Next-Gen AirPods to Spark Intense Competition in Smart Earbuds Market Next Year

[IanL]

Pick a small town that’s at least 45 miles from any medium or large city. Now look over the hotels in that town. In all likelihood that hotel is NOT a major chain and has been there 50 years or more. Now look at the outlets available in that room. 1, maybe 2 out in the open and more if you are willing to unplug lights and move furniture. Also assume you are working 10-16 hour days. I take an iPad to watch preloaded movies, because local tv will be sparse and many don’t carry an extensive channel selection, a cell phone, and if I can find time to walk after work a set of earbuds/headphones. Can I get by with only one charger? Sort of. Do I frequently have one component or another not get charged so I can’t use it? Frequently.

Have you considered something like a multiport USB wall charger? You can find them approximately the size of an iPad charging brick (well, often a little larger, but way smaller than carrying two or more charging bricks around). I bought one for traveling internationally and it works great when traveling domestically, too! Easily lets my partner and I keep all our devices charged up at the same time. Yeah, you still need to bring cables with, but it's a much better solution than bringing lots of charging bricks + cables.

This article discusses a few options: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-multiport-usb-wall-charger/

This is the one I was talking about that I own and it worked great in Europe (and works great in the US) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074QMDBXF/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[WatchFromAfar]

Same, they really are under-appreciated. They are the best product Apple has released in recent years and they don't get the appreciation they deserve.

This statement is so dumb. When Apple came out with Airpods there statement was "as good as earpods"
Earpods are a $15 dollar puerchase
Oh and Earpods come free since the iPod
And earpods last forever
When are those Airpods batteries going to die? hmm guess buy more Airpods
So Apple instead of increasing audio they have turned around and said "look no wires"

Having seen the insides of the AirPods, it’s incredible the technology Apple has been able to pack into them through miniaturization. Each of these is a tiny computer. I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple builds Apple Music into them directly so you can go running with just your AirPods.

 

[audiophilosophy]

It would be nice if Apple designed airpods that had replaceable batteries. The current models don’t have replaceable batteries (even if you bring them to the Apple store and request to purchase a battery replacement). So as a result, when the batteries eventually stop working in just a few years, your only option is to throw the Airpods away entirely and get new ones. Not too “green” there, Apple. The same problem exists with the current generation Apple Magic Mouse. No battery replacement program in place for that product either, so when the battery dies, you have to throw the whole thing away and get a new Magic Mouse. This, along with making products that are demonstrably less serviceable over the last 7 years or so, is why I think Tim Cook’s Earth Day and environmental responsibity boasting is really just public relations fluff. If they really cared about the environment, they wouldn’t make products that you have to throw away just because the battery stops working.

 

[BruiserBear]

They look the same as the regular EarPods without wires, and these days people with wires are starting to look a bit silly....

They do not look the same. The dangling stalk on the Airpods is much thicker than it is on normal Earpods.

 

[G5isAlive]

Curious what Aliens and conspiracy have to do with "radiation" and magnetic fields....

I was being polite and making a joke.
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Those people should re-take 4th grade science and realise that RF is harmless, especially at the microscopic power levels bluetooth uses.

He wasn't lol.
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I like Apple, but too bad their earpods and airpods won't stay put in my ears! They are always falling out, and I'm old and not that active. Another case where they thought they could make it look sleek and shiny and didn't bother to consider if they actualy work, as in stay in your ear. Only a moron would design super slippery ear pieces. I give them 5 thumbs down and one finger up for an expensive design that fails to stay in my ears.

Maybe its your wax? Don't know, because they fit just fine in my ears and have no problems staying in. I realize this is not the case for everyone, but don't think Apple designers are morons because they don't fit everyone.

 

[TallManNY]

In all seriousness about “slowdowns,” I’m curious to see how battery longevity holds over the years for a given pair. With all the pushback from many MR members onto caveman like myself regarding our preferring the big picture benefits of corded headphones, I value the earbuds I have that are 10+ years old and stashed at various locations that work as well and conveniently and instantly as they did when new. No need to replace every tbd years as battery life lessens noticeably. Some benefits of AirPods are undeniable but I’m awaiting to see sentiment holds over the years for the the big picture (and any ongoing replacement costs) hold with AirPods.

