AirPods Tidbits: Hidden Apple Watch Features, Durability Test, and High Resale Prices

[bunnicula]

Concurrence? Do you mean competition? They do not suck and cost less than their competition...

Ignoring the bizarre word choice, this poster also ignored the probability that one might have another set of earphones or headphones for more "serious" musical listening.

I have some Bose QC30s if I really want to settle in at my desk or on a plane. I have the AirPods now for every other use under the sun, plus the portability.

 

[Jdalbo]

Can anyone with the AirPods tell me if you can adjust the volume using Siri during a phone call? I checked out many reviews on youtube but still have not found an answer.

I really dislike that they do not have a way to physically adjust the volume like the EarPods and some other BT headsets have (meaning without touching the phone or AW).

Have not tried during a call, but, if you have an Apple Watch its awesome. And stop complaining you have to touch the watch. What did you do before? Touch the cord controls. Watch is easier.

You can adjust the volume a few ways. First make sure the music app is on your doc. Then make sure you have the watch set to KEEP the last app up. Now when you are ready just open the app off the dock and hit play! You are all good even shows what song is playing. So for volume you get two ways to adjust from the watch. First and easiest is the crown on the watch just roll it up or down. Second is touch the volume up or down buttons on the music app. And of course you can pause advance or go back from here as well. If you don't have a AW. Guess you have to get one now its one of the best things the watch now does. Peace
[doublepost=1482357362][/doublepost]

The EarPods sound pretty good to be honest. They are balanced and don't exaggerate anything, which for me is quite favourable. In my opinion, I'd say the EarPods are actually underpriced for how nice they are.

Reviews are saying the AirPods are slightly better, and if that's truly the case, add on the convenience of wireless, the charging solution, and the tight Integration... 120 bucks isn't bad at all, and is still less than the competition which is pretty bad as of right now.

You're right though - anybody paying extra to get them early isn't being terribly smart with their money.

I **** all over the AirPods when they were first coming out but reviews have confirmed that they're actually pretty great.

Anyone who says they sound slightly better is lying. (or never tried them) They sound dramatically better.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Have not tried during a call, but, if you have an Apple Watch its awesome. And stop complaining you have to touch the watch. What did you do before? Touch the cord controls. Watch is easier.

You can adjust the volume a few ways. First make sure the music app is on your doc. Then make sure you have the watch set to KEEP the last app up. Now when you are ready just open the app off the dock and hit play! You are all good even shows what song is playing. So for volume you get two ways to adjust from the watch. First and easiest is the crown on the watch just roll it up or down. Second is touch the volume up or down buttons on the music app. And of course you can pause advance or go back from here as well. If you don't have a AW. Guess you have to get one now its one of the best things the watch now does. Peace
[doublepost=1482357362][/doublepost]
Anyone who says they sound slightly better is lying. (or never tried them) They sound dramatically better.

That's good to hear. I'll have to give them a shot.

 

[Jdalbo]

Apple Store talked me out of them

He said basically if you do not like the headphones that come with iPhone ( I do not and that's why I have a bose ) then do not buy these. He convinced me to look at Bose newest version or Jaybirds? . Ended up with Bose because I really like the noise cancellation and the comfort. I agree that people buy apple like my wife buys shoes, but since most people replace the ones that come with phone why would u buy these just there are no wires ?

You made a huge mistake. Take them back. The AirPods are fantastic. And the battery life for me so far has been crazy. Been using them on and off at work and now at home. Im at 92%!
[doublepost=1482358098][/doublepost]

I just ordered a pair from BestBuy, and they'll be in on Friday. Since I had some bestbuy reward zone points, the shipping and taxes were 'free', and I even saved a few more dollars off the top.

Heres Best Buy story for mine. Missed ordering them last week so got in late with a Jan 12th ship date from Apple. Been watching Apple and BB sites since. Monday night around 8pm while watching TV opened BB app on my phone went to AirPods and it said "delivers by 12/21" almost fell out of my chair. Click ordered and done with 1 day ship they showed up the next night at my door! Crazy huh.

 

[WilliamG]

You made a huge mistake. Take them back. The AirPods are fantastic. And the battery life for me so far has been crazy. Been using them on and off at work and now at home. Im at 92%!
[doublepost=1482358098][/doublepost]
Heres Best Buy story for mine. Missed ordering them last week so got in late with a Jan 12th ship date from Apple. Been watching Apple and BB sites since. Monday night around 8pm while watching TV opened BB app on my phone went to AirPods and it said "delivers by 12/21" almost fell out of my chair. Click ordered and done with 1 day ship they showed up the next night at my door! Crazy huh.

No idea how you're getting such awesome battery life. Make a few phone calls and watch it plummet!

