AirPods Pro Demand is So Strong That Apple is Reportedly Doubling Production

[Ntombi]

Still not convinced with these disposable headphones.

As far as I’m aware, all wireless earbuds are essentially disposable, in that they don’t have user-replaceable batteries. Are you aware of any that are different?

Now, we can discuss whether that’s a sustainable or responsible model, but let’s be clear that Apple isn’t alone in following it.

 

[Baymowe335]

This review is more for the high-end audio person but it does seem that apple does not produce for the audiophile but for the rich/wealthy style crowed.

Did you actually watch all of that?

1) The guy never mentions transparency mode. Are we sure he wasn’t listening with transparency on? The sound is significantly worse with this on since it allows outside sound and even amplifiea it.

2) He never mentions noise cancellation.

3) He “tested” them in a crowded Apple store.

4) He used no objective measures to rate the sound. He gave his opinion and generalities about lows, mids, highs, and bass. Very generic.

5) If he were a serious audiophile, he would have demoed them in a controlled environment and at least mentioned the headline feature (noise cancellation) and given a review with and without it activated.

6) This review is a total joke.

 

[silroc]

These things have the youth market by the balls so .......

They are not made for boomers

 

[JagdTiger]

Did you actually watch all of that?

1) The guy never mentions transparency mode. Are we sure he wasn’t listening with transparency on? The sound is significantly worse with this on since it allows outside sound and even amplifiea it.

2) He never mentions noise cancellation.

3) He “tested” them in a crowded Apple store.

4) He used no objective measures to rate the sound. He gave his opinion and generalities about lows, mids, highs, and bass. Very generic.

5) If he were a serious audiophile, he would have demoed them in a controlled environment and at least mentioned the headline feature (noise cancellation) and given a review with and without it activated.

6) This review is a total joke.

The reviewer is a serious audiophile and writes for stereophile or absolute sound magazine.

 

[Baymowe335]

The reviewer is a serious audiophile and writes for stereophile or absolute sound magazine.

So why was his review so terrible?

Writing for some magazine doesn’t make him immune to missing a feature that could cause his review to be incomplete. Listening with transparency mode activated would have ruined his experience.

It also doesn’t make him a good audiophile if he was so careless to not even mention the most important feature or Airpods Pro.

His review was a joke.

 

[JagdTiger]

He is a serious audioph

So why was his review so terrible?

Writing for some magazine doesn’t make him immune to missing a feature that could cause his review to be incomplete. Listening with transparency mode activated would have ruined his experience.

It also doesn’t make him a good audiophile if he was so careless to not even mention the most important feature or Airpods Pro.

His review was a joke.

it was not a totally terrible review, it also wasn’t in a open or crowded store where noise would effect the outcome, of course if he had tested it in a more closed environment that would be more desirable, however most likely the reviewed product would have the same result.

 

[Baymowe335]

it was not a totally terrible review, it also wasn’t in a open or crowded store where noise would effect the outcome, of course if he had tested it in a more closed environment that would be more desirable, however most likely the reviewed product would have the same result.

Yeah, it was. He didn't mention the most important features of AirPods and gave zero objective evidence of a poor sounding product.

 

[JagdTiger]

Yeah, it was. He didn't mention the most important features of AirPods and gave zero objective evidence of a poor sounding product.

What is the most important feature of iPods, the style, prestige or wireless?

 

[Baymowe335]

What is the most important feature of iPods, the style, prestige or wireless?

ANC and transparency mode.

 

[JagdTiger]

ANC and transparency mode.

Yeah but he is discussing audio reproduction which is different and in a off manner did say that transparency in sound was not there but also stated that a wide sound stage was good.

 

[ipponrg]

Yeah but he is discussing audio reproduction which is different and in a off manner did say that transparency in sound was not there but also stated that a wide sound stage was good.

It’s a waste of time to even review the AirPods Pro from an audio reproduction perspective. Any semiserious audiophile who reviews the Airpods is just looking for traffic to their content.

