AirPod Pro owners, comfortable to wear for long periods of time?

[ra4oasis]

I know the question is subjective, but hear me out. I have AirPods, gen 1, and I could wear them all day if the battery would last. I forget they’re even in my ears. I have had in-ear type buds before though, and get fatigued after so long. Do you get ear fatigue with the AirPod Pros? I‘ll be in the market sometime in the next year to replace my OG pods, just figuring out if I save up for the Pros, or save some cash and get the second generation version. Thanks!

 

[Duncan68]

I know the question is subjective, but hear me out. I have AirPods, gen 1, and I could wear them all day if the battery would last. I forget they’re even in my ears. I have had in-ear type buds before though, and get fatigued after so long. Do you get ear fatigue with the AirPod Pros? I‘ll be in the market sometime in the next year to replace my OG pods, just figuring out if I save up for the Pros, or save some cash and get the second generation version. Thanks!

The APP I find very comfortable, especially with the vents to equalize pressure. I've used many IEMs over the years and these are the most easy to wear.

 

[Bigserver1]

I feel like my ears have adjusted to the APPs a bit. Initially they weren't as comfortable as I would have liked, but now I have zero issues with overall comfort, even after wearing them for 3-4 hours consistently. They're not AS comfortable as my Beats X, which I could wear for hours and hours and forget they were even in my ears, but they're more than comfortable enough and the features, form factor and convenience take them over the top.

 

[peaceActivist]

I have a couple piercings in my left ear. I use to really love my QC35's but over long extended listening periods my ear would become sore. I haven't had that problem with the Pros, they seem pretty comfortable and I've been using them for about 3 hours straight with no complaints.

 

[rdy0329]

Wearing the default medium tip made my inner ear hurt after an hour or two of listening. I found out I could wear the smaller ones and still keep a good seal and the pain of wearing it on extended period of time went away.

As a bonus, taking it out of my ear no longer reverses the flaps of the tips which was really annoying before.

 

[Ralfi]

It didn’t really take much for me to get used to them.

Yesterday I even thought I still had them in, when I’d already removed them...

 

[Surf Monkey]

I’m about to return mine. They just don’t fit my ears at all.

 

[StuBFrost]

I’m returning mine as they are reasonably comfortable and if they were cheaper I would probably keep them but I think for the price, they should be perfect.

 

[icloudUser]

A poll might have been more helpful.
I wear them during my workday, everyday of the week. Dont even feel they are there. So very comfortable for me.

 

[Sajal]

I do find the bose soundsport free more comfortable, don't know why.. since they are probably larger.

However the Airpod pro does become comfortable after some days. I am using it 2months+ now and feel its quite comfortable enough. Also APP lets you sleep on it and still keeps the connectivity on.. no other BT headset could do this.

 

[zhenya]

Yes, been using IEM’s and high-end over ear headphones for decades. I think the APP’s are the most comfortable decent sounding headphone I’ve ever owned. I wear them all day long at work with zero issues.

 

[AustinIllini]

They're okay. I get used to them for sure. I don't think anything is better than a pair of over the ears models.

 

[Surf Monkey]

They're okay. I get used to them for sure. I don't think anything is better than a pair of over the ears models.

Or decent IEMs that actually seat correctly in the ear.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

.

 

[perezr10]

They’re not nearly as comfortable as Gen 1/2 AirPods. They’re okay but I find that they make my ears sore after an hour or two. I can wear my AirPods 2s all day long. But not my Pros.

 

[Surf Monkey]

You know, the whole problem with these APPs can be summed up by the literally dumb Apple proprietary ear tip connector. It’s obvious that they instituted this brain dead snap on system to ensure that only Apple tips get used. The reasoning being comparability with the charge case. God forbid customers tip-roll and the buds no longer fit in the case without removing the tips. Basically they appear to have made an excessively consumer hostile choice based on aesthetics and marketing instead of practicality.

If the nozzles were standard and you could mount stock Comply or SpinFit tips on them the APPs would be damn near perfect. As it stands they’re virtually useless unless you have ears that match one of the three limited choices of proprietary tips.

I hope SpinFit develops AirPods Pro mounting tips. It sucks that they would even have to, but if they do they’ll sell a TON of them.

 

[Ralfi]

You know, the whole problem with these APPs can be summed up by the literally dumb Apple proprietary ear tip connector. It’s obvious that they instituted this brain dead snap on system to ensure that only Apple tips get used. The reasoning being comparability with the charge case. God forbid customers tip-roll and the buds no longer fit in the case without removing the tips. Basically they appear to have made an excessively consumer hostile choice based on aesthetics and marketing instead of practicality.

If the nozzles were standard and you could mount stock Comply or SpinFit tips on them the APPs would be damn near perfect. As it stands they’re virtually useless unless you have ears that match one of the three limited choices of proprietary tips.

I hope SpinFit develops AirPods Pro mounting tips. It sucks that they would even have to, but if they do they’ll sell a TON of them.

