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I wanted these earbuds really bad but refused to keep waiting any further so I opted out and ended up going with the Jaybird X3's instead, couldn't be happier.
"Refused to Keep Waiting"

LOL what you mean is, "I couldn't wait anymore and had to buy something."

I will continue to be patient and wait, because I have zero interest in any BT headphones that 1) Don't have a W1 chip, and 2) Don't charge via Lightning.
 
I guess you must see them side by side in real life to compare them, but judging from the pictures the BeatsX look like normal buds and judging from X2's which I saw in real life they look much more clunky. The Freedoms are small indeed, mostly really slim, but I don't know if the difference is that noticeable with normal earbuds (wired) in the ear. Weight does also matter and I believe the X3's lose on that part if the battery is in there.

X3 are smaller than X2s.
 
I won't bite either, these are the ones I want, so I'll just wait another couple of months then.

Not me. I was between these and the Bose SoundSport wireless. Apple just made the decision for me; my money will be going to Bose.

C'mon Apple, I used to be able to rely on your predictions of when you were going to release your products... First AirPods and now this? Hopefully you don't delay the shipments of the next iPads and iPhones, then you'll have a REAL epidemic on your hands.

Haven't you heard? This is the new modus operandi at Apple. Announce things; push back releases; release things in such constrained quantities that you wait weeks or months for it to ship.
 
How well does that equalizer app work? I've heard mixed reviews.

I guess in what aspect? Functionally it does have the normal BT issues of not always finding the buds. Other than that
it works like an equalizer. Obviously the source has to be able to carry the frequencies being modified and we are talking about 6 or 8mm drivers here depending on which Jaybird model is being used. If the goal is to make them sound like Shure 535s that isn't going to happen. But if you accept BT sound for what it is and want to adjust them to better fit your source material its something that isn't available in any other BT brand buds.

The app comes with several "pre-sets" as well as manual controls to make and save your own. Changes are instant so you can hear the changes you are making.
 
I guess in what aspect? Functionally it does have the normal BT issues of not always finding the buds. Other than that
it works like an equalizer. Obviously the source has to be able to carry the frequencies being modified and we are talking about 6 or 8mm drivers here depending on which Jaybird model is being used. If the goal is to make them sound like Shure 535s that isn't going to happen. But if you accept BT sound for what it is and want to adjust them to better fit your source material its something that isn't available in any other BT brand buds.

The app comes with several "pre-sets" as well as manual controls to make and save your own. Changes are instant so you can hear the changes you are making.
Do the EQ settings stay with the buds, regardless of which device they are connected to, as advertised?
 
Not me. I was between these and the Bose SoundSport wireless. Apple just made the decision for me; my money will be going to Bose.

I got the Bose SoundSport in October, and couldn't be happier. I wish it charged with lightning, as its harder to plug in the non-reversible USB cable, but everything else is excellent. Make sure to download the Bose app - it makes switching between sound sources extremely simple.
 
With all their years of experience of manufacturing products, you'd think they could set a release date and follow through on it. Something unexpected must have happened.
 
You would think that Apple would be well advised as to when the new Bluetooth 5 release was to be, and release these products accordingly.

Standards don't always release on a set schedule, and even when they do, there are frequently last-moment alterations, occasionally those changes are significant enough that they cause problems for people and companies that were trying to get a head start on implementing the standard based on a draft version.
 
Disregard my previous comment about Bluetooth 5 possibly being the cause of the delay. Hadn't seen that the AirPods were being released today – if Apple were waiting to incorporate BT 5, one would think they'd do so for the AirPods as well as BeatsX. The most likely explanation, as others have noted, is to allow AirPods to become popular without the more direct competition of BeatsX. Which is a shame, because I've been wanting the latter far more than the former.
 
The caveat that I'm still royally cheesed about the state of the Mac in general and the 2016 MBP in particular. So somewhat inclined to pile on. Nevertheless …

Something like this seems like the peripheral iToy Tim Cook delights in, moreover focused on, and most importantly having a distinct bearing on Apple's current bread and butter product: the iPhone. So not as easily dismissed as whether the Mac Pro languishes three years on with no updates.

Maybe the supply chain is structured to be just in time, but it isn't even often making that. Any number of products are either delayed or woefully short on supply when introduced.

This from a CEO whose expertise was said to be in logistics; it surely is not in innovation, design or love of the Macintosh.
 
Disregard my previous comment about Bluetooth 5 possibly being the cause of the delay. Hadn't seen that the AirPods were being released today – if Apple were waiting to incorporate BT 5, one would think they'd do so for the AirPods as well as BeatsX. The most likely explanation, as others have noted, is to allow AirPods to become popular without the more direct competition of BeatsX. Which is a shame, because I've been wanting the latter far more than the former.

I'm betting that the W1 is already BT 5 "ready". Possibly a firmware upgrade. Whatever the issue, it seems to be resolved. I wonder if it's the availability of 1 chips themselves, and the fact that Apple & Beats have steadily released the headphones in order of the most expensive to the least.
 
With all their years of experience of manufacturing products, you'd think they could set a release date and follow through on it. Something unexpected must have happened.
Something unexpected must have happened indeed, but what I can't figure out is why are the other new headphones with the W1 chip are all being released now and not the Beats X?
 
The most likely explanation, as others have noted, is to allow AirPods to become popular without the more direct competition of BeatsX. Which is a shame, because I've been wanting the latter far more than the former.

I don't buy this explanation. If they don't want BeatsX to compete with the AirPods, why release it at all? No, I think BeatsX targets an audience who don't want AirPods, like those people who find the AirPods design don't sit well in their ears, and/or are afraid of losing the pods and want something with wires connecting the two ear pieces.
 
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Well at least these earbuds are connected so you can't loose one, compared to Apples AirPods (when/if they are finally released).

I predict a big problem with people loosing one of their AirPods and are then stuck with sound for just one ear. Next we will see an entire cottage industry popping up where you can buy a single AirPod.

The earring lost and found box will certainly grow.

I think this was part of the delay that went unmentioned. Making sure that a new AirPod replacement will sync with your old one if it comes to that.

FYI Lose=gone/misplaced Loose=not tight (common mistake)
 
Disregard my previous comment about Bluetooth 5 possibly being the cause of the delay. Hadn't seen that the AirPods were being released today – if Apple were waiting to incorporate BT 5, one would think they'd do so for the AirPods as well as BeatsX. The most likely explanation, as others have noted, is to allow AirPods to become popular without the more direct competition of BeatsX. Which is a shame, because I've been wanting the latter far more than the former.

The iPhone 7 and newly released MacBook Pro's are Bluetooth 4.2 so what's the point of holding back your earphones that literally none of your products support?
 
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