Social media users are mocking an expensive set of 'straps' being sold for wireless Apple AirPod headphones, claiming that the product is totally redundant.

Despite the fact that AirPods are supposed to do away with headphones getting tangled and wires getting knotted, a company has seemingly invented an absurdly-expensive new product that sets technology backward by providing customers with an attachable cord.

The straps are being sold by the US-based retailer Nordstrom and are made out of specially-braided leather, retailing for $60 per set. On Nordstrom's official store, the product's item description states: "Avoid losing your wireless AirPods by attaching them to this magnetic-locking leather strap and wearing around the neck when not in use."

Check out this commercial for Apple Airpods below:

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However, social media users have been left somewhat underwhelmed by the product, and many people have shared images of the straps and voiced their incredulity over the idea.
For instance, one Twitter-user wrote: "Scared of losing your AirPods? Try this! A cord that holds your AirPods on a strap around your neck just like -- wait a minute... [sic]". Meanwhile, someone else chimed in: "Does anyone else see how redundant this is???? ? AirPods are all about being cord/strap free. AirPod owners, what do you think? [sic]"

Take a look at some of the most exasperated reactions to the AirPod straps on Twitter below:

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[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/maurachanz/status/1201879364750708736]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/HemaMullur/status/1201970791941857282]]

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Back in October, Apple unveiled its new product, the soon-to-be-released AirPods Pro. The tech giant promised buyers five hours of battery life in addition to water-resistant and noise-canceling features. They also boast a futuristic new feature called a 'force sensor', which can be used to control music playback, and something called 'Adaptive EQ', which automatically tunes music to the shape of your ear.

Ever since Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007, the technological world has never quite been the same. Irrespective of whether you're even a user of the Apple device, you'll undoubtedly keep up with all the speculation over what fancy new feature the new iteration will boast, and many iPhone veterans have spent entire summers saving up their pennies, eagerly awaiting the new update. Certainly, regardless of where you fall in the iPhone versus Android debate, I think we can all attest to the fact that we do care about what Tim Cook and his dream team have managed to conjure up. And this is mainly because almost everything that the tech company has produced to date has been deemed "revolutionary". The now-modest iPhone 3G is credited for an impressive array of things, including the fact that it was the first mobile device to literally put the internet into people's pockets.  Yes, that means that we may not have had social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter if Steve Jobs didn't have his lightbulb moment. Frightening, eh? The recently released iPhone X has been the most coveted smartphone in Apple's history to date, however, we have been hearing more tales of woe than delight, as it appears that clumsy iPhone users keep dropping and destroying the things. For once, it appears that it's a better idea to save your money and forego purchasing the new iPhone, as more and more videos are appearing of people dropping and destroying their shiny new iPhone X's. Footage of excited customers dropping and smashing their new purchases hit Twitter earlier this week, and it's certainly going to lessen some of that FOMO you've been feeling about not being able to afford the new Apple product. I mean, just check out this epic fail...as the uploader appropriately captioned the video, "it's painful to watch". [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/trustedreviews/status/926406742191345664]] And yes, the damage here is rather "catastrophic". [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Merrily13NEWS/status/926396380888825856]] The new iPhone, like other models, features a glass front to back. What sets it apart, however, is it's edge-to-edge screen which can be unlocked using facial recognition. The iPhone X is available to purchase for $999 in the USA, and rather bizarrely for £999 in the UK, which means that us poor brits are having to fork out substantially more for the same exact product. And unfortunately, the bad news doesn't end there. According to the Mirror, if you've smashed your edge-to-edge screen, you'll have to pay around £286.44 (that is, $376.05) to get it fixed. But that's not all, if you damage other parts of the pricey model, like the speaker or microphone it could set you back an eye-watering £419 ($549). Well, if you're considering getting an iPhone X, you better get that thing insured, stat. I mean, you really do not want to be forking out that kind of money, given how much it costs to purchase one in the first place.

Pokémon fans all over the world rejoice, because gaming hardware company Razer has released the perfect tech for listening to every Pokémon theme song while on the treadmill.

Related - This guy has one of the most expensive Pokémon card collections on the planet:

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Back in October, Razer unveiled its first entry into the true wireless (TWS) earphones market with their Hammerhead TWS earbuds (pictured below). Now, Razer has teamed up with The Pokémon Company to release their Pikachu-inspired earbuds.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Razer]]

And personally speaking, as a fan of both Pokémon and music, I've got to 'catch' a pair for myself.

The bright yellow buds are built on the peripheral purveyor’s Hammerhead earphones, but these sport a seriously shocking Pikachu motif on the side control sections.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Razer]]

They also feature IPX4 grade water resistance, a 13mm driver unit with Bluetooth pairing, and voice assistant support to deliver high quality and low bass music.

However, definitely the most exciting part of the collaboration is the accompanying Poké Ball charging case, which features Pikachu sound effects.

The dock is modeled on the iconic original Poké Ball design, and a three-hour single charge battery life promises to provide five full charges for a total of 15 hours of playtime. Which, ironically, is about how long it took me to defeat the Elite Four on my first outing in the Kanto region.

The buds go on sale in China from April 16 for ¥999 (around $141 USD/£112/$220 AUD) - and I imagine they're going to sell out 'lightning' quick.

It's that time again, as all eyes will be on Apple as they are set to unveil the new iPhone... but what can we expect?

Scheduled for September 9, the event will be livestreamed at 10:00AM Pacific, 1:00PM Eastern, and 6:00PM British Summer Time, per the Guardian.

Fans around the world can tune in via Apple’s official website, YouTube channel, or the Apple TV app on any compatible device.

For weeks, rumors have been circulating, teasing what Apple has in store for its next generation of products.

