Never Owned AirPods. Specifically, are they worth it from a seamless ecosystem point of view?

[DigitalAR]

Never owned a pair of AirPods but with the recent holiday lowest price evers on most AirPods, I'm now considering them.

I have a 2012 24inch iMac, 2017 12inch MacBook, 2017 MacBook Pro, and a 2016 27inch 5K iMac (All in different rooms and at the office)

Not to mention also 2 Apple TV 4Ks at home, an iPad Air 2nd Gen from 2014 that's bedridden and an iPhone 11.

Never owned AirPods but would love the ease of switching between devices, even if the 2nd Gen AirPods they still sell would do this.

Whether this is done automagically, or at the ready perhaps in Control Center.

Oh, and an Apple Watch S5.

 

[Mackilroy]

Audio switches automagically - you can be playing audio on one device, and as soon as you start audio on another, it'll switch as if it was connected to the second device all along.

 

[waw74]

there are options, you can have it automatically switch to a new device, or a popup will happen on a Mac or aTV if it sees the AirPods close, then it's just a simple click to connect them.

It's useful to have it not automatically connect sometimes, like if you're listing to Music from your phone, and start your Mac.

 

[marmiteturkey]

'Seamless ecosystem point of view' is, along with the really really good noise cancelling, the big selling point of the AirPods Pro, and the reason I wouldn't consider any other buds. They really are amazing, the way they automatically handle multipoint pairing and connecting - it will ruin you for every other Bluetooth headphone if you're all in on Apple.

 

[midkay]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. The answer could not be more “yes.”

 

[Abdichoudxyz]

I bought some Airpods Pro 2 last year, and they've been great. Not quite as seamless as Mackilroy suggests, but pretty damn close. In terms of sound quality, they are better than I expected, and better IMO than the Sony WH-blahblahblahwhateverXM4 earpods I've tried. The noise cancelling is excellent; I live in busy, noisy London so very good for traffic noise, the Tube, etc. Excellent also for actual 'phone calls. I love how they can connect to whatever device I'm using, without having to muck about with settings every time. I used to use some B+O BT headphones; the Airpods are almost as good for audio quality, but better NC and far, far more convenient.

As for price; I had a discount voucher so didn't spend the full amount, but I think I would if I needed to, tbh. They are expensive for what they are, but the convenience is easily worth half of that at least.

 

[Dfds]

If you can go for the AirPods Pro 2, I had AirPods Gen 3 but was given the pro’s last Christmas & they are worth the extra for the noise cancelling & I find they fit my ears better too.

 

[kyriostrife]

I bought some Airpods Pro 2 last year, and they've been great. Not quite as seamless as Mackilroy suggests, but pretty damn close. In terms of sound quality, they are better than I expected, and better IMO than the Sony WH-blahblahblahwhateverXM4 earpods I've tried. The noise cancelling is excellent; I live in busy, noisy London so very good for traffic noise, the Tube, etc. Excellent also for actual 'phone calls. I love how they can connect to whatever device I'm using, without having to muck about with settings every time. I used to use some B+O BT headphones; the Airpods are almost as good for audio quality, but better NC and far, far more convenient.

As for price; I had a discount voucher so didn't spend the full amount, but I think I would if I needed to, tbh. They are expensive for what they are, but the convenience is easily worth half of that at least.

Which B&O headphones did you have? I have the PX8 and they’re fantastic but of course it’s a flagship headphone so that’s expected. Won’t match the ANC of the AirPods. I passed on the AirPods Max and just waiting forever for the AirPods Max 2 update.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Hell yes. Buy them.

 

[Sirious]

I'm sure you have already made up your mind based on previous answers, but here's my 50p: YES

 

[thelookingglass]

'Seamless ecosystem point of view' is, along with the really really good noise cancelling, the big selling point of the AirPods Pro, and the reason I wouldn't consider any other buds. They really are amazing, the way they automatically handle multipoint pairing and connecting - it will ruin you for every other Bluetooth headphone if you're all in on Apple.

This, this, this. Until you get AirPods, you don't realize how awesome seamless switching is. It works like magic with almost no thought needed.

and yes, noise cancelling is great too.

 

[Jake123456789]

there are options, you can have it automatically switch to a new device, or a popup will happen on a Mac or aTV if it sees the AirPods close, then it's just a simple click to connect them.

It's useful to have it not automatically connect sometimes, like if you're listing to Music from your phone, and start your Mac.

 

[Jake123456789]

I hate, passionately, the forced switching.
Forced, in the sense that every couple of days the preferences get reset. You can theoretically define which devices your AirPods connect to, but every time Apple pushes an OS update your choices get switched back to the default.
I have AirPods Pro that I only use with my iPhone. I NEVER want them to connect to my Mac.
I have AirPods Max that I only want to use with my Mac. I NEVER want them to connect to my iPhone.
I have an iPad that I NEVER want to connect to either kind of AirPod.

There's no option to configure that.
The option that does exist ("connect to this device when last connected to this device") resets back to auto-switch randomly.
When is this an issue?
1) I use Airpods Max on my Mac . I'll leave them on my desk, with my Mac, if I have to go down the hall to talk to somebody.
I take my iPhone with me. My phone rings, and the AirPods Max on my desk grab the audio from the call.
2) At home, my kid will be watching my iPad. I'm about to go out, and I want to listen to a podcast while I'm away from home.
Before I leave, I take out the AirPods Pro that I use with my phone. They detect that the iPad is playing something, and they jump over to connect to the iPad.
3) My wife is surfing the web on the Mac. If I get within bluetooth range, my AirPods Pro will grab the audio.

Unlike with normal bluetooth devices, there's no way to configure AirPods to only connect to a single Apple device. There's an option that should do it, but it resets every few days.

