Apple informed Ars Technica last week that the new AirPods would be delayed as they need a little more time before the AirPods are ready. Apple added that "We don't believe in shipping a product before it's ready." With that said, Apple declined to offer any estimate or release window information about when to expect the AirPods' official launch. Ars Technica speculated that it would probably translate into to weeks so that they'd be in stores for Christmas shoppers. I think everyone would who wants the new AirPods are hoping the same thing, but a new supply chain report today suggests that they may not ship until January 2017.

According to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News, China's first business newspaper since 1967, "Apple originally planned to release the AirPods at the end of October, but has postponed release. Inventec is expected to begin shipping AirPods in January 2017," the paper noted according to DigiTimes.

The paper made this revelation while reporting on Inventec's expected 2017 revenues rising 7% to US$23.83 billion based on AirPods orders.

While only time will tell if this actually materializes, those who ordered Apple's AirPods for Christmas are hoping that this supply chain report is just a bad joke.

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