Is a Screen Useful on AirPods? Check Out This Knockoff With a Display

[MacRumors]

If you've ever wondered what it might be like to use AirPods with a display, well, a Chinese manufacturer made a fake version of the AirPods complete with a screen that we decided to test out. Would a touchscreen actually be worthwhile on AirPods?

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The display on the fake AirPods activates when the case is opened up. It shows connectivity status, the time, the battery level of each earbud, noise control options, "Find My" settings, and equalizer presets. Other additions include customizable wallpaper, a flashlight, and a feature for controlling the iPhone's camera.

You're basically only able to control settings with the display, which is mildly useful. Actual AirPods need to be controlled through an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, with some options available through the Control Center/Status Bar and others buried in the settings app.

The touchscreen on the fake AirPods is, to put it politely, garbage. It doesn't register touches some of the time, the sound is mediocre, there are non-functional buttons, and the equalizer settings just make everything sound worse.

So why did we buy these earbuds? Apple patented a similar concept back in 2021, describing a set of AirPods with a built-in touchscreen display that can be used to manage settings and also control playback. In Apple's patent description, there are options for adjusting volume, favoriting songs, playing and pausing, skipping songs, and more.

Apple suggested that the touchscreen could offer tactile feedback and provide a more convenient way to control wireless earbuds.

We don't recommend counterfeit products, of course, so you should not go out and buy these. The fake AirPods do give us some idea of the utility of a touchscreen and how it could be used, which is interesting to imagine. Would you want an AirPods case with a touchscreen? Let us know in the comments below.

Article Link: Is a Screen Useful on AirPods? Check Out This Knockoff With a Display

 

[TigerNike23]

No. Completely unnecessary.

 

[BuffaloJim]

So … where’s the link so I can pick up a pair?

 

[thosmatthews]

Can devices share one eSIM yet? I’d love it if carriers had an eSIM where you could have the same sim and account with an option for add-on devices. iPad, AirPods, watch. I don’t want five accounts for my cellular devices.

 

[thosmatthews]

Can devices share one eSIM yet? I’d love it if carriers had an eSIM where you could have the same sim and account with an option for add-on devices. iPad, AirPods, watch. I don’t want five accounts for my cellular devices.

This is the only reason why I’d want a screen on my AirPods; to go without iPhone or watch. Otherwise it’s just an extra drain on battery for me.

 

[maxfromdenmark]

Don’t worry about its sound quality, it has the display instead 😝

 

[RVijay007]

This is just a new form of an iPod - iPods with headphones, which would have always been a good product idea since it is all encompassing. But this look and feel needs more iterations.

 

[Gunner49]

Wow! What a massive display! /s
Imagine the horror this would result when placed inside the pocket or backpack.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Would you want an AirPods case with a touchscreen?

I just want to see some actual innovation in an Apple product line that's existed for more than a few years. I can't believe some random manufacturer in China putting a touchscreen on their AirPods clone is the most exciting thing I've seen in the AirPod world in ages. 😩

...maybe I'm asking too much. At least Apple is making the iPhone 16 camera layout vertical instead of diagonal. I like to think somewhere, Phil Schiller will look at the relocated camera lens, and a single manly tear of joy will roll down his eye as he says "now THIS is innovation."

 

[I7guy]

I like it. If one can control some basic functions and get status information through the screens it would be a hit.

 

[I7guy]

I just want to see some actual innovation in an Apple product line that's existed for more than a few years.

Don’t get me wrong, a screen is cool. Provided it doesn’t drain the main battery too much. Is resistant to damage. But nothing there has been a bunch of innovation with this apple product over the last few years. A screen is cool, not necessarily innovative.

I can't believe some random manufacturer in China putting a touchscreen on their AirPods clone is the most exciting thing I've seen in the AirPod world in ages. 😩

It’s definitely cool.

...maybe I'm asking too much. At least Apple is making the iPhone 16 camera layout vertical instead of diagonal. I like to think somewhere, Phil Schiller will look at the relocated camera lens, and a single manly tear of joy will roll down his eye as he says "now THIS is innovation."

 

[Ratlerbite]

So … where’s the link so I can pick up a pair?

They won’t allow it. Only the finest for this group

 

[sw1tcher]

Can devices share one eSIM yet? I’d love it if carriers had an eSIM where you could have the same sim and account with an option for add-on devices. iPad, AirPods, watch. I don’t want five accounts for my cellular devices.

And deny themselves the opportunity to incrementally make more money by selling additional wireless service plans?

 

[mrat93]

Wow! What a massive display! /s
Imagine the horror this would result when placed inside the pocket or backpack.

Absolute mayhem, surely.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I recently picked up a $20 cheapie as a bridge between dying APP2 and rumored APP4. It has a minimal LED display that shows percentage charge for case and each bud at a glance. IMO, this is farrrrrrrrrr superior to green:amber dot… or having to check more info on an iDevice.

While I expected “you get what you pay for” sound or microphone disappointment, neither has proved to be the case over about 45 days so far. Unless battery degrades fast, I’m no longer paying far more for APP4… which is completely unexpected.

Since sound & mics seem as good, I have to assume battery will conk much faster than the approx 2.5 years I got out of APP2. But if it lasts at least 1 year, $20/yr is a LOT less than $169 or so every 2.5 years.

 

[iZac]

I mean if Apple actually made this, it could be the ultimate iPod if it had a few gig of internal storage.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

I'm going to go with "ok, fine, but not really necessary."

I mean, every device I'm using my AirPods with has a screen already. I'm not going to complain about it existing on the case unless it causes a bunch of pocket activation nonsense, but I'm also not going to run out and get some.

Where I could see a screen being REALLY useful would be picking which device the headphones connected to. I've got my AirPods paired to 3 computers, 1 TV, 1 iPad, and 3 iPhones. Sometimes they get confused, a screen that could let me override what Apple wants in favor of what I want would be great.

 

[Think|Different]

It would be (will be) if Apple makes it. Not this.

 

[jclardy]

No. Half the software will just be figuring out if you meant to touch it or you just picked it up off the desk or took it out of your pocket. The screen would be too small to scroll through things, so it's most useful feature would be play/pause/next - which are already easily controlled via the stems.

 

[milkrocket]

Being able to download music to them will be amazing

 

[votdfak]

JBL Tour Pro 2 if you like screen.

 

[jerrytouille]

Airpods Shuffle

 

[turbineseaplane]

I just want to see some actual innovation in an Apple product line that's existed for more than a few years. I can't believe some random manufacturer in China putting a touchscreen on their AirPods clone is the most exciting thing I've seen in the AirPod world in ages. 😩

We can thank the "Services" push ...

Innovation has taken a total backseat

 

[Bigkool2inSC]

i already have a screen for my Airpods.. It's called an Apple Watch..

 

[Kevin2055]

It looks very nice. Even better if it can add reverse find my to locate the phone.