Hands-On With Apple's New AirPods

[sinsin07]

I've had these $29 wireless bluetooth headphones since January 2016 and they're flawless.

This part of the advertisement inspires such confidence:

Not sure why AirPods are $160.

Yeah that's abundantly clear from your other posts.
Perhaps instead of shopping on Amazon for cheap Bluetooth headphones you could research why.
Here's a starting point for you: "Technology behind Apples Airpods"
Your welcome in advance.

 

[ddrulez]

Problem for me is the EarPods are pretty lose in my ears. So I expect the air pods to be lose too. I am afraid of shaking them off.

 

[Ds6778]

This part of the advertisement inspires such confidence:View attachment 678975


Yeah that's abundantly clear from your other posts.
Perhaps instead of shopping on Amazon for cheap Bluetooth headphones you could research why.
Here's a starting point for you: "Technology behind Apples Airpods"
Your welcome in advance.

Some of these comments remind me of when I'm selling something locally and they say" I can't get xyz cheaper at (insert retailer)." Like why are you telling me, go buy it there. Half the people commenting are just pasting links to inferior products cuz they're "cheaper" and "better."

 

[mhuggett]

Quickly reviewed comments, maybe I missed it, but am looking for anyone who has them or knows for sure if the AirPods work if you use just one of them vs both at the same time? I don't sleep well, often opting for listening to a book/music so I can drift off. Drives wife nuts either I use low volume (no headphone) or use a headphone and then can't hear her talking to me or get wrapped up in cords... I was waiting for these, hoping that I could use in one ear at night... yes of course I might loose it or the dog might eat it or the cat ... regardless... does anyone know if they support single usage?

 

[Ds6778]

Quickly reviewed comments, maybe I missed it, but am looking for anyone who has them or knows for sure if the AirPods work if you use just one of them vs both at the same time? I don't sleep well, often opting for listening to a book/music so I can drift off. Drives wife nuts either I use low volume (no headphone) or use a headphone and then can't hear her talking to me or get wrapped up in cords... I was waiting for these, hoping that I could use in one ear at night... yes of course I might loose it or the dog might eat it or the cat ... regardless... does anyone know if they support single usage?

Yup, you can use one at a time or both.

 

[sexiewasd]

They succeed greatly in that area. No one bought these thinking "Gee, for 160$ I hope these sounds like B&W P7s!" They do exactly what they're advertised to do, and they do it well.

Just not as well as the $30 version you never have to charge, ever, and you dont lose one, because they are attached, and cheap, and they work perfectly as well as these do in every way.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

I agree. This is certainly Apple's finest release in years. It's absolutely freeing in so many ways, and very, very Apple-like. I don't mean like the arguably sad release of the new MacBook Pro. I mean this is classic, classic Apple. If you have even a passing interest in the AirPods, you're doing yourself a disservice by not picking them up.

It seems there are some people that have owned BT earpods before and feel meh about these. Then there are people like us who absolutely adore these things.

For me it is my first BT pods so it is quite a difference to the way I used to listen to music. It took ten years for the tech to get to the point I was ready to pull the trigger.

So in some ways I do like the pods but it is more of a happy conclusion to a wait that was way way too long. Wireless pods have been long over due in my life. Christmas came early this year.

Mine have very good range they went down the hall of my condo around 100 feet. Haven't tested them outside but that is more than enough for any use I have for them. No longer worried if these are BT5 or not.

I wish there was a way to get only one to play when you take the other one out of your ear. You can obviously hold one in your hand to fool the sensor but this isn't practical.

One question is how long does the case and phones take too charge 100% from dead? Mine came not completely charged but it didn't take too long to bring them up.
I didn't time from complete discharged yet as I am using them now.

 

[Col4bin]

Okay, I'm intrigued by these things. However, not sold on how weird they look while hanging from the ears without wires. Hopefully Apple can improve on the design in the future by maybe shortening the stems a little.

 

[lordofthereef]

Just not as well as the $30 version you never have to charge, ever, and you dont lose one, because they are attached, and cheap, and they work perfectly as well as these do in every way.

You're laying $130 premium for the convenience of wireless. To some thatsbwirth it. Others, obviously not. It really is that simple.