If they allowed 3rd party tips, then they'd have to change the whole design & make them protrude into the ear with a stem - Apple avoided this with the hard part of the Bud not having a stem on it, so as to make them more comfortable.

 

[Surf Monkey]

If they allowed 3rd party tips, then they'd have to change the whole design & make them protrude into the ear with a stem - Apple avoided this with the hard part of the Bud not having a stem on it, so as to make them more comfortable.

Don’t believe the hype. Ear tips have to extend into the ear. The notion that a slim slip of silicon that’s barely more substantial than Teflon tape is going to hold the bud in your ear is insane. Apple’s ear tips suck. They’re a proprietary design fail. The rationalization you shared is, in my informed opinion, nothing more than empty marketing copy. The typical BS Apple lofts to justify their walled garden and consumer hostile tactics. “You’re wearing it wrong.” Nothing against you personally, of course.

A genuinely consumer focused company would have used standard nozzles IMO. It pains me to say it but I think these snap on ear tips border on being unethical. That’s how hostile they are.

 

[ghostface147]

The regular AirPods make my ear sore after a little bit of time. Haven’t found the need to spend the money on the pro model, so I’m curious what will happen when I do get some when the funds come around. The last pair of in ear pods Apple made were very comfortable for me.

 

[zhenya]

You know, the whole problem with these APPs can be summed up by the literally dumb Apple proprietary ear tip connector. It’s obvious that they instituted this brain dead snap on system to ensure that only Apple tips get used. The reasoning being comparability with the charge case. God forbid customers tip-roll and the buds no longer fit in the case without removing the tips. Basically they appear to have made an excessively consumer hostile choice based on aesthetics and marketing instead of practicality.

If the nozzles were standard and you could mount stock Comply or SpinFit tips on them the APPs would be damn near perfect. As it stands they’re virtually useless unless you have ears that match one of the three limited choices of proprietary tips.

I hope SpinFit develops AirPods Pro mounting tips. It sucks that they would even have to, but if they do they’ll sell a TON of them.

The AirPod Pro’s are not as sensitive to fit as traditional IEM’s because with their noise cancelling system they have the capability to dynamically adjust the sound. You simply need to get a ‘good enough’ fit and the software will adjust.

Apple clearly doesn’t want people to use non-standard tips because as you mention, it will prevent them from fitting in the case. They want to control that experience for good reason.

That said, the AirPod Pro’s sell in quantities that competing IEM companies, even the big ones like Shure, could only dream of. If there is really a market for alternative tip styles, there will certainly be the numbers there to support them.

 

[Ralfi]

Don’t believe the hype. Ear tips have to extend into the ear. The notion that a slim slip of silicon that’s barely more substantial than Teflon tape is going to hold the bud in your ear is insane. Apple’s ear tips suck. They’re a proprietary design fail. The rationalization you shared is, in my informed opinion, nothing more than empty marketing copy. The typical BS Apple lofts to justify their walled garden and consumer hostile tactics. “You’re wearing it wrong.” Nothing against you personally, of course.

A genuinely consumer focused company would have used standard nozzles IMO. It pains me to say it but I think these snap on ear tips border on being unethical. That’s how hostile they are.

Cliche' response from a 'non-believer' 🤣

I & many others are proof they're a great design.

I attempted to discuss this with you in a mature fashion, but your Apple-grudge mindset just put a dent into convincing others to take you seriously...

 

[Surf Monkey]

Cliche' response from a 'non-believer' 🤣

I bought my first Macintosh in 1989. An LC-475. I made my living on that machine for five years. I owned the first iMac. The first iPod. The first iPhone. The first iPad. The first MacBook Air etc. etc.. My whole smart home runs on HomeKit. I use iPad and Apple Pencil in my profession as a graphic artist as well as a Mac Pro, an iMac and a MacBook Pro. Those are just the highlights of the countless Apple products I’ve bought over the last several DECADES.

I probably know more about Apple and their products than you ever will and I’ve probably spent more money on them over the course of my 30 year career and personal life than you’ve made in yours so far.

A “non-believer”? I resent and take offense at that comment. They don’t make believers more stolid than me.

I & many others are proof they're a great design.

Your anecdote is no more or less definitive than anyone else’s.

attempted to discuss this with you in a mature fashion, but your Apple-grudge mindset just put a dent into convincing others to take you seriously...

I don’t care if you take me seriously or not. I’m not here to get into a personal squabble with you or anyone else. My agenda is simple: to discuss what I consider to be a seriously flawed earbud design. Furthermore, I suggest you take a much closer look at what I wrote as I was VERY careful to frame my comments as my personal opinion. My post was critical of AirPods Pro, not you. I’d expect the same courtesy in return. Wouldn’t you?
[automerge]1579582905[/automerge]

The AirPod Pro’s are not as sensitive to fit as traditional IEM’s because with their noise cancelling system they have the capability to dynamically adjust the sound. You simply need to get a ‘good enough’ fit and the software will adjust.