As someone who owns many IEMs including these, here’s my subjective review of the AirPods Pro: sound is adequate, stage presence is neither narrow nor shallow, and I wouldn’t use this for any critical listening sessions. Listening to these critically is an oxymoron. You’re really paying for the ANC, transparency, portability, and Apple chip

 

[Baymowe335]

Yeah but he is discussing audio reproduction which is different and in a off manner did say that transparency in sound was not there but also stated that a wide sound stage was good.

He didn't even give the conditions he demoed them or indicate whether or not the ANC was active. He has no clue what he's talking about...stop defending him and take the review for what is was...junk.

 

[falainber]

With supposedly high demand, it's only possible if the same people who already had regular Air Pods are now buying the "Pro" model. The irony here is that many of those very people were claiming that the design of the Air Pods was superior to the sealing design used basically by all other earbuds manufacturers. As usual, the opinion changes in sync with Apple design changes.

 

[Abazigal]

With supposedly high demand, it's only possible if the same people who already had regular Air Pods are now buying the "Pro" model. The irony here is that many of those very people were claiming that the design of the Air Pods was superior to the sealing design used basically by all other earbuds manufacturers. As usual, the opinion changes in sync with Apple design changes.

Interestingly, Tim Cook shares a similar opinion where he sees people owning both regular AirPods and AirPods Pro.

https://9to5mac.com/2019/10/30/tim-...re-complementary-to-airpods-not-replacements/

I don’t know how many people are doing this - but that would be one way of growing the AirPods market - by selling the AirPods Pro as a complement to the AirPods, rather than a direct replacement.

 

[Baymowe335]

With supposedly high demand, it's only possible if the same people who already had regular Air Pods are now buying the "Pro" model. The irony here is that many of those very people were claiming that the design of the Air Pods was superior to the sealing design used basically by all other earbuds manufacturers. As usual, the opinion changes in sync with Apple design changes.

You are speculating, so you don’t know if anyone said that and then bought Pros.

Demand is high because the segment is growing...fast. Your speculation that everyone buying the Pros already has original AirPods is also based on nothing.

 

[I7guy]

...The irony here is that many of those very people were claiming that the design of the Air Pods was superior to the sealing design used basically by all other earbuds manufacturers....

Citations for this please.

 

[falainber]

Citations for this please.

I am just that smart. I do not need to quote anyone. Are you guys thinking that sudden growth is caused by Android users or something? Have you followed people posts on MR? Also: occam's razor. If someone can come up with a simpler (but still reasonable) explanation, I am ready to accept one.

 

[I7guy]

I am just that smart. I do not need to quote anyone. Are you guys thinking that sudden growth is caused by Android users or something? Have you followed people posts on MR? Also: occam's razor. If someone can come up with a simpler (but still reasonable) explanation, I am ready to accept one.

Understood. Just some more hyperbole. You’re welcome to dissect the growth patterns of why Apple is doing so well with the AirPods. Good luck with your theories.

 

[Baymowe335]

I am just that smart. I do not need to quote anyone. Are you guys thinking that sudden growth is caused by Android users or something? Have you followed people posts on MR? Also: occam's razor. If someone can come up with a simpler (but still reasonable) explanation, I am ready to accept one.

Based on previous posts, you’re completely used to speculation as a form of fact.

The growth is not sudden in wearables. It’s a rapidly growing segment that will grow even faster with another fantastic product.

 

[falainber]

Based on previous posts, you’re completely used to speculation as a form of fact.

The growth is not sudden in wearables. It’s a rapidly growing segment that will grow even faster with another fantastic product.

I am not denying the growth. My observation was that based on the fact that most Apple customers who wanted Apple wireless earbuds already had them, the high demand for Pro earbuds is somewhat surprising. And I attribute it to two factors:
* Apple customers were not as satisfied with old design as they seemed, which was a somewhat strange phenomena because basically all quality earbuds manufacturers, except for Apple, were using sealing (in-ear) design. Are Apple customers that different from other people when it comes to headphones? I do not think so.
* There is always some demand for a new Apple product (especially if it is released right before the holidays). That's a default (sometimes lazy) gift option for many. Also, some people have to have all Apple gadgets.