 

[doelcm82]

Totally agree. People don't know how important these are. This is the beginning of a wireless future. Watch the airpod video. People will see how big this is in a couple of months

It's not the beginning. I'd say cordless phones were the beginning. I remember the first time I saw someone (a little girl) sitting on the front porch talking on a cordless phone. It took me a moment to process what I was seeing. At first I thought someone had given her a handset from a corded phone to play with.

Hand-held cellular phones were an important and transformative step. Those ubiquitous bluetooth earpieces (the Borg implants) were another.

This may indeed be another important step, or it may just be a detour, and the real next step is something bigger and scarier, like implants or direct to brain communication. The beginning was around forty years ago. Or maybe even earlier, with walkie-talkies. Or radio. Or even semaphores. Smoke signals.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

There's a difference between explaining why they aren't for YOU....To generalize people who genuinely like them or find them useful as "idiots" or "morons," is a bit much. I'll never understand why people care so much with what other people do with their money. Pricing is also relative, "160$ is crazy!." Not to me, in fact, I paid 300$ to some kid reselling them. Some people have extra money or disposable income... It's fine if you don't like them or think they're pricey, it's not ok to call people who do like them "idiots."

It is especially silly when you get crazy remarks about being stupid for being a guinea pig or beta tester and paying to do it. If nobody but the latest stuff the others would not benefit. People should be thankful to the early adopters and appreciate that sometimes we take one for the team.

That being said these are great and most people are saying that. Other than the delays Apple got one right this time.

I am beginning to wonder when Apple will simply stop shipping iPhones with the wired versions in them? I think in 5 years no casual listeners will be using headphones with cords at all. There will be the random audiophiles that will have a pair of ghetto blasters duck taped to their head with a cord but that's about it.

 

[Cigsm]

Why should they have been $70 - $90 when comparable products with less technology then the Airpods are the same price? Why should they have been $70-$90 when they're sold out?

Should have been $70 - $90, i would have bought them.

 

[roar08]

Why should they have been $70 - $90 when comparable products with less technology then the Airpods are the same price? Why should they have been $70-$90 when they're sold out?

I agree with the banality of people suggesting anyone should price anything differently just because they think so. However, I do not think there's any correlation between a willingness to pay higher prices and demand in this instance. Initial supplies were/are very constrained to say the least, with most stores (at least in Orange County, CA) getting approx. 20 units this morning. Selling out of such low inventory today could just as easily be attributed to marginal demand and buyer curiosity.

 

[sexiewasd]

It is especially silly when you get crazy remarks about being stupid for being a guinea pig or beta tester and paying to do it. If nobody but the latest stuff the others would not benefit. People should be thankful to the early adopters and appreciate that sometimes we take one for the team.

That being said these are great and most people are saying that. Other than the delays Apple got one right this time.

I am beginning to wonder when Apple will simply stop shipping iPhones with the wired versions in them? I think in 5 years no casual listeners will be using headphones with cords at all. There will be the random audiophiles that will have a pair of ghetto blasters duck taped to their head with a cord but that's about it.

Along with the audio and film industry, and every where else that audio fidelity actually matters. They will have to be either included, or significantly cheaper to gain any traction at all with the large mass to whom audio quality does not matter, or is not worth paying extra for. Then there is the market group that uses them as a fashion statement, which demands both exclusivity and peer approval (beats users).

 

[sunapple]

Problem for me is the EarPods are pretty lose in my ears. So I expect the air pods to be lose too. I am afraid of shaking them off.

It's the same exact size, so you should probably not buy them. Or buy ten so you have spares, your call

 

[califlorida]

Can you pair 2 sets of airpods with one device at same time? For instance two people watching a movie in an iPad on a plane?

 

[qwa]

Hello. I received AirPods. I have issue with them and everyone who get it too. When I’m listening music sound is good, but when I’m calling or talking to Siri sound(not my voice, I mean sound of Siri or person with who I’m talking) is very very poor and laggy. It happens only when microphone is active. AirPods are working, but when mic is active sound became very bad quality, but then after mic is turn off (after call or talk to Siri) sound became good again. All my friends have same issue. I tried to reproduce it on my MacBook, all the same issue with iPhone, MacBook and Apple Watch. Its mean that its not depend of iOS and macOS version and king of device. On MacBook you can reproduce it for example when you’re listening to music you can go to setting and try to change AirPods mic volume(it will activate mic) and music sound will be very very poor quality, after maybe 20 sec mic will be turned off and sound will be good again. I think its hardware issue, because a lot of peoples have the same issue on any versions of OS and devices. Also its some faint scratchy popping noise at random times when its in my ears with no music on… It needs to be fixed ASAP. Because its really bad… All my friends have the same with their AirPods and a lot users in the internet indicating the same issue.

