Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

AirPods change volume with Siri only?!

FSMBP

FSMBP

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jan 22, 2009
2,768
2,952
So, oddly after Apple said wireless is the future (but then included wired lightning headphones), I looked at these AirPods for my iPhone.

there are no actual controls on the headphones? If I want to change the song or even turn up the volume, I have to say "turn up the volume"??? Using Siri in public is awkward already, let alone saying "Turn it up" at the gym. Of course, I can reach into my pocket and use my iPhone too control but then there is no convenience.

Thoughts?
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuges, clunkmess and Channan
FSMBP said:
Why does Apple include a remote on its EarPods? Because it's convenient to not pull out your iPhone if you want to nudge the volume...

Why can't the deepest of FanBoys admit that Apple isn't perfect
Click to expand...

I didn't realize one must ONLY use EarPods with their Apple devices.

Sorry
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chatter
AutoUnion39 said:
I didn't realize one must ONLY use EarPods with their Apple devices.

Sorry
Click to expand...
Huh? Plenty of headphones have music controls on them. My LG Tones have controls to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume, and activate Siri. I use them all the time to change songs or adjust the volume all the time while working out. Having to use Siri for any of these functions (besides activating Siri obviously) would be a major inconvenience.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BeeGood, OriginalClone, yegon and 3 others
I was most excited and subsequently most disappointed by the air pods. Preliminary reviews state they don't even sound better than wired; huge bummer.

I guess if you don't like Siri only controls you should look into something else. I hate to have the be the answer, since I hate when any Apple gripe I maybe have is answers with "then go to android", but it's the only reality I can think of.

My next hope is the new bragi buds aren't a huge turd. Hey I can dream...
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuges, pcmacgamer and Channan
lordofthereef said:
I was most excited and subsequently most disappointed by the air pods. Preliminary reviews state they don't even sound better than wired; huge bummer.
Click to expand...
Same. I was really hoping to order and use them with my iPhone SE, but that price tag is ridiculous. I expected them to be $99 maybe, but I'm not paying $140+ (including the tax difference) more for the same quality EarPods without a wire.

maxsix said:
Air Buds... Really Apple?
Click to expand...
This isn't a basketball movie. Lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: maxsix
Channan said:
Same. I was really hoping to order and use them with my iPhone SE, but that price tag is ridiculous. I expected them to be $99 maybe, but I'm not paying $140+ (including the tax difference) more for the same quality EarPods without a wire.


This isn't a basketball movie. Lol
Click to expand...
Which is truly sad when you can buy Bluetooth earphones for $20-$30 on Amazon and they sound better. Apple is out of their minds charging $140 for crap earbuds that happen to be wireless.
 
  • Like
Reactions: turbineseaplane
QuarterSwede said:
Which is truly sad when you can buy Bluetooth earphones for $20-$30 on Amazon and they sound better. Apple is out of their minds charging $140 for crap earbuds that happen to be wireless.
Click to expand...
Im trying to make they consorions myself but I just can't. And the reason is because all of these have s cable tethering the two. IMO that's not the same. If I need s cable tethering then I am happy teething them to the phone as well. I may be in the minority. I want true buds like what bragi and Samsung have done with actual decent connectivity. Maybe I'm s dreamer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuges, Chatter and profets
lordofthereef said:
Im trying to make they consorions myself but I just can't. And the reason is because all of these have s cable tethering the two. IMO that's not the same. If I need s cable tethering then I am happy teething them to the phone as well. I may be in the minority. I want true buds like what bragi and Samsung have done with actual decent connectivity. Maybe I'm s dreamer.
Click to expand...
True but I actually like the other ones being tethered to each other. Less likely to lose them and their battery life is a HELL of a lot longer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: riverfreak and haruhiko
QuarterSwede said:
True but I actually like the other ones being tethered to each other. Less likely to lose them and their battery life is a HELL of a lot longer.
Click to expand...
I understand the concern on loss. I was looking st another product called elwn or something like that. They seem to be best of both worlds. The tether itself is like a battery bank that you can choose to attach or not. Without it you get three hours. With it you get something like six or eight. But the bank can charge while you use the buds alone so you can potentially have perpetual charging.

Price point was about $200 but not released yet so... who knows how it will actually perform.
 
  • Like
Reactions: QuarterSwede
Why are you assuming they are bad (sound-quality wise)? All the reviews I've read state that it was difficult/impossible to rate the sound quality as the press room was very crowded.

On the other hand, the lack of volume controls, if confirmed, is a major oversight... sometimes I change the volume more than once per song.
 
M. Gustave said:
Where did this stupid rumor come from? Every Bluetooth device ever made responds to the volume buttons on the phone, or in the app playing music.
Click to expand...
We're not saying you can't adjust the volume for the AirPods. We're wondering if you can't do it from the actual AirPods, that you have to change the volume or track from your phone. Super inconvenient while working out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lordofthereef
Did you all read the body of the original post? I can understand your confusion if you are posting based on the title only. But in the body of the post it states the OP is aware the phone can be used to control the volume. What seems to be missing is volume control when your phone is in a bag, in your pocket, or otherwise inconvenient.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuges, AlphaHumanus, bhayes444 and 4 others
M. Gustave said:
Where did this stupid rumor come from? Every Bluetooth device ever made responds to the volume buttons on the phone, or in the app playing music.
Click to expand...
From Apple's own website.

He's saying that there are NO controls on the Airpods themselves... you *MUST* either use Siri or physically use the iPhone/Watch. (Or iPod/Mac or whatever else they connect to)

My iPhone is out of reach 99% of the time, and my Watch takes too long to swipe/switch to the correct app and then pause/skip/change volume/whatever.

Two things turn me off with the Airpods.
1. zero physical buttons, or even taps (outside getting Siri to wake up) for Volume, tracks, pause etc.
2. they are Apple's crap ear buds, wireless.

Every time i'm forced to use them, i keep them as a spare if my bluetooth dies or I forget it, they WILL NOT STAY IN MY EARS. they fit so loose and the slightest movement makes them fall out. Why apple didn't add at least a little rubber of some sort to help them grab the skin better is beyond me, they wanted them to be super smooth and look cool! which makes them slippery.

Currently if someone wants to talk to me i just reach up and hit pause.

With the Airpods, someone walks up to talk to me:
I double tap one side, wait a second for Siri to wake up.
Speak the command.
Wait for Siri to respond and pause the music/audiobook etc.
THEN I can talk to the person without the distraction.

Now the charging case, I like. But my bluetooth lasts 8-10 hours of music now.. so that would also a downgrade.
And besides i paid $50 for my bluetooth, 3x more for less charge time and higher chance of losing them?... not worth it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RevTEG
TheBacklash said:
2. they are Apple's crap ear buds, wireless.
Click to expand...
This is my only real complaint about the AirPods. While I wouldn't call EarPods crap (I think they're pretty good for being included with your phone and as a $30 replacement) it just isn't worth a >5x price tag just for wireless.
 
I'm excited about these. I'm looking forward to seeing reviews from unbiased sources especially those that specialize in Bluetooth headsets. Keep in mind Phil said you can use just one specifically for Siri and phone calls.

159 dollar may seem like a tough pill to swallow but a high quality headset can rival that price and typically look worse, only includes one ear piece, don't include any sort of charging case, aren't designed for music what so ever, and have half the tech.

These could end up being the Bluetooth headset I've been dreaming off. Apple has a tendency of putting out things that may lack features (volume control in the case of this thread) but do what they advertise very very well.

Then again they might suck, and in that case I won't buy them.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: orbital~debris and M. Gustave
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back