AirPods Pro on Phone Calls

[ginhb]

I haven't been to an Apple store to check them out yet but here's something I wondered about. When I was testing some regular AirPods I noticed when talking to older people like my parents they couldn't hear me nearly as well compared to the wired ones where the microphone is hanging down closer to your mouth. I tested this a couple times and they said it makes a big difference for them.

When using the new AirPods Pro can you hold one of them closer to your mouth while still talking on the call? Can you just pull one out during the call without interrupting it?

 

[ruslan120]

+1.

Experiencing this as well.

 

[ginhb]

Someone replied elsewhere. If you pull out one of the pods it will just disconnect. For $250 they should have that option configurable. C'mon Apple, that's lame!

 

[Lyn2012]

I received my APP yesterday and spent a few hours trying them out. Previously I had tried AP but found them the most uncomfortable earphones I’d ever attempted to use. I rarely listen to music but do listen to audiobooks. The APP are replacing my Jabra Elite 65T which were good but not perfect, and not as integrated with iOS.

So far I’m fairly impressed with ANC and Transparency modes and even more so with the comfort of the APP - probably the most comfortable earphones I’ve used. I spent a long time on FTA calls and my experience was excellent, I asked people on the other end, and they reported the same. I tried indoors and outside, although there wasn’t anyone else around and only a slight wind, with no reduction in quality.

There are two areas that I find the APP lacking compared to the Jabras, one is the lack of volume control, the other is that the skip forward/back controls take you to either the end or start of the audiobook instead of 10/15 seconds forward or back. If there’s a setting I’ve missed that will correct the latter, please do let me know.

 

[Ralfi]

If there’s a setting I’ve missed that will correct the latter, please do let me know.

Your only option fir now may be to use Siri to “rewind 15 seconds” etc. I’m sure I’ve used that command when using the Podcast App.

 

[Jutah]

So far I’m fairly impressed with ANC and Transparency modes and even more so with the comfort of the APP - probably the most comfortable earphones I’ve used. I spent a long time on FTA calls and my experience was excellent, I asked people on the other end, and they reported the same. I tried indoors and outside, although there wasn’t anyone else around and only a slight wind, with no reduction in quality.

what are the FTA Calls?
For some reason i tried different airpods pro units: they sound OK from the other end, but absolutely not crystsal clear. The voice is muffled. Even in super quite ambirnt.

I think it's a limit of the earbuds in general. No fw upgrade can fix this.

For the crystal clear voice it is required a wired cable.

 

[Lyn2012]

Your only option fir now may be to use Siri to “rewind 15 seconds” etc. I’m sure I’ve used that command when using the Podcast App.

Thanks for the suggestion. However I really can’t understand how or why Jabras can jump forward or back in seconds while Apple’s own earbuds can’t - the other way round, maybe.

what are the FTA Calls?

FTA = FaceTime Audio

I find call quality far superior to normal phone calls. My usual contacts commented that using APP it sounded even more as though I was in the room with them.

 

[ginhb]

My usual contacts commented that using APP it sounded even more as though I was in the room with them.

Thanks for that comment, that sounds encouraging. I might have to just give them a try and see how they work for me when talking to my parents, aunts, etc. They're all getting up there in years and don't hear so good anymore. And of course none of them want to wear any kind of hearing aids. My mom already has her phone volume turned up probably as high as it will go.

The original wired ApplePods were never a problem, just the AirPods. She said the volume was quite a bit lower when I used them.

 

[Jutah]

Thanks for the suggestion. However I really can’t understand how or why Jabras can jump forward or back in seconds while Apple’s own earbuds can’t - the other way round, maybe.



FTA = FaceTime Audio

I find call quality far superior to normal phone calls. My usual contacts commented that using APP it sounded even more as though I was in the room with them.

thanks for the explanation of FTA
I’ve never tried FaceTime call, I can say that APP are pretty poor in the regular phone call as overall audio quality (muffled voice).

 

[ginhb]

I can say that APP are pretty poor in the regular phone call as overall audio quality (muffled voice).

That's what I've been wondering about. None of the reviewers ever seem to mention that. But if they're receiving free products from Apple to review, I can see why.

 

[Jutah]

That's what I've been wondering about. None of the reviewers ever seem to mention that. But if they're receiving free products from Apple to review, I can see why.

trust me, who talks about “crystal clear” sound from the other side during regular calls is not saying the truth.

If you are in really noisy ambient (let say, around or more than 80db) it very hard to understand what you are saying.

it obviously depends on the kind of noise.

 

[Ralfi]

it obviously depends on the kind of noise.

Yeah that’s the key. People need to be specific with what sounds are in their environment - traffic? People chatting? Cutlery clanging on plates? etc.

I’ve used mine when around noisy equipment (constant fan noise) & also when on the Beach on a very windy day. Both scenarios had the other person saying I sounded fine. I recall NC improving my voice in the former situation.