Apple to Focus on Wearables in 2024 as AirPods, Watch Get Major Upgrades

While the iPhone has been the main focus of Apple's product strategy for over a decade, 2024 will see the company shift more attention to its fast-growing wearables segment, according to a recent report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple is planning significant upgrades to both the AirPods and Apple Watch next year that will make these devices much more appealing to consumers. The AirPods are set to receive an overhauled design and new features like active noise cancellation at a lower price point.

There will also be a new version of the AirPods Max headphones with USB-C charging. Perhaps most significantly, Apple is working to add a hearing aid feature to future AirPods models that could potentially change the game for many people who are hard of hearing.

On the smartwatch front, next year's Apple Watch updates are expected to pack new health-sensing capabilities like blood pressure and sleep apnea detection. The company is also working on new form factors like a rugged edition tailored for extreme sports.

While the iPhone 16 will still get improvements like increased screen sizes and new camera features, Apple wants to focus more on its fast-growing wearables segment, which generated over $12 billion in sales last quarter alone.

Gurman believes the substantial upgrades planned for AirPods and Apple Watch in 2024 will revitalize sales of these important product categories. But the biggest splash may come from Apple's long-awaited mixed reality headset, branded Vision Pro, which is now closer than ever to its highly anticipated launch.