AirPods Impressions: Potential 'Game-Changer' With Good Design, but Will They Stay in the Ear?

[isomorphic]

Regardless of how good/bad the AirPods are, all other manufacturers seem to be saying "here, just shove this uncomfortable piece of silicone halfway into your ear canal." "And look, we've provided three silicone pieces to fit everyone's ears: 'pain', 'lots of pain', and 'falls out'."

Tinny though Apple's EarPods may be, they don't collect my ear wax or cause my ears to break out in sweat. I wish other manufacturers would continue to make earbud-style headphones without all the silicone plug garbage.

 

[DevNull0]

Samsung launches theirs for $199, and no one bats an eye.

Apple launches theirs for $159, and everyone complains "it's too expensive"

It's "too expensive" because you desire them, if you didn't, they weren't.

Oh, please....

You can't take two different opinions from two different people, pretend their coming from the same person and since they're incompatible, the person is an idiot or a troll.

Some people think $199 from samsung is fine. Some people think $159 from Apple is too high. These are not the same group of people.

 

[Dominicanyor]

Had Apple shipped them with the iPhone, people would probably be moaning about them being easy to lose, and they should've shipped them with wired ones. "Not everybody wants headphones that can only last 5 hours", they'd scoff.

Had Apple shipped them with both wired and wireless, people would probably be moaning that they should have picked one or the other, and reduced the price of the iPhone instead. "Ugh. Not even Apple can decide on what standard to stick to. Lack of leadership."

Had Apple shipped with no headphones, then stuff really would have gone down. I almost wish they had, just to witness the sea of salt in the comments section.

You have a valid point on that. Just not everyone will be complaining about the wireless airpods. Now we have an external 3.5 adapter on top of that the regular headphone. Do you realize how long thats going to be?

 

[keysofanxiety]

Damn are those earbug ugly.............and at $159.00. IF you are going to give us only 5 hours of battery life at least make them look better.

Meanwhile, in an alternate universe, Apple make the best looking wireless earphones you'll ever hope to see.

"Ugh, only 5 hours battery life? Form over function. Jony Ive strikes again."

 

[AppleRobert]

The issue I have with these is simple: are these worth the money? I will never know because I'm not going to risk the money to find out.

What risk, just try them by purchasing at an Apple Store.

Even though I may like them that is still lots of coin. Amazon has loads of options for cheaper.

 

[R.T.]

Those AirPods look really cool but I'd be too afraid to lose them or someone will just yank them out of my ear as I'm walking down the street.

 

[Hustler1337]

To compensate for the lack of a 3.5mm headphone port on the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Apple yesterday introduced the "AirPods." The wireless headphones give users 5 hours of music playback, and come in a carrying case that doubles as a battery pack, holding an extra 24 hours of charge in a small, 2-inch tall frame
[....]

Compensate? More like we're compensating Apple by paying them $159 for something we didn't want.

 

[greytmom]

Earpod Adapters

The EarPods hurt my ears and fall out due to the wires dragging on them. This might make the AirPods work for me.

 

[Zirel]

Oh, please....

You can't take two different opinions from two different people, pretend their coming from the same person and since they're incompatible, the person is an idiot or a troll.

Some people think $199 from samsung is fine. Some people think $159 from Apple is too high. These are not the same group of people.

Maybe not, but the interception of those groups = MacRumors trolls.

 

[lenard]

Oh, please....

You can't take two different opinions from two different people, pretend their coming from the same person and since they're incompatible, the person is an idiot or a troll.

Some people think $199 from samsung is fine. Some people think $159 from Apple is too high. These are not the same group of people.

Check out the DASH EarPods, those are $300 and the reviews out of the box are bad.

 

[Zirel]

Compensate? More like we're compensating Apple by paying them $159 for something we didn't want.

Explain that "we"

 

[smacrumon]

That thing would have a battery life of 15 minutes. I do love it and I look forward to buying it in 3-4 years.