Apple clearly doesn’t want people to use non-standard tips because as you mention, it will prevent them from fitting in the case. They want to control that experience for good reason.

I’d submit that that is manifestly backwards. IEMs can be very forgiving of a wide range of ear tip fits. But the AirPods REQUIRE a solid seal in order for the ANC to even work. Apple’s own marketing is very clear about this. It’s why they include a software test for seal. If you can’t achieve it ANC won’t mitigate it. Per Apple and the posted experiences of many people here.

That said, the AirPod Pro’s sell in quantities that competing IEM companies, even the big ones like Shure, could only dream of.

Not really a fair comparison since there are dozens of high, mid and low end IEM makers vying for a very big market. Apple is more or less alone in the field of “embedded computer” ear buds.

If there is really a market for alternative tip styles, there will certainly be the numbers there to support them.

If? Look at eBay. The number of sellers offering 3rd party replacement tips is exploding.

 

[zhenya]

I’d submit that that is manifestly backwards. IEMs can be very forgiving of a wide range of ear tip fits. But the AirPods REQUIRE a solid seal in order for the ANC to even work. Apple’s own marketing is very clear about this. It’s why they include a software test for seal. If you can’t achieve it ANC won’t mitigate it. Per Apple and the posted experiences of many people here.

Not really a fair comparison since there are dozens of high, mid and low end IEM makers vying for a very big market. Apple is more or less alone in the field of “embedded computer” ear buds.

If? Look at eBay. The number of sellers offering 3rd party replacement tips is exploding.

Strongly disagree here. I’ve been using high end IEM’s for two decades. With other models such as Etymotic, Shure, and the cottage industry that developed chasing that basic design, the user must go through contortions like wetting and twisting the rubber tri-flange tips typical of Etymotic back and forth until they sit extremely deep in the ear canal or there is literally zero bass to the sound. Or with the standard foam Shure tips you must get the largest tip that will fit, compress it with your fingers, and press/twist it into your ear with a decent amount of force else there is little bass AND there is zero passive noise suppression. I’ve owned multiple pairs from each of these vendors and others, and spent thousands of hours using them on flights.

The APP’s in comparison require you to place the earphone in your ear and twist it very slightly towards the back of your head. There is no pressure required, and the tips never protrude very far into the ear. The active noise cancelling works extremely well even as they loosen such as when running with them, and the sound does not vary much regardless of how tight they are in place.

The fit test clearly changed its behavior at one of the software releases in December and it’s strongly coloring user perception. Yes, the ANC changed a bit too with one of the firmware updates, but all the complaining about the fit test is likely to just drive Apple eliminate it entirely in the future as they can simply handle this silently in the background.

If there is a huge selection of 3rd party tips already available I fail to see your point of outrage. Limiting themselves to one of the “standard” tip designs would have been extremely limiting to Apple’s overall design of this product, especially as the typical IEM uses a narrow stem and relies entirely on passive noise reduction. Fine if you are making a $25 knock-off. Not at all suitable for a clean-slate Active cancelling solution with a huge budget.

 

[Ralfi]

Limiting themselves to one of the “standard” tip designs would have been extremely limiting to Apple’s overall design

That’s what I’m thinking.

Nothing against you personally, of course.

I didn’t actually see this part - I stopped at “empty marketing” & “Apple BS”, because I don’t appreciate being compared to that.

So apologies for perhaps taking it out of context.

Though your next reply was out of line & full of assumptions, but we don’t need to go into that.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Strongly disagree here. I’ve been using high end IEM’s for two decades. With other models such as Etymotic, Shure, and the cottage industry that developed chasing that basic design, the user must go through contortions like wetting and twisting the rubber tri-flange tips typical of Etymotic back and forth until they sit extremely deep in the ear canal or there is literally zero bass to the sound. Or with the standard foam Shure tips you must get the largest tip that will fit, compress it with your fingers, and press/twist it into your ear with a decent amount of force else there is little bass AND there is zero passive noise suppression. I’ve owned multiple pairs from each of these vendors and others, and spent thousands of hours using them on flights.

The APP’s in comparison require you to place the earphone in your ear and twist it very slightly towards the back of your head. There is no pressure required, and the tips never protrude very far into the ear. The active noise cancelling works extremely well even as they loosen such as when running with them, and the sound does not vary much regardless of how tight they are in place.

The fit test clearly changed its behavior at one of the software releases in December and it’s strongly coloring user perception. Yes, the ANC changed a bit too with one of the firmware updates, but all the complaining about the fit test is likely to just drive Apple eliminate it entirely in the future as they can simply handle this silently in the background.

If there is a huge selection of 3rd party tips already available I fail to see your point of outrage. Limiting themselves to one of the “standard” tip designs would have been extremely limiting to Apple’s overall design of this product, especially as the typical IEM uses a narrow stem and relies entirely on passive noise reduction. Fine if you are making a $25 knock-off. Not at all suitable for a clean-slate Active cancelling solution with a huge budget.

The hubris of someone for whom the tips work well.