf space or potentially replacing an Apple-branded audio purchase.
Apple will clearly view this as a positive move that's sure to push up revenue both online and in physical stores. However, it's a negative for the brands being removed from sale, but also for customers who will now have less choice when shopping for a new laptop, tablet, smartwatch, or phone from Apple and want to pick up some audio accessories at the same time.