On Monday we posted a statistics report noting that Apple crushed their global competiton in wearables for Q4 2020. IDC noted in their report that while Apple registered a 22% gain year over year, it was slower growth than experience in Q3 and Q2. It was a small trend to note and not worry about.

However, the timing of IDC's noting that particular slowing trend now coincides with Apple's retail stores again allowing customers to try on AirPods before buying them. Bloomberg stated in a report today "that it was yet another sign of the company’s retail operations heading toward normalcy, according to employees.

Apple stopped letting customers try on the earbuds when Covid-19 began to spread last year. The company is now allowing try-ons in the U.S. and other regions at stores that are open for customer walk-ins, either with or without an appointment. The ability to try on AirPods has been available at locations in Asia for months already."

While the Biden administration wants to double down on wearing masks and keeping schools closed, Apple's move to relax COVID-19 restrictions in respect to AirPods seems like an odd move at this point in time. Though it should lead to delivering higher growth for AirPods to stop the slowing sales trend.