Apple registered many patents, but most of them never became official consumer products. But in China, an emerging copycat manufacturer has borrowed the AirPods concept proposed by Apple in 2021, which features a touch display built into the casing.
Images and videos shared by leaker @lipilipsi on
Once the lid is opened, the display is activated, allowing users to select noise control options, "find my" earbuds, choose an equalizer preset, and lock the screen. The display also shows each AirPod's battery level, current time and Bluetooth connection status.
Where did this concept come from? We must be familiar with it. A patent applied for by Apple as early as 2021 reads:
"By configuring an interactive user interface on the headphone box to enable users to control operations related to wireless headphones, the practicality of the headphone box can be enhanced and the user's control over wireless headphones can be improved."
In one implementation, Apple envisions controlling Apple Music through the headphone case by using a capacitive touchscreen with a graphical user interface (GUI) that also provides haptic feedback, allowing the user to control audio playback, adjust volume, favorite songs, and otherwise interact with the music -- similar to the copycat devices we see here.
The patent contends that by integrating an interactive touch display in this way, "deficiencies associated with user control of wireless headphones are reduced or eliminated."
As AirPods gain popularity, the number of counterfeit wireless headphones seized at the U.S. border has reached record highs in recent years. According to a 2021 report, the U.S. government seized approximately 360,000 pairs of counterfeit wireless headphones in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, with a retail value of $62.2 million, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. Customs says that 80% of all counterfeit products entering the United States originate from mainland China or Hong Kong. While it's unclear how many of the counterfeit headphones seized are AirPods, U.S. Customs said seizures have increased by 50% in the past five years as products like Apple earbuds have grown in popularity.
Counterfeit AirPods can use genuine Apple serial numbers and are often visually indistinguishable from legitimate AirPods. Many counterfeit AirPods usually have fairly functional noise control features, but the touchscreen is new to us.