I'm going to guess the battery has at most a two year lifespan. My over one year old AirPods have less battery life than before. They still last over an hour. And there are few situations where I use them for over an hour without some time out time to put them back into a case for recharge. But sometimes with very long conference calls I find myself in the second hour, charging one AirPod while continuing the call, then swapping.

If they get to the point where they stop making it through my morning commute of about 50 minutes, then they will be something I'd have to replace.

 

[subjonas]

For me, removing that headphone jack was one of the best things Apple did. I just can't imagine going back to wired music listening.... never again!

Maybe when your headphones’ battery runs out?

Also when has the existence of the headphone port ever stopped you or anyone from using wireless headphones?

 

[G5isAlive]

Yes, but that does not mean that getting more won't make a difference.

So yes we are already blasted daily, should we add more because of that?

oh so you are that guy I see walking around in a Faraday cage, with a sunscreen roof, and lead undershorts? No? why not? because the point is bluetooth earphones add virtually nothing compared to natural sources.. what are you doing to combat those?

 

[cmaier]

It would be nice if Apple designed airpods that had replaceable batteries. The current models don’t have replaceable batteries (even if you bring them to the Apple store and request to purchase a battery replacement). So as a result, when the batteries eventually stop working in just a few years, your only option is to throw the Airpods away entirely and get new ones. Not too “green” there, Apple. The same problem exists with the current generation Apple Magic Mouse. No battery replacement program in place for that product either, so when the battery dies, you have to throw the whole thing away and get a new Magic Mouse. This, along with making products that are demonstrably less serviceable over the last 7 years or so, is why I think Tim Cook’s Earth Day and environmental responsibity boasting is really just public relations fluff. If they really cared about the environment, they wouldn’t make products that you have to throw away just because the battery stops working.

Return them to apple when you are done with them; nobody is forcing you to throw them away.

 

[G5isAlive]

If they get to the point where they stop making it through my morning commute of about 50 minutes, then they will be something I'd have to replace.

is it legal to wear something in over/in both ears while driving? I thought not.

 

[TallManNY]

Maybe its your wax? Don't know, because they fit just fine in my ears and have no problems staying in. I realize this is not the case for everyone, but don't think Apple designers are morons because they don't fit everyone.

It is the shape of your ear that makes the difference. They stay in my ear, but are loose. In my S.O.'s ear, she could do a hand stand and they wouldn't fall out.

The only solution is to produce different shapes or sizes for different people.
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is it legal to wear something in over/in both ears while driving? I thought not.

I'm in NYC and commute on the subway. But I don't think these ear buds block noise enough for them to be an issue while driving.

 

[Applefanben]

View attachment 808582 View attachment 808583 View attachment 808584 Anyone have both the AirPods and Bose SoundSport Free? I use the later and I really like them despite its size.

I think they are better for sport activities but not everyday uses. The seamless nature of the AirPods are superior along with easy of carrying around. My Air pods fit comfortably in my jean (pocket watch pocket) where the Bose simply are to large for my pockets.

 

[Cartoonkid]

I had both. But the BOSE fit my ears much better then AirPods. I gave my AirPods away and solely use BOSE ones. I love them a lot and are very handy when I fly, which I do quite frequently...

I've got weird shaped ears (apparently), and haven't ever found a pair of earbuds that fit well. But here's the solution to that problem.

http://www.earbuddyz.com/

Outside of my AirPods, it was the best $12 I've ever spent.

Incredibly comfortable, easy to put on and take off, last forever and hold my AirPods in my ears like glue.

 

[2GoldFish]

Apple did buy Beats for $3b... so... it's about time they make some quality earphones...

 

[rafark]

Smart earbud market? Now you're just making things up.

is the leader in the wireless in-ear white smart earbud market.

 

[VictorTango777]

Fit, Fit, Fit !!
All the brand-spanking technology means nothing if it doesn't fit properly in people's ears. Proper fit also affects sound quality.

 

[EdT]

Have you considered something like a multiport USB wall charger? You can find them approximately the size of an iPad charging brick (well, often a little larger, but way smaller than carrying two or more charging bricks around). I bought one for traveling internationally and it works great when traveling domestically, too! Easily lets my partner and I keep all our devices charged up at the same time. Yeah, you still need to bring cables with, but it's a much better solution than bringing lots of charging bricks + cables.