I hate this behavior passionately. Enough that I'm going to replace both my sets of AirPods with non-Apple devices when the after-Christmas sales hit.

Did I say that I hate auto-switching?

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you like to listen to music on the go, get a lot of calls, as well as needing some sound privacy when watching video ro listening to audio, they can make your day so much more seamless and enjoyable.

 

[thelookingglass]

I hate, passionately, the forced switching.
Forced, in the sense that every couple of days the preferences get reset. You can theoretically define which devices your AirPods connect to, but every time Apple pushes an OS update your choices get switched back to the default.
I have AirPods Pro that I only use with my iPhone. I NEVER want them to connect to my Mac.
I have AirPods Max that I only want to use with my Mac. I NEVER want them to connect to my iPhone.
I have an iPad that I NEVER want to connect to either kind of AirPod.

There's no option to configure that.
The option that does exist ("connect to this device when last connected to this device") resets back to auto-switch randomly.
When is this an issue?
1) I use Airpods Max on my Mac . I'll leave them on my desk, with my Mac, if I have to go down the hall to talk to somebody.
I take my iPhone with me. My phone rings, and the AirPods Max on my desk grab the audio from the call.
2) At home, my kid will be watching my iPad. I'm about to go out, and I want to listen to a podcast while I'm away from home.
Before I leave, I take out the AirPods Pro that I use with my phone. They detect that the iPad is playing something, and they jump over to connect to the iPad.
3) My wife is surfing the web on the Mac. If I get within bluetooth range, my AirPods Pro will grab the audio.

Unlike with normal bluetooth devices, there's no way to configure AirPods to only connect to a single Apple device. There's an option that should do it, but it resets every few days.

I hate this behavior passionately. Enough that I'm going to replace both my sets of AirPods with non-Apple devices when the after-Christmas sales hit.

Did I say that I hate auto-switching?

If that's the case, you have an entire market full of non auto-switching bluetooth headphones to choose from!

 

[fastred]

Yes.

 

[kyriostrife]

I hate, passionately, the forced switching.
Forced, in the sense that every couple of days the preferences get reset. You can theoretically define which devices your AirPods connect to, but every time Apple pushes an OS update your choices get switched back to the default.
I have AirPods Pro that I only use with my iPhone. I NEVER want them to connect to my Mac.
I have AirPods Max that I only want to use with my Mac. I NEVER want them to connect to my iPhone.
I have an iPad that I NEVER want to connect to either kind of AirPod.

There's no option to configure that.
The option that does exist ("connect to this device when last connected to this device") resets back to auto-switch randomly.
When is this an issue?
1) I use Airpods Max on my Mac . I'll leave them on my desk, with my Mac, if I have to go down the hall to talk to somebody.
I take my iPhone with me. My phone rings, and the AirPods Max on my desk grab the audio from the call.
2) At home, my kid will be watching my iPad. I'm about to go out, and I want to listen to a podcast while I'm away from home.
Before I leave, I take out the AirPods Pro that I use with my phone. They detect that the iPad is playing something, and they jump over to connect to the iPad.
3) My wife is surfing the web on the Mac. If I get within bluetooth range, my AirPods Pro will grab the audio.

Unlike with normal bluetooth devices, there's no way to configure AirPods to only connect to a single Apple device. There's an option that should do it, but it resets every few days.

I hate this behavior passionately. Enough that I'm going to replace both my sets of AirPods with non-Apple devices when the after-Christmas sales hit.

Did I say that I hate auto-switching?

Great points. I despise my AirPods Pro connecting to everything all the time, particularly my Mac. I don’t like using them at all with my Mac and I’ll randomly have it connect even while im on meetings.

And I’m looking at getting AirPods Max but I’m afraid of having two Apple headphone devices connecting to a bunch of different Apple devices. But maybe when my AirPods Pro finally die, I’ll be back to one device.

 

[MacCraig Pro]

I hate, passionately, the forced switching.
Forced, in the sense that every couple of days the preferences get reset. You can theoretically define which devices your AirPods connect to, but every time Apple pushes an OS update your choices get switched back to the default.
I have AirPods Pro that I only use with my iPhone. I NEVER want them to connect to my Mac.
I have AirPods Max that I only want to use with my Mac. I NEVER want them to connect to my iPhone.
I have an iPad that I NEVER want to connect to either kind of AirPod.

There's no option to configure that.
The option that does exist ("connect to this device when last connected to this device") resets back to auto-switch randomly.
When is this an issue?
1) I use Airpods Max on my Mac . I'll leave them on my desk, with my Mac, if I have to go down the hall to talk to somebody.
I take my iPhone with me. My phone rings, and the AirPods Max on my desk grab the audio from the call.
2) At home, my kid will be watching my iPad. I'm about to go out, and I want to listen to a podcast while I'm away from home.
Before I leave, I take out the AirPods Pro that I use with my phone. They detect that the iPad is playing something, and they jump over to connect to the iPad.
3) My wife is surfing the web on the Mac. If I get within bluetooth range, my AirPods Pro will grab the audio.

Unlike with normal bluetooth devices, there's no way to configure AirPods to only connect to a single Apple device. There's an option that should do it, but it resets every few days.

I hate this behavior passionately. Enough that I'm going to replace both my sets of AirPods with non-Apple devices when the after-Christmas sales hit.

Did I say that I hate auto-switching?

Why is your wife using your Mac with your log on? One easy way of getting over one of your issues.

As for the iPad maybe get your children their own iPad?

Personally I really like auto switching. It’s great to move from my Mac to iPhone to iPad automatically depending on what I’m using.

For the OP you can also get Beats that switch automatically and usually they’re a lot cheaper.