Had a friend complain about how the batteries couldn’t be replaced and it’s terrible for the environment... after he drove 1km to buy beef burgers for his large family. OK then...
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AirPods 3: Everything We Know So Far
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Couldnt agree more and be saying this for ages. These non repairable expensive products with short life batteries are ecological errors. Yet they are very profitable for Apple. Double standard, they are environment friendly when it make them save money too
My just two year old Air Pods give me 46 minutes before they need to be charged. I can take one off and charge for 5 minutes then flip them so I can continue but it’s annoying. Have a hard time buying anything over $100 that is only going to last 2 years
Hopefully, this iteration turns out to be a little more reliable. Having a set in excellent condition and with minimal use, I am unable to use for more than a few minutes before severe static and crackle begin with the right side. I certainly don’t feel that I should have to pay $80 for a replacement or purchase an extended warranty prior to purchase. It is not as though these suffer from extreme wear and tear. Or, at least through inspection, it should be discernible whether it’s manufacturer defect or neglect.
Black Pods Matter! Thankfully there are many non Apple brands that are doing a great job for me.
Plus, with Apples attack on free speech, I won't be buying any Apple products for a very long while.
Plus, with Apples attack on free speech, I won't be buying any Apple products for a very long while.
I would just like an update to the PowerBeats Pro. No desire for buds that fall out of my ears. Don't know why there are two competing lines of headphones/buds in the same company anymore, but ear hooks are the only way I can use in-ear listening devices without massive frustration. Powerbeats Pro are the most comfortable I've ever used. They just need to flatten that charging case and design it so there's no way to put in the buds in a way that doesn't make good contact with the charging contacts- oh, and a contact-charging case.
Apple is working on a third-generation version of the AirPods, and for this updated version rumored to be launching in 2021, we could see some design changes for the first time since the AirPods came out in 2016. This guide covers everything that we know about the upcoming AirPods 3.
Design Updates
The third-generation AirPods may be updated with a design that's similar to the AirPods Pro, featuring a shorter stem and replaceable silicone ear tips that are able to better fit a wider range of ears.
The current AirPods
Though the AirPods 3 might look like the AirPods Pro, they're not expected to get Pro-level features like Active Noise Cancellation and will instead be identical in overall function to the current AirPods.
A leaked image that's said to be the AirPods 3 surfaced in November 2020, featuring a design that is similar to the AirPods Pro, which is in line with rumors. The AirPods 3 have a more Pro-like rounded shape and are smaller in size.
New Internal Hardware
Apple is rumored to be working on a new wireless chip that could be included in the third-generation AirPods, and there could potentially be some improvements in battery life. A new wireless chip could bring extended range, but the AirPods 3 are expected to function like the current version with fast device switching and quick pairing with Apple devices, among other benefits.
In more technical news, the AirPods 3 will feature a more compact integrated system-in-package (SiP) that's similar to the SiP used in the AirPods Pro. This will allow more of the audio features to be integrated into a smaller casing design like the AirPods Pro.
Cost
Since the AirPods 3 aren't getting Active Noise Cancellation, it's likely the pricing will remain as is, with Apple charging $199 for the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case. It's not known if there will be a cheaper version available with a standard charging case that charges over Lightning as Apple could opt to discontinue this option.
Release Date
AirPods 3 are rumored to be coming in the first half of 2021, and if there is a March event as there has been in past years, the AirPods could make a debut in March.
Read More
For more on the current-generation AirPods and what we expect to see when the AirPods 3 launch, we have a full AirPods roundup with all of the details you might want to know.
Article Link: AirPods 3: Everything We Know So Far
A design that would allow for the option of extended in-ear tips would be interesting. That would serve the most people. Otherwise, no in-ear tips are more desirable.
I bought both the original AirPods and AirPod Pros on their respective release days... oddly enough, the far bigger issue for me is fit. The features of the Pros are nice - the ANC is great, and they do sound better than the cheaper model - but in my ears they don't fit remotely the same as the original AirPods. I've tried all the Apple tips (I guess I haven't tried aftermarket foam...) and the Pros just will not stay in my ears during chewing, talking, walking, or working out. Any movement beyond basic head-turning works them loose. It's a shame.
All this is to say, if I had it to do over again, I'd ignore the features and just keep replacing the original AirPods with the same. (I'm on my second pair of them, relegating the Pros to light desk duty, so to speak...) For my ear shape, whatever fits is the better value. So personally I am hoping this new version, if it's going to be a form factor change, more closely aligns with the fit of the originals.
You and I are opposites with the fit aspect lol I seem to have one ear that is a different inner shape or size than the other and can be tough to get both to fit well.
