The next Beats product has nothing to do with audio

Apple is preparing to expand its hardware offering by exploring a sector new to them. According to the latest rumors, the Cupertino company has been working for over 1 year on a line of game controllers designed for iPhone.

However, this expansion might not feature the classic Apple logo, but arrive on the market under the Beats brand, a company historically associated exclusively with headphones and audio devices.

This move would allow the California-based company to explore the thriving gamepad market with a targeted and measured approach, capitalizing on a brand already strong among young people.

Apple’s official gamepads are coming, but they’ll have another brand

The first confirmations of this project came thanks to the analysis of the codes of a recent prerelease version of macOS. Within the software, precise references to two hardware peripherals not yet announced were identified, identified by the acronyms T6502 and T1057.

The lines of code suggest that these devices will include components typical of modern gamepads, such as dual analog sticks, shoulder buttons, a directional pad and haptic motors. It is also hypothesized the inclusion of an accelerometer and a gyroscope to support advanced motion controls.

At the moment, the final design of the two models remains unknown, but the early technical specifications outline complete accessories ready to compete with the leading devices in the sector.

The decision to entrust development to Beats, as confirmed by journalist Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, responds to clear market logic. Currently Apple offers in its stores solutions produced by external companies, such as the Backbone One and the SteelSeries Nimbus+, but clearly aims to acquire a direct stake in this specific niche.

Leveraging Beats offers multiple advantages. First, it allows to experiment in a new market territory while keeping prices more affordable, foregoing the premium materials that typically characterize Apple-branded products.

Secondly, the company leadership has identified a strong cultural and aesthetic overlap between video game enthusiasts and traditional Beats product buyers.

The Expansion of the Ecosystem

Although there is not yet an official release date for these controllers, their arrival could significantly bolster Apple’s commitment to the gaming market.

A proprietary accessory would facilitate interaction with top-tier titles that are gradually arriving on iOS and Mac systems.

Moreover, a dedicated peripheral would help to improve the overall user experience on Apple TV 4K, encouraging users to make greater use of the hardware for living-room entertainment.