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But does it prompt you with the question or does it just auto switch the output of your Mac to your AirPods without you having to answer the prompt?

I know that's a minor thing. But I don't get why I can't set it to switch to the Mac without me answering the prompt.

The iPhone just switches with no prompt and no input needed from me, and it works very well.

It seems so redundant since the Mac clearly and accurately has detected that I am using the Mac. Why do I need to move the cursor to this prompt and click it every single time?
If I recall correctly, it just switches without asking. There have been a few instances were I was asked if I wanted to switch.
 
It's a bit disappointing to see Apple cut so many of the most popular features such as wireless charging, H1/W1 chip, multi-directional microphones, in-ear detection, etc., because the aesthetic and design of these is actually quite alright with me.

They could have been the first true wireless Apple headset to feature a stem-less design which I think a lot of AirPods users have been longing for.

I guess Beats will remain a sort of "taster" to lure Android users into the Apple ecosystem and never catch up to AirPods fully. Sad.
 
It works flawlessly for me on iPads and iPhones. But Bluetooth on Macs is terrible, both new old Macs and new M1s(yes, there's in fact no improvement in the new M1 iMacs. Still horrendous Bluetooth).

Switching to and iOS or iPadOS device FROM a Mac works very well. But switching TO a Mac from an iOS or iPadOS device is really janky.

It doesn't quite make sense because it's quite clear that all of my devices are actually connected to the AirPods as soon as the charging case pops open. But Macs just can't do the auto-switching quite right.

I'm guessing the Bluetooth modules inside Macs are super low-grade compared to the ones in iPhones and iPads. But how Bluetooth in my old 1st Gen iPhone SE can be better in my new M1 iMac is beyond my comprehension(is the Wifi module messing everything up?).
I think the issue is with the confusing and buggy way macOS decides what is audio that's a media vs audio that is just a sound. The Apple Music app works (most) of the time for me but other times it just shows as a notification as AirPods available even though I just started playing. Coming from a 2015 MacBook Pro where I had numerous issues with interference and refusal to connect I haven't had any issues on M1 in the 3 months since I've had it with all of the same devices.
 
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I think the issue is with the confusing and buggy way macOS decides what is audio that's a media vs audio that is just a sound. The Apple Music app works (most) of the time for me but other times it just shows as a notification as AirPods available even though I just started playing. Coming from a 2015 MacBook Pro where I had numerous issues with interference and refusal to connect I haven't had any issues on M1 in the 3 months since I've had it with all of the same devices.
Your M1 is a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, right?
 
I figured it would be a MBA or MBP -Both my moms and my gfs M1 MBAs work really well with their AirPods, next to no issues with auto-switching.

I have no idea what Apple is doing with Bluetooth on their desktops, but both both my mini and iMac (both M1) have all the same issues with Bluetooth(also tons of issues for connecting other Bluetooth devices in general).
 
I figured it would be a MBA or MBP -Both my moms and my gfs M1 MBAs work really well with their AirPods, next to no issues with auto-switching.

I have no idea what Apple is doing with Bluetooth on their desktops, but both both my mini and iMac (both M1) have all the same issues with Bluetooth(also tons of issues for connecting other Bluetooth devices in general).
That's unfortunate, I heard 11.2 fixed most of the reliability issues with the M1 mini's BT but I guess it didn't for your peripherals. Have you tried connecting only the AirPods and no other bluetooth device? I've found in the past that some peripherals cause a lot of interference if they establish a connection in a certain order with other BT devices. Switching to 5GHz Wifi or using the ethernet and disabling wifi also helped me.
 
How is Bluetooth so much better on Apple's smallest devices, tablets, phones, notebooks, and so bad on it's desktops? Surely fitting more wireless transmitters into less space doesn't equal better connectivity?
I'm willing to bet good money it's the software. MacOS has had many issues when it comes to sleep/wake on desktop and how that interacts with wireless modules. I've heard that disabling sleep helps with dropped connections or unresponsive BT, and given the M1 sips power at idle you can try it without much downsides.
 
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It works flawlessly for me on iPads and iPhones. But Bluetooth on Macs is terrible, both new old Macs and new M1s(yes, there's in fact no improvement in the new M1 iMacs. Still horrendous Bluetooth).

Switching to and iOS or iPadOS device FROM a Mac works very well. But switching TO a Mac from an iOS or iPadOS device is really janky.

It doesn't quite make sense because it's quite clear that all of my devices are actually connected to the AirPods as soon as the charging case pops open. But Macs just can't do the auto-switching quite right.

I'm guessing the Bluetooth modules inside Macs are super low-grade compared to the ones in iPhones and iPads. But how Bluetooth in my old 1st Gen iPhone SE can be better in my new M1 iMac is beyond my comprehension(is the Wifi module messing everything up?).
I haven’t checked with my Mac, I’ve got one on the Beta and one not. I’ll see what the difference is.
 
