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How memes helped Apple AirPods become a $175 Billion business
A Thread
A Thread
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If a private company was performing the way Apple's AirPods are in terms of rapid sales growth in units and revenues with strong margins, it could be valued at $175 billion in 2020, making it the 32nd largest company in the U.S.
If a private company was performing the way Apple's AirPods are in terms of rapid sales growth in units and revenues with strong margins, it could be valued at $175 billion in 2020, making it the 32nd largest company in the U.S.
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We all know that Apple AirPods have become the best truly wireless earbuds. They're a sign of status and are the industry standard now.
But things weren't the same in the beginning
We all know that Apple AirPods have become the best truly wireless earbuds. They're a sign of status and are the industry standard now.
But things weren't the same in the beginning
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Apple AirPods were we first launched on September 7, 2016.
People thrashed Apple for removing headphone jack and called it a trick so that they could sell AirPods
Apple AirPods were we first launched on September 7, 2016.
People thrashed Apple for removing headphone jack and called it a trick so that they could sell AirPods
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AirPods were also criticized for not being able to fit in many people's ears as they came in only one form factor
It was the first time, practical truly wireless earbuds were introduced to mass consumers, and people weren't used to it
AirPods were also criticized for not being able to fit in many people's ears as they came in only one form factor
It was the first time, practical truly wireless earbuds were introduced to mass consumers, and people weren't used to it
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"The wire between the normal wireless earbuds (aka neckbands) or regular earphones is like a convenience feature. If one of them falls out of your ear, you don't have to go looking for it, cuz it's attached to the wire"
- @MKBHD, Dec, 2013
"The wire between the normal wireless earbuds (aka neckbands) or regular earphones is like a convenience feature. If one of them falls out of your ear, you don't have to go looking for it, cuz it's attached to the wire"
- @MKBHD, Dec, 2013
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People called AirPods a design failure due to Apple's laziness.
"If you had to make it wireless, why would you literally cut off the wires and keep the same design! Totally killing the functionality of design"
People called AirPods a design failure due to Apple's laziness.
"If you had to make it wireless, why would you literally cut off the wires and keep the same design! Totally killing the functionality of design"
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Fast forward to Nov and Dec 2018, things got pretty incredible, search interest in AirPods reached all time high, generating more hype and excitement than generating more hype and excitement than they were actually revealed in September 2016
Fast forward to Nov and Dec 2018, things got pretty incredible, search interest in AirPods reached all time high, generating more hype and excitement than generating more hype and excitement than they were actually revealed in September 2016
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Apple had only run a short Ad campaign in January 2017, nothing special.
But in November 2018, AirPods more attention than when this campaign was run
Everyone in US could be seen with these small white toothbrush like earbuds sticking out of their ears
Apple had only run a short Ad campaign in January 2017, nothing special.
But in November 2018, AirPods more attention than when this campaign was run
Everyone in US could be seen with these small white toothbrush like earbuds sticking out of their ears
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AirPods because a sensation amongst Millennials and GenZ. A most desired tech product by youngsters and tech savvy people
How in the world did this happen? What caused so many people on the internet to become more interested in AirPods than ever before?
AirPods because a sensation amongst Millennials and GenZ. A most desired tech product by youngsters and tech savvy people
How in the world did this happen? What caused so many people on the internet to become more interested in AirPods than ever before?
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This is where the story gets interesting.
This was the time (November) when AirPod memes began going viral, things only snowballed from there
There were memes about AirPod owners flexing on social media, memes about AirPods as status symbol, etc.
This is where the story gets interesting.
This was the time (November) when AirPod memes began going viral, things only snowballed from there
There were memes about AirPod owners flexing on social media, memes about AirPods as status symbol, etc.
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These viral AirPod memes reached the peak in December, 2018, which coincidentally was just in time for the holidays. That's what triggered the unexpected demand of AirPods and caused worldwide shortage, making the product even harder to find than when they debuted in 2016
These viral AirPod memes reached the peak in December, 2018, which coincidentally was just in time for the holidays. That's what triggered the unexpected demand of AirPods and caused worldwide shortage, making the product even harder to find than when they debuted in 2016
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But what makes the story more fascinating is AirPods were made into memes before. They were criticized for being easy to lose and expensive to replace
But the people who were familiar with truly wireless buds tech, were excited for a reliable product
But what makes the story more fascinating is AirPods were made into memes before. They were criticized for being easy to lose and expensive to replace
But the people who were familiar with truly wireless buds tech, were excited for a reliable product
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So let's see in detail, how both sides thought about the airpods.
Because people who thought the AirPods were a joke, actually made a few legit arguements. They pointed out for AirPods at $160 price, you could buy a pair of wired headphones with much better sound quality
So let's see in detail, how both sides thought about the airpods.
Because people who thought the AirPods were a joke, actually made a few legit arguements. They pointed out for AirPods at $160 price, you could buy a pair of wired headphones with much better sound quality
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They also pointed put that AirPods' 5hr battery could be very inconvenient as compared to wired headphones which don't even need a battery, which also meant AirPods would be one more thing you'd have to charge during night
They also pointed put that AirPods' 5hr battery could be very inconvenient as compared to wired headphones which don't even need a battery, which also meant AirPods would be one more thing you'd have to charge during night
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On the other hand, people had dreamed for decades about getting rid of all the headache of wires.
Apple had to develop a lot of tech like battery and W1 chip, to make AirPods a real thing
But what truly matters isn't all this technology, but rather the experience
On the other hand, people had dreamed for decades about getting rid of all the headache of wires.
Apple had to develop a lot of tech like battery and W1 chip, to make AirPods a real thing
But what truly matters isn't all this technology, but rather the experience
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And AirPods, without a doubt deliver a truly reliable, seamless and magical experience in the entire wireless earbud market
All starts with the charging case which pairs with your iPhone on a single tap, no need to activate anything
And AirPods, without a doubt deliver a truly reliable, seamless and magical experience in the entire wireless earbud market
All starts with the charging case which pairs with your iPhone on a single tap, no need to activate anything
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The whole truly wireless experience make it impossible for one to go back to wired headphones
For sure memes helped AirPods with free advertising, it wouldn't have actually had a positive effect on sales if the AirPods were a bad product
The whole truly wireless experience make it impossible for one to go back to wired headphones
For sure memes helped AirPods with free advertising, it wouldn't have actually had a positive effect on sales if the AirPods were a bad product
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Now, AirPods are considered by many as the best product Apple has ever released since the iPhone
Now, AirPods are considered by many as the best product Apple has ever released since the iPhone