A lot of complaints about longevity without pointing to an alternative with similar feature set. Look at AirPods. Look at any true wireless earbuds. They're smaller than any bluetooth headphones before them. If 2-3 years of battery life doesn't do it for you, there's plenty of regular bluetooth headphones to choose from. You can also plug them in directly. Apple isn't pointing a gun to your head.
I give you 3 months.
It's too bad the APP needs the rubber part. The rubber is only needed to improve noise cancellation. It does not actually provide a better fit. If it does provide a better fit to some, that's only because people can now choose sizes and/or the rubber changes the size, which for some people's ear shapes, automatically provides a better fit. In those cases, you could stick extra cotton or vinyl on the earpieces and you also get a better fit. But if purely comparing hard plastic to rubber materials, there isn't going to be an improved average fit.
I never had slippage with the original AP but they sometimes fall out with the APP design even though they fit perfectly. If I jam them in hard they don't come out, but I never had to do that before. It's the combination with rubber and natural skin oils that's the problem. The earpiece on the original AP is hard plastic and that grips to skin better.
I'd love to have the new APP design but with the original earpiece and hopefully be able to retain noise cancellation.
I never had slippage with the original AP but they sometimes fall out with the APP design even though they fit perfectly. If I jam them in hard they don't come out, but I never had to do that before. It's the combination with rubber and natural skin oils that's the problem. The earpiece on the original AP is hard plastic and that grips to skin better.
I'd love to have the new APP design but with the original earpiece and hopefully be able to retain noise cancellation.
leave the airpod shape alone. and let me tap my airpods to change tracks instead of having to squeeze them...
As amazing the functionality of AirPods is, they are extremely poor value for money. I’ve had mine almost three years and they are pretty much unusable. Problems I have come across include;
• Poor battery life; currently they hold a 20 minute charge
• Connectivity issues as they age; my AirPods never seem to connect to the correct device
• Connectivity issues with GPS Apple Watch; it can take a lot of troubleshooting to connect them to the Watch and often they just fail to connect
• Find My app rarely shows correct location rendering it useless when they’re actually lost
• Expensive and a pain to replace; why do I need an appointment to replace a lost headphone, let me buy one without waiting for a genius
I do love using my AirPods when they work because the functionality is phenomenal even if they sound average. I can’t justify spending £160 every three years on throwaway technology though, especially when a pair of Beyerdynamic DT770’s can set you back £100, last forever, and sound like Janis Joplin is actually singing in your ear.
I’ll wait till I see the comments on this version but this is definitely one product Apple needs to work on. I’ll pass generation three and hope that they release generation four in black!
• Poor battery life; currently they hold a 20 minute charge
• Connectivity issues as they age; my AirPods never seem to connect to the correct device
• Connectivity issues with GPS Apple Watch; it can take a lot of troubleshooting to connect them to the Watch and often they just fail to connect
• Find My app rarely shows correct location rendering it useless when they’re actually lost
• Expensive and a pain to replace; why do I need an appointment to replace a lost headphone, let me buy one without waiting for a genius
I do love using my AirPods when they work because the functionality is phenomenal even if they sound average. I can’t justify spending £160 every three years on throwaway technology though, especially when a pair of Beyerdynamic DT770’s can set you back £100, last forever, and sound like Janis Joplin is actually singing in your ear.
I’ll wait till I see the comments on this version but this is definitely one product Apple needs to work on. I’ll pass generation three and hope that they release generation four in black!
Interesting. I can see the new "entry level" Airpods looking like that, without the rubber tips and without ANC etc. This makes sense to me, with it largely being a design update and increased battery. Also falls in line with those leaked images on the first page.
I just wonder about the price, as AirPods Pro are $209 according to The Verge and Amazon UK has them for £199. They'd really need to make the new AirPods attractive when it came to cost, otherwise I'm sure lots would pay a little extra for the reduced price Pros. Although maybe that's the point!
On a side note, I've had the 2nd generation AirPods for a year now and do use them almost daily, but find that after 30 minutes, it really does feel very much like I have hard plastic in my ears, so I'm weighing up buying the Pros now for some extra comfort, or perhaps waiting for revised Pros (possibly later this year).
I do a lot of running so I can already see how the squeeze stem to pause/skip track would be really annoying.
EDIT: Prices checked and updated. Apologies mods.
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The leaked Chinese image on Page 1 suggests they won't be in ear headphones.
I think they'll save that and the tips for AirPods Pro.
I think there will be a redesign bearing in mind the trouble that Apple have had with the reliability issues of the first gen.
You're being difficult and you know it; they're not the same product line.