While Apple is notoriously secretive, speculation is high, and based on the company’s usual release patterns, we’re expecting a big reveal.

Among the expected announcements are new iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods, and possibly even an update to the Apple TV.

Expect cutting-edge AI-powered features to make their way into these devices, too. Here’s a breakdown of what to look out for.

Apple are set for their biggest event of the year. Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty

iPhone 17 Air

Perhaps the most exciting news could be the introduction of the iPhone 17 Air.

This new model is expected to be lighter and thinner than its predecessors, with a design focused on being as sleek as possible, as reported by Wired.

The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to feature a 6.6-inch OLED screen and a super-thin profile at just 5.5 mm thick, making it 2.3 mm thinner than the iPhone 16.

Given its slim design, the Air may come with some trade-offs.

It could feature design changes to maintain its thinness, including a USB-C port that’s not centered at the bottom of the phone.

Rumors also suggest that the Air will come equipped with a single 24-megapixel camera, located at the side of a distinctive Google Pixel-like oval bulge on the back.

Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17. Credit: Sean Gallup / Getty

iPhone 17 Lineup: Exciting Features and Sleek Redesigns

As for the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup, expect a host of new features.

These models will be the first to debut iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design, a visually striking look that transforms icons and apps into rounded, translucent bubbles.

While this fresh visual aesthetic looks stunning, it might present readability challenges, particularly for users with vision impairments.

The iPhone 17 Pro may get a more dramatic redesign, particularly in its camera module, which is expected to feature a new 48-megapixel lens, along with several other lenses.

There’s also speculation that Apple may move away from using titanium in the Pro models, opting instead for a mix of aluminum and glass.

Under the hood, we can expect upgraded performance, possibly with a new Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 modem to enhance connectivity.

New Apple Watches: Improved Battery Life and Health Features

Apple is also expected to unveil two new models of the Apple Watch: the Apple Watch 11 and the more premium Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Both versions are rumored to come with improved battery life, as well as some new health-related features.

One of the most notable additions could be a blood pressure monitor capable of alerting users to signs of hypertension.

Apple will likely continue marketing the Watch as a device that can literally save lives, highlighting its health-monitoring capabilities.

With the rise of AI-powered features across devices, it’s possible that the Apple Watch will see enhancements in areas like assistive listening or even satellite communications.

Apple is also expected to announce news regarding their AI. Credit: Scott Olson / Getty

AirPods Pro 3 and a Possible New 4K Apple TV

Apple may have a few more surprises up its sleeve. There's a chance we’ll see a new 4K Apple TV, which could offer an enhanced viewing experience with improved resolution and performance.

Additionally, we’re likely to see a new version of Apple’s popular AirPods - AirPods Pro 3. This update will likely bring improved battery life, but we may also see new features aimed at assistive listening or language translation.

These updates would align with Apple’s growing focus on AI-driven technology and enhanced user experiences across its ecosystem.

AI-Powered Features Across the Board

One thing is certain: AI will be a major part of Apple’s announcements.

With the company increasingly integrating machine intelligence into its products, it’s no surprise that we can expect AI-driven capabilities in almost every device revealed on September 9.

Whether it’s enhancing camera functions, improving user experience, or streamlining connectivity, Apple’s focus on AI will undoubtedly be a key theme at this year’s event.

Featured image credit: Scott Olson / Getty

As we're all aware by now, the new iPhone is on the horizon, and there have been a lot of theories regarding what the new features will be and how much it will cost. Unfortunately for Apple, they have suffered one of their biggest leaks in history just a few days before it's due to unveil the next generation of the flagship smartphone. This information, which had been hidden in Apple's upcoming iOS 11 software, has revealed that the technology giant is planning to unveil three new handsets on Tuesday, called the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The leak, which came from Apple themselves rather than a mysterious source as per usual, confirmed details of the new phones, including its name, new camera and screen technologies as well as information regarding the new Apple Watch and wireless headphones. It's expected that the three phones are going to be unveiled on Tuesday and will include a premium handset and a software update to its current offering. The iPhone X, which is being touted as the flagship device, is believed to cost around £1,000, with the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus being a little bit cheaper. Steve Troughton-Smith, an app developer from Ireland, discovered the clues within Apple's final developer update for the iOS 11 beta. Up until this date, the iPhone had been referred to in the software by the code name of "D22". [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/906542097284714496]] "It was very clear that iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X were the marketing names," said Troughton-Smith. "It's theoretically possible that Apple could change that marketing name for the iPhone X, especially if it's not going to be finished for another month as per rumors. But I like to deal with hard evidence, and right now iPhone X calls itself iPhone X." Troughton-Smith discovered what he believes are the final specs for Apple's new batch of iPhones. The iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus will have 3GB of RAM, while the iPhone 8, which is set to be the smaller model, will have 2GB of RAM, according to the leak. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/906611905128796173]] It's also believed that the iPhone X's rear camera will have a 12MP sensor camera, with its front camera being 7MP. The inside of the phone will also have a powerful A11 processor. Previous leaks have revealed that the iPhone X will have a 5.8-inch screen that will cover almost the entire front of the phone. The screen will have a small indent at the top in order for it to have a facial recognition camera, which will allow users of the the phone to unlock it with their face and will replace the fingerprint scanner. Apple is also expected to ditch the home button completely to make way for the screen. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/_inside/status/906601860148195329]] The iOS 11 code leak also revealed that Apple are planning to release a new smartwatch and are going to update the Airpod wireless headphones. Despite the leak, Apple will hold its annual launch event at 10am Pacific time on Tuesday September 12, inside of the Steve Jobs Theatre in California. No doubt there will be plenty of other features announced and that the raging debate between Apple and Android users will continue for many years to come.