AirPods were unveiled on September 7, 2016 and first went on sale in December 2016 after a short delay from the planned late-October launch date.
Key dates
- Announcement: Apple introduced AirPods at its September 7, 2016 special event alongside iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2.
- Planned launch: Apple said they would be available starting in late October 2016.
- Actual release: Orders opened December 13, 2016, with in‑store availability beginning December 20, 2016.
Source notes
- Apple’s newsroom press release confirms the September 2016 introduction and late‑October target availability.
- Wikipedia’s AirPods entry documents the September 7 announcement and the December 2016 retail rollout after a delay.
- Apple’s event video listing corroborates the inclusion of AirPods at the September 7, 2016 keynote.