That's generic Bluetooth issue, when you are listening to music it uses audio profile streaming at 44kHz, but when you switch to phone call it changes to handsfree profile which is only 8kHz or 16kHz if your phone and telephone network has wide band speech supported, so audio quality goes down - have the same in car handsfree systems. Also with phone calls the signal has to go through multiple hops from headphones to phone, then to cellular base station, then get relayed, may cross the networks and so on, and re-encoded multiple times, while with streaming music the audio comes from phone directly to headphones - so best to compare what you hear to some non-Apple Bluetooth headphones and then decide if you want to return/exchange the airpods, if there is indeed a hardware problem.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

How quick will the AirPods die in -20 weather...ya, I'll wait till they are in the clearance bin.

Nobody knows but what is the chance of it being -20 inside your head? Give it a few minutes for what I am suggesting to sink in...
[doublepost=1482215769][/doublepost]

Along with the audio and film industry, and every where else that audio fidelity actually matters. They will have to be either included, or significantly cheaper to gain any traction at all with the large mass to whom audio quality does not matter, or is not worth paying extra for. Then there is the market group that uses them as a fashion statement, which demands both exclusivity and peer approval (beats users).

I disagree. I think these could set off the wave as other manufacturers now will up their game. If it isn't Apple's pods and it is another manufacturers it is irrelevant. All I am saying is that in 5 years nobody will use wired phones. People producing music and video will obviously have studio sets. Out and about it wil be BT sets.

One day when the millennials are over 30 they will fondly tell their kids all about how when they were young headphones all came with your device and had wires.

Though it doesn't matter to me. I have my pods and won't be going wired ever again. I don't think I am the only one.

 

[Wildkraut]

Ordered me a pair, and I know that the sound is not the best available out there.

But the reasons why I ordered are:

• On ears headphones, starts to hurt my ears edge a bit after 1-3 hours of constant usage. And they are too hot for the summertime.

• Over the ears headphones, are too big, looks awkwards, and isn't mobile enough for me. And they are too hot for the summertime.

• InEarBuds makes my ear inner itch and I get inflammed.

These are the main reasons why I ordered them, and I hope they fit well and don't fall out like the EarPods. I also want to stay wireless.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

Ya...call me when the battery won't hold a charge and you have to buy another pair. Then you can tell me how great it is to spend $159 again.

I'll bite. By the time your battery goes in these you buy the next generation with better battery life and throw the old ones away. These things aren't Craftsman tools where you buy it once and own it for life.

 

[BvizioN]

"Airpods sound just as good if not better than earpods" - MKBHD

$159 vs $30 for slightly better? LOL...Apple, this is pathetic.

Troll alert.....troll alert!!!

 

[MacOG728893]

These forums are getting nasty, but then again so is this country. We can have opinions, but when did most become savages here? Anyways just my 2 cents.

I was waiting for these. They solve so many problems for when I go biking. Plus, they can work as a Bluetooth headset. Let's just hope my wife gets them for me for Christmas.

 

[zamboni52]

Was your quoted delivery date today? I thought the first quoted delivery dates were the 21st...

The were scheduled to be delivered on the 21st, but they charged my credit card over the weekend so I had a feeling they would come earlier.

 

[deany]

They do look impressive but
£159 = $197

I would be interested in knowing how well they would sell at $197 for 'slightly better' sound.

£99 is a more realistic price.

Some good reviews though https://gavinsgadgets.com/ this chap is a forum member of http://www.head-fi.org/t/819581/airpods/45

 

[bopajuice]

"Airpods sound just as good if not better than earpods" - MKBHD

$159 vs $30 for slightly better? LOL...Apple, this is pathetic.

I'd like to know if the is any actual facts to back up claims of better sound. The shape going into the ear looks the same as the corded versions. Unless the inner workings are different, I am thinking placebo effect.

"After standing in line for a pair or earphones they better sound fantastic"