Harman Kardon Returns To Headphones To Take On Airpods

Harman Kardon is perhaps best known to Apple fans for its transparent Soundsticks speakers once sold in Apple Stores, and a popular pairing with a range of Macs. But the company also used to make headphones, and it has now returned to the market ready to go head-to-head with Apple’s AirPods …

As Engadget notes, it’s been more than five years years since the launch of the company’s last headphones.

It will also be the first since the company’s acquisition by Samsung in 2017.

Harman Kardon is also trying its hand at the over-ear ANC market currently dominated by the Bose 700, Sony WH-1000XM3, and Bowers & Wilkins PX7, all in the $350-$400 range. The company is pitching its Fly ANC headphones competitively against these models, at $250.

There’s no word yet on availability.

Apple likely won’t be too worried by the extra competition. It was recently estimated that the company sold $6 billion worth of AirPods last year, and may double that number this year.