New AirPods Launch With H1 Chip, Hey Siri, Up to 50% More Talk Time, and Optional Wireless Charging Case

[iShater]

Does that mean the older gen might be around and other places and is more affordable?

 

[Nikiaf]

I was eagerly awaiting these since I wanted a new pair of running earbuds. But at $269CAD and no mention of improved sound quality, I think I'll be skipping these entirely. For that price they better have class-leading audio.

 

[tdar]

An almost complete lineup overhaul... makes me wonder what’s up their sleeve for the keynote

The keynote is about services not hardware.

 

[QCassidy352]

Sweet. As a first gen owner who loves his AirPods, I’m officially jealous.

 

[BarrettF77]

1.5 I'd say......... No color options, no health monitoring, no texture change, no bluetooth 5.0....... what we've heard from the rumors didn't make it to this version...

Faster pairing and greater range are both benefits of bluetooth 5.0

Apple is just not giving the specs because they want their own secret sauce label "H1" on them.

 

[Andres Cantu]

I hear that there will be a Christmas this year, too.

Clever, but they still missed the boat. By Christmas 2019, they won’t be as new.

 

[Ferc Kast]

Is this officially the second gen or just a wireless charging upgrade?

Given that the Wireless Case page says that they are "Compatible with AirPods (1st generation or later).", it's safe to say these are officially the 2nd gen.

 

[gwhizkids]

I don't really care about these because they don't fit my ears anyway... but if I was in the market for these I would be pretty pissed that Apple didn't include wireless charger for $159..... It seems like they are just not learning and continue their stubborn gouging. These will still sell like hotcakes so it doesn't matter I guess.

Gouging? Really? No one is forcing you to buy these. And if they are incorrect about their pricing strategy, the market will tell them.

 

[Kalabalik]

They dont isolate sound at all so NC would be pointless.

This comment doesn't really make sense. If they had perfect sound isolation there would be no need for noise cancellation.

 

[matrix07]

You answered your own post, they have nothing to learn as long as they "sell like hotcakes".
If the consumer were speaking with their wallet....

The consumers are speaking with their wallets. I speak with mine. I have them and love them. If you haven’t used them maybe you should hold your comment and give opinion on what you actually use?

 

[YOTR]

I got a pair of the the original airpods at costco for $139 about a month ago. I haven't opened them yet as I wanted to wait on an announcement to make sure. I really don't care about wireless charging so I would probably just go with the one without it (have a Q wireless charger at home for my xs max but still use a cable at work). Worth it to get the new ones? I'm leaning towards doing it just to have the newest tech with them.

 

[bag99001]

Ridiculous to not just include the charging case for 159. Too many choices - consumer confusion and frustration.

 

[69Mustang]

Sweet. As a first gen owner who loves his AirPods, I’m officially jealous.

Why would you be jealous? This really isn't anything more than an incremental upgrade and you can buy wireless charging case.

 

[BriSpe]

Nor can I. I probably won't be watching the keynote as I don't expect a "one more thing" at the end (yup, still waiting for the SE2). I just don't care at all about all the subscription fuzz. Actually, I do and I don't favor moving to subscriptions instead of buying licenses. It will probably be just Apple justifying subscriptions over licensing & updating which, below the line, just means getting even more money from us. OTOH their news-feed-subscriptions might be interesting. I'll read it in the blogs.

Yeah probably me neither. Since everything seems to be about Shows, TV and News Subscriptions etc. I don't think this is going to be relevant for us who don't live in the US.

Why do people buy airpods when there are VASTLY better options out there at the same price point??

Actually there aren't better. Other products are all with these deep in-ear things which I don't like and it just hurst in my ears. AirPods are way better, whis is also why I'm so disappointed with the new so-called 2nd gen AirPods. I must ask what took them so long for this mediocre update.

 

[jamezr]

'Official' waterproofing would have been nice. Fun story, though: My old pair went through the washer and dryer, with no apparent ill effects. IIRC they were even outside the case.

Wow! Lucky you! My son did the same thing to his. They went through the wash but not the dryer. They never worked after that.

 

[akidokraja]

Why do people buy airpods when there are VASTLY better options out there at the same price point??

Please do tell me one product with similar features that is better than AirPods. I would really like to buy it. Thanks.

 

[grayskies]

-man, really wanted a dark color option (I know I'm not alone)

I'm gonna do everyone a favor and order a pair (I've been holding out forever), and then I expect Apple will then give that update later this year.

 

[theapplehead]

Do we know if these new AirPods have the grip coating that was predicted?

 

[pat500000]

5 hrs life? No thanks

 

[felixen]

No way they will release yet a newer version later this year. This is all we’re getting for now, but it’s always nice to dream

 

[nexusrule]

And Tim Apple just wrote a tweet with himself drawing AirPods on an iPad, too funny!

Too bad the Qi charging case is really expensive, for now I'll stick with mine and charge it over Lighting as usual. The case costs €89, but if you buy it with AirPods it is "only" €50 more, so AirPods with the Qi case are €229 now, really expensive. As far as I know they don't sell the old AirPods anymore, they do sell them with the Lighting only case but I guess it is the new model with the new H1 chip

If you update your computer cpu do you think the price of the new cpu is equal to the price of the old plus the new cpu?

 

[69Mustang]

I got a pair of the the original airpods at costco for $139 about a month ago. I haven't opened them yet as I wanted to wait on an announcement to make sure. I really don't care about wireless charging so I would probably just go with the one without it (have a Q wireless charger at home for my xs max but still use a cable at work). Worth it to get the new ones? I'm leaning towards doing it just to have the newest tech with them.

Everyone's value prop is different, but what do you think you'd be missing out on if you kept your 1 month old AirPods? Especially if you aren't going for the wireless case option.

 

[unplugme71]

AMAZING!!!

 

[YaBe]

The consumers are speaking with their wallets. I speak with mine. I have them and love them. If you haven’t used them maybe you should hold your comment and give opinion on what you actually use?

Try again, I have them and like them very much, does that mean they are not overpriced? NO.
Will I speak with my walled with this update? SURE as they are not worth another 150 euros .

People used tobe more mature and when you said something against a product were not so defensive.

You can like a company and a product and still think it could be improved (or cheaper).

 

[dan9700]

Mega disappointed, no black no new grip no improved sound quality and no Bluetooth 5.0 for better range what is new apart from hey siri which i never needed