Nah, a circle's volume is deceptive, they can hold

But the sound on something like this would likely be not very good. The stems in the EarPods serve a function, it's not just an aesthetic choice. The slit in the top on the outside (also missing in this render) combined with the slit in the stem, create a kind of echo chamber that is responsible for the low end sounds. It creates a deeper bass than you usually get with relatively cheap headphones.

Yes, possibly true there. But instead of straight stems, maybe something more from nature, circular, in the form of a spiral. Maybe this could inform the design regarding the particular aspect that serves an echo chamber for low end sounds.

 

[DotCom2]

Slightly off topic but does anyone know if the Lightning EarPods will work with the 6/6s?

That's what I want to know too but I haven't been able to find the answer.
I'll know soon though.

 

[skellener]

AirPods won't work in my ears. All ear buds fall out. Oh, well. I need something to secure them. These Motorola S-10's are the only wireless ones that I can use. About $20 on Amazon. Sound is meh, but it's for use during activities so it's fine. I'll stick to my Audio Technica ATH-M50's for quality sound when I'm relaxing or at work.

 

[Rogifan]

That thing would have a battery life of 15 minutes. I do love it and I look forward to buying it in 3-4 years.

And people wouldn't lose those?!?

 

[skellener]

That's what I want to know too but I haven't been able to find the answer.
I'll know soon though.

Probably not. I think it's using some new sort of wireless delivery isn't it?

 

[TeamMojo]

I am sure some third parties will quickly produce some cheap silicone ear loops or other similar devices to both keep them in the ears a bit better and provide some security during strenuous activity with lots of head movement. Also, this would allow one to change the color of the earbuds. I'd prefer something other than white.

 

[falainber]

These appear to be the same shape as the current earbuds.

I don't understand all of the "will these stay in my ears?" questions...

Did the earbuds in your recent iPhone(s) stay in? Yes? Then chances are these will too. No? Probably won't want to get these....

Why is this such a big question when we have a nearly identical product in our hands today?

There are two differences:

• wires pulling the earbuds down could be helping them stay in ears
• even if airbuds and earbuds fall out at the same rate, the consequences of them falling out are quite different (because the wire won't let you lose the bud)

 

[Will.O.Bie]

I'm definitely considering buying these but my concern is will this have any conflicts with another iPhone in close proximity to you in terms of pairing that's running the same iOS 10? After the initial pairing and I take it out to answer a call and someone sitting next to you is posting on their IG on their iPhone 7, will this have problems "recognizing" another phone nearby? Can't wait to hear more about these AirPods.

 

[Zirel]

Interested to see what Bose comes out with as a competing product. People love to hate on Bose but their SoundSport earphones ($100) are a great upgrade. And most likely Bose will have black or grey.

Seriosuly, $100 for wired headphones is "ok", but $159 for truly wireless headphones if "expensive"?

 

[greytmom]

I think it's using some new sort of wireless delivery isn't it?

Nope, should work with any device that supports bluetooth.

See article

 

[ericwn]

I think ill use those ropes they use to hold a pair of glasses around your neck. that would work to hold them together

Fair point, but keep in mind that for every storing away, every charge etc you'll have to disconnect that rope again.

 

[iReality85]

5 hour battery life is pathetic. This is real problem with these things.

A 5 hour battery life, with a 15 minute fast re-charge good for 3 hours, and up to 5 charges by the charger itself good for 24 hours before needing an outlet. Yeah, such pathetic battery life.

I'm actually pretty stoked for these. EarPods have always fit well in my ears and haven't fallen out easily, so I assumed these would be no different. I love that these will auto pause when taken out, because I use my headphones at work and by habit, I take an earpod out rather than fumble for my phone or cord if someone stops in my office.

The only thing I wish it had was instead of double tap for Siri, it was double tap to pause/play, and single tap to RW / FF.

 

[Sonmi451]

I'm 95% sure these will never stay in my ear. Only ear buds that are a good fit for me are the Bose soundtrue with the extra silicone part. The 1 ear bud style fits all is so frustrating.

 

[DotCom2]

Probably not. I think it's using some new sort of wireless delivery isn't it?

I don't know.