 

[The Game 161]

No idea how you're getting such awesome battery life. Make a few phone calls and watch it plummet!

been two days since i charged the battery case up. very impressed so far.

 

[WilliamG]

been two days since i charged the battery case up. very impressed so far.

Well yes. The amount of times you can charge is good. But battery life is really not great when you're making phone calls, sadly. About 1% drop per minute.

Also, the battery level has disappeared from my Watch again. Few kinks to work out here, Apple!

 

[The Game 161]

Well yes. The amount of times you can charge is good. But battery life is really not great when you're making phone calls, sadly. About 1% drop per minute.

i should of seen how quick it dropped when i used it yesterday. Was on the phone for a good 20-30 mins. I know it dropped about 19% in the gym first day and about 15% today after an hour.

 

[marty11]

Imagine an Apple computer that was as innovative and well designed as these stinking headphones.

 

[WilliamG]

i should of seen how quick it dropped when i used it yesterday. Was on the phone for a good 20-30 mins. I know it dropped about 19% in the gym first day and about 15% today after an hour.

20-30 mins talk time is 20-30% battery. Music is much better, of course.

 

[Larry The L]

You're right though - anybody paying extra to get them early isn't being terribly smart with their money.

I **** all over the AirPods when they were first coming out but reviews have confirmed that they're actually pretty great.

And if someone has lots of money and doesn't want to take it to their grave and wants something that would cost more to get it early, what is wrong with that and why are you passing judgement on what someone else does with their money?

So you blasted a product you hadn't even seen, and now you like the product based upon what someone else said.

 

[SBlue1]

CAN WE GET OVER A HEADPHONE? THANKS. so much drama about it.

Thousands of youtube videos about this ****.

Unboxings like people are having orgasms...

Is this humans have turned into? about a stupid bluetooth device?

If you want it...buy it...if not dont buy it...Simple....If Apple makes feces people are gonna unbox it and make a big deal if it is good or not. Most just want views, show off, anyway. I'm done about all these news of AirPods...going crazy.

Dude, there is finally something positive about Apple in a long time. Let the people have fun.

 

[CharlesShaw]

AirPods sound awesome. I can't get over how silly they look in the ear, though.

We'll get used to it and soon grow tired of how boring they look when EVERYONE has them. Every other maker will be copying them.

 

[steve knight]

You would be the best person to answer that.

I can't afford to be a Guinea pig on this.

 

[WilliamG]

I can't afford to be a Guinea pig on this.

Oh but you really should be. I can't stop using mine. Lol.
[doublepost=1482361089][/doublepost]

We'll get used to it and soon grow tired of how boring they look when EVERYONE has them. Every other maker will be copying them.

Yep. Unless the detractors seriously think everyone is going to use wired Bluetooth earphones forever.
[doublepost=1482361148][/doublepost]The one thing I want to know but can't check without opening my wife's set is whether you can mix and match AirPods if you have two sets paired with your iPhone.

 

[69Mustang]

Anyone who says they sound slightly better is lying. (or never tried them) They sound dramatically better.

Not for nothin' but I think there are better ways to be an advocate for the AirPods than insulting anyone with a possible contrary opinion. It's not like you're stating facts. You're voicing an opinion about sound quality. An opinion which is no more or less valid than the opinion stated by @MH01. It's a whole lot more abrasive and much less informative, but it's your opinion.

Hey mate, okay I did some more testing to answer your questions .

1. The EarPods = AirPods when it comes to sound quality. Geez if there is some differnce it's very small, heck I'd convience myself they sound better having jsut paid £150, though realistically put some EarPods in and that is the sound quality. Tried them against the Bose ie2 and Bose we better . The shures I use for music are 846s, so against those the AirPod are crap use a pair of EarPods and that is very much the SQ you will get, judge from there, I consider them to be £30 SQ headphones

2. Watched some scenes from gladiator using EarPods and AirPods , there is slight latency using AirPods , you might not notice until you watch the same scene with EarPods , so yes to latency, but not bad.

3. Fit wise I'm lucky , not once have they fallen out and are actually very secure , though I'm just lucky they fit my ears well, will vary person to person .

4. My view is that they are £30 SQ headphones , very good BT reception , extremely light, sound great for phone calls, extremely convinent , look kinda goofy, but I really like them. I like them and will keep them cause they are great for the gym, and a great set of hands free headphones for commuting and phone calls, I can walk around the house making a call. Will I use them for watching movies or music, nope.

The bad, outside of apple idevices pairing is hmmmm. My Sony zx2 can't adjust volume on these, by iPod nano sounds crap paired, I'm sure there are other devices they don't play nice with, but with an iPhone they are great.

The case is very clever, and will keep them charged all day.

If definitely recommend trying them, though get them from apple, the fit is crucial, and if hey fit very well as they do my ears I think they are a winner as a convinient headphone, but with a bad fit, don't bother and return them.