I'm willing to bet good money it's the software. MacOS has had many issues when it comes to sleep/wake on desktop and how that interacts with wireless modules. I've heard that disabling sleep helps with dropped connections or unresponsive BT, and given the M1 sips power at idle you can try it without much downsides.
It would seem like a software issue but what do I know.

I'll try the your tips for sleeping and Wifi, maybe that will help. Thanks.
 
Cross device switching is one of the worst things about the AirPods Pro. It rarely works well and I find myself just using control center to switch devices accurately. I'd really love Apple to implement a feature like the Jabra Elites have. Where you can stop playing music on your iPhone and then start watching a Youtube video on your iPad and it automatically switches over. In its current form, auto switching is more of a headache than anything else.

OMG!!!

And when it DOES WORK, it's a three ring circus for which device has control of it! The Studio Beats I bought decided to switch from my iPhone to my iPad, and I was left wondering what had control! Prior to that, my PowerBeats Pro's would jump from my iPhone, iPad, and Mac Mini! Who has it, and how do I get control of what damned device it's using! VERY frustrating.

And yet sometimes it appears to just not work too, rarely, but sometimes they decide to not work with anything, and I have had to 'forget' them, and 'repair' them and move on. The whole 'cross device switching', and leveraging the hot mess that is 'iCloud', is a complete frustrating experience. Come on Apple, give us the ability to require an Apple, or Beats device to connect to only ONE DEVICE!!! I mean, at least link it to ONE ACTIVITY MAYBE???

I have tossed my buds across the room with marked frustration at the damned difficulty at getting them to work 'right'... GRRR!!!
 
You must be doing it wrong then. I rarely have an issue moving from one apple device to the next using auto switch.
And how does one "do it wrong" when it's just a setting that you toggle on and off. Enlighten me and the everyone else here who have mentioned how inconsistent the feature is.
 
I have both the Buds and the APP's. I use the large tips with both. To me, the AirPods sound better. More bass, better highs. I also like that they have the lightning connector. I can plug my AirPods or phone in at work. If I want to use the Buds, I need to make sure they are charged or plug in another charger under my desk. Wireless charging, or the lightning connector would be nice. As far as fit, the Buds probably fit better, but the AirPods are more comfortable. The noise canceling is better on the AirPods as well. Also, because they don't have the stem like the AirPods, the Buds are harder to get back in the case. More fumbling around, at least for me. If I had to choose between the two, I'd get the AirPod Pros again. It would be nice though if the next generation comes in colors. That way I can match my blue phone, watch, and iMac with them.
 
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And how does one "do it wrong" when it's just a setting that you toggle on and off. Enlighten me and the everyone else here who have mentioned how inconsistent the feature is.
Triggered? Works great for me. Not sure what you’re doing as I’m not there to guide you.
 
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The article says the Beats don’t have spatial audio but I’m pretty sure they do. They can’t do head tracking but that was one of the selling points from me and I’m pretty sure I learned that it was a feature from another article right here on this site. Strange.
 
These have been my gym go to, because they're a lot more secure in my ear. I'm really impressed by them.

The only thing I sort of wish they had is wireless charging. There's a pretty big difference from transparency, but the noise canceling isn't that far off from APP.
 
These seem like they’d be perfect for users with a single device and/or Android users. $149 is a ripping steal for high quality ANC buds.
 
So like AirPods Pro just without the gimmicky H1 chip? Seems like the beats are a better deal
Depends...on what the H1 chip is connected to in the future....when I purchased my APP there was no 'Spatial Audio ' for ATV etc. Willing to bet there are other 'features' in the pipeline..which will require the 'gimmicky ' chip.
 
I find the auto switching way too cumbersome given the apple devices at home. I have a couple of iPads which are used by my partner and the kid, and its tedious how it keeps switching or connecting to other devices when in use on one and refusing to connect back to the device that you want it to connect to. I literally have to go to Bluetooth and disconnect the device every single time some other iPad is opened and some media is active. Have turned off auto switching in all devices because of this crazy (but I guess expected) behaviour.
 
The word "studio" in the name of these is an insult to all the recording and mixing studios in the world.
 
Depends...on what the H1 chip is connected to in the future....when I purchased my APP there was no 'Spatial Audio ' for ATV etc. Willing to bet there are other 'features' in the pipeline..which will require the 'gimmicky ' chip.
An H1 chip isn't required for spacial audio. The Beats actually have spacial audio. They don't have head-tracking spacial audio. Not really sure who cares if their spacial audio is head tracking. I think it's always best to buy products for what they are, not for what they might be in the future.

Besides the BSB's have a custom chip as well. I think Apple included/excluded features on that Beat's chip purposefully. Enough features to appeal to both ecosystems, while leaving out some features as Apple ecosystem exclusives. I'm willing to bet some of those exclusive features are a simple software update from being capable on the BSB.
 
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