So, I think once again Apple did double dipping: first sold an inferior design to their customers and then came up with a new incarnation.

 

[Abazigal]

My observation was that based on the fact that most Apple customers who wanted Apple wireless earbuds already had them

How would you even know this?

AboveAvalon estimates that Apple has sold about 60 million AirPods over the last 3 years, and is estimating that it will sell another 60 million next year. This is in context of there being over 900 million active iPhone users. There also likely isn’t much of a gray market for used AirPods (due to their batteries being non-replaceable), unlike iPhones which are good after a fresh battery swap. There’s also the possibility of people owning both the normal AirPods and AirPods pro, the same way some people have multiple Apple watches or iPads.

In short, all signs point to there still being a huge untapped market for Apple to sell AirPods to, and I foresee an upward trend in sales of AirPods for the next 2-3 years at least.

 

[Analog Kid]

Interestingly, Tim Cook shares a similar opinion where he sees people owning both regular AirPods and AirPods Pro.

https://9to5mac.com/2019/10/30/tim-...re-complementary-to-airpods-not-replacements/

I don’t know how many people are doing this - but that would be one way of growing the AirPods market - by selling the AirPods Pro as a complement to the AirPods, rather than a direct replacement.

I think it is a bit of wishful thinking on Cook's part, to think that a large fraction of the market is going to want to own both, but I would if the Pro's fit my ears. I use the non-Pros most of the day, and appreciate that they don't seal in my ears. They're good for just about everything.

The one exception is airplanes. Right now I take significant carry-on space to fit my Bose over-the-ear noise cancelling headphones. I'd love to replace them with AirPod Pros if I could. At least for shorter flights. Sadly, I need to wait until the Pros get redesigned for my ears...

 

[manu chao]

As far as I’m aware, all wireless earbuds are essentially disposable, in that they don’t have user-replaceable batteries. Are you aware of any that are different?

Now, we can discuss whether that’s a sustainable or responsible model, but let’s be clear that Apple isn’t alone in following it.

Unfortunately, wired earbuds are also essentially disposable as their cables start fraying at the headphone plug end after a couple of months of usage (as phones have become larger, things have gotten tighter in my pockets). Mine have lasted on average three months. I have nine pairs of broken wired earphones in a drawer (joined by three pairs of broken wireless earphones) and that doesn't include another half dozen earphones that were replaced on warranty.

 

[Baymowe335]

I am not denying the growth. My observation was that based on the fact that most Apple customers who wanted Apple wireless earbuds already had them, the high demand for Pro earbuds is somewhat surprising. And I attribute it to two factors:
* Apple customers were not as satisfied with old design as they seemed, which was a somewhat strange phenomena because basically all quality earbuds manufacturers, except for Apple, were using sealing (in-ear) design. Are Apple customers that different from other people when it comes to headphones? I do not think so.
* There is always some demand for a new Apple product (especially if it is released right before the holidays). That's a default (sometimes lazy) gift option for many. Also, some people have to have all Apple gadgets.

So, I think once again Apple did double dipping: first sold an inferior design to their customers and then came up with a new incarnation.

Your second sentence is speculation.

 

[I7guy]

...
My observation was that based on the fact that most Apple customers who wanted Apple wireless earbuds already had them, the high demand for Pro earbuds is somewhat surprising. And I attribute it to two factors:

Okay so this is an opinion after all.

* Apple customers were not as satisfied

About as speculative as speculative can be.

* There is always some demand for a new Apple product (especially if it is released right before the holidays). That's a default (sometimes lazy) gift option for many. Also, some people have to have all Apple gadgets.

This appears to be somewhat of a truism.

So, I think once again Apple did double dipping:

How can Apple do double dipping. Do they reach into your wallet and extract the cash forcibly?

first sold an inferior design to their customers and then came up with a new incarnation.

Inferior? Sounds like choice to me for those who don't want an isolated in ear tip. Apple knew it's target market very well, they just don't put a wet finger in the year and hope for the best.