Happy to answer any questions.

Update: forgot to mention, my iPad Pro runs last build of iOS 9, it cannot find the AirPods on BT.

Nice bro. Very nice. If I liked BT headphones, your post would go a long way towards convincing me to give the AirPods a try. This is coming from someone who definitely doesn't like the aesthetics. We need more posts like this on MR.

 

[sinsin07]

I can't afford to be a Guinea pig on this.

Understood.
Not clear how someone could answer the question when the experience is unique to you.

 

[FatherJack1980]

Here's another AirPod easter egg that I just discovered last night - if you tripple-tap one and then double-tap the other within 2 seconds they'll auto-tune the iPhone into the SETA site and listen in on the raw space-chatter feed. It's so cool and I'm surprised Apple hasn't documented this yet. One alien even talked to me this morning but I was busy eating cereal so it sounded kinda muffled.

I assure you, it's not the cereal making it muffled. Aliens talk to me all the time through the telly, they just can't get enough of me - but despite their alleged technical know-how, they still sound very muffled. Just listen to this ....

But these Airpods are kinda growing on me, just wish they had significantly better audio quality rather than "marginally better" than the Earpods

 

[steve knight]

Oh but you really should be. I can't stop using mine. Lol.
[doublepost=1482361089][/doublepost]

Yep. Unless the detractors seriously think everyone is going to use wired Bluetooth earphones forever.
[doublepost=1482361148][/doublepost]The one thing I want to know but can't check without opening my wife's set is whether you can mix and match AirPods if you have two sets paired with your iPhone.

I would need two pair to last me the day. I like that they don't stick out so my ear muffs may not hit them but then again if they get touched by the muff at all I bet they fall out. I may try them but it will be awhile till they are available.
[doublepost=1482362348][/doublepost]

Understood.
Not clear how someone could answer the question when the experience is unique to you.

well the dropouts and such are pretty well talked about here with bt stuff. every time I use my watch my jaybirds get glitchy or when I walk through a metal doorway. but at elast with apple stuff I can try them and see. but it will be a bit till thats a option now.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Every time I see the AirPods I wonder if they got their inspiration from the old bluetooth headset sticks. Very similar.

Regardless of how they arrived at the decision to keep the existing shape, it's brilliant. It keeps the iconic look and the stem is such a logical place for battery, antenna, and mic while it doubles as a handle and helps keep them in place.

 

[mtcowdog]

It is profitable to be patent lawyer. Beyond that, I don't know what is up or down. Create it or buy it, but don't short cut seems like a reasonable approach.

 

[Mac 128]

That's just it. They took the wired EarPod design and ripped out the cables (metaphorically speaking). I would have liked to have seen the white stem removed or shortened. Competitors have already done it.

Alas, I think they're really cool. I just think the design could have been better. Maybe gen 2!

Agreed. At a minimum, redesign the white stem so that it better represents the function of its new role. Obviously, based on the teardown, they took advantage of the real estate to maximize the battery. But still, they could have designed something more aesthetically pleasing and dines the same thing.

I don't get the issue of them being ugly. They look exactly like the EarPods with no wire, and I don't recall people being so passionate about their (EarPods) ugliness. I think one person says their ugly and it snowballs. "Yeah! They are ugly! Yeahhhhh!"

EarPods are shaped the way they are based on function. The wires naturally flow out of the stalks, and therefore looks natural. It suggests where the sound is coming from and the purpose the Pods serve. Remove the wire, without alteration, and now there's form without real function. Yes the beam-forming mics are the new function, but after seeing the teardown, this is really more to accommodate the battery, and choice made following that decision. I'd love to see Apples efforts to redesign these, and see what they came up with, or if they just clipped off the wires, and worked backward.

There's high marketing value in keeping the original design, but a lot of the form is informed by the previous function, not the current function. They most likely could have improved the aesthetics of these considerably had they built them from the ground up. I'll be interested to see how these evolve -- stems of any kind are not ideal in these kinds of devices, so once Apple is able to offer the same battery life without the stems, I think we'll see a shift away from this design, and in the interim, I hope we'll see something that better reflects their new role rather than just recycling their original form without their derived function.

 

[alphaod]

I'm so glad I pooped and checked Apple's site to preorder, otherwise I'd be waiting forever since I'm not one to wait in the morning for stuff like this.

 

[valleian]

Mine just shipped way early as I was hoping. Will be here a week before estimated. Can't wait!

If you don't mind me asking, what was your original ship date? I'm January 12th and I'm hopeful Apple might ship early.

 

[dannys1]

The EarPods sound pretty good to be honest.

Really? I genuinely think they're the worst earphones I've ever heard (actually, second worse after the original iPod earphones) but then I am really into headphones and audio quality and some people just like "sound".