This article discusses a few options: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-multiport-usb-wall-charger/

This is the one I was talking about that I own and it worked great in Europe (and works great in the US) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074QMDBXF/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My last trip I picked up an outlet brick at a Walmart near Fremont Indiana that has 2 outlets and 4 USB Ports for charging. But that is now another thing I have to remember to pack. Needing to take my own outlets with me isn’t simplifying my life, and it will be decades before all those old hotels are either replaced or modernized. The towns are too small and too far off the beaten path to make updating them very, if at all, profitable.

Even if I loved AirPods or some competitors earpods having a device that I could listen to music or movies privately that I wasn’t concerned about losing or being stolen or running out of a charge would be preferable to me on those business trips.

 

[timber]

I've got weird shaped ears (apparently), and haven't ever found a pair of earbuds that fit well. But here's the solution to that problem.

http://www.earbuddyz.com/

Outside of my AirPods, it was the best $12 I've ever spent.

Incredibly comfortable, easy to put on and take off, last forever and hold my AirPods in my ears like glue.

You are not alone. I also use in ear phones for the same reason. The others either fall easely or just don't sound right like they are not correctly placed. And one ear fits slightly worse tham the other...

 

[Tozovac]

Here's my experience:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...el-in-early-2020.2158236/page-8#post-26869804

Sadly this is the great downside of Airpods, they don't hold up well after 2 years of use, in my case they got severely degraded and last only about 50%, and it's so annoying that they run out so quickly that I just stopped using them in general and I'm waiting for the next Airpods model to buy it again.

So I would say it's a disposable product you need to buy every 2 years or so.

At that price point for that level of real world usefulness over 2 years, this is inexcusable to use AirPods as justification to make it so cumbersome for users to stick with corded headphones. Now, if individual users are OK with that trade-off, so be it and that's all good. But as a MR member who completely gets the bigger picture value of corded headphones (considering ALL trade-offs and not just the convenience factor between charges), AirPods HARDLY are a justifiable excuse to remove the convenience of corded headphone ports. Apple is no longer a design company where "design" stands for robust balanced design; currently, design at Apple means mostly appearance and cool factor at Apple, and it's just sad.

 

[trifid]

At that price point for that level of real world usefulness over 2 years, this is inexcusable to use AirPods as justification to make it so cumbersome for users to stick with corded headphones. Now, if individual users are OK with that trade-off, so be it and that's all good. But as a MR member who completely gets the bigger picture value of corded headphones (considering ALL trade-offs and not just the convenience factor between charges), AirPods HARDLY are a justifiable excuse to remove the convenience of corded headphone ports. Apple is no longer a design company where "design" stands for robust balanced design; currently, design at Apple means mostly appearance and cool factor at Apple, and it's just sad.

I really hate how Apple tries to portray to the world how great of a green company they are but at the same time makes unnecessarily disposable products with soldered batteries like the Apple pencil, the new keyboards and mice, Airpods etc, they really need to change this.

 

[smoking monkey]

How do you know what's Apples' and whats not...
Sharper Image™ True Wireless Ear Buds in White

Well I guess you don't, but I'd say the vast majority of them are Apple... here in Japan anyway. If I were in China, that'd be a different story.

As for brand recognition, these rip offs are actually selling Apple's AirPods!

----------------
Looks, sound & fit.

I agree that they don't look the greatest, but those button type earbuds also don't look great. You get over it though as soon as you realise how awesomely convenient they are.

The sound quality is solid and totally fine, but if they had better sound quality and were a little more expensive, I'd get them instead of the cheaper version.

If they don't fit your ears, they don't fit your ears. Ain't nothing can be done to change that unfortunately. For me, I can be at a Jesus and Marychain concert up the front and they still wouldn't come out!

 

[Tozovac]

I really hate how Apple tries to portray to the world how great of a green company they are but at the same time makes unnecessarily disposable products with soldered batteries like the Apple pencil, the new keyboards and mice, Airpods etc, they really need to change this.

And THIS. I wanted to mention that too. Thank you. Disposable one-time-use green signage in stores matters very little except maybe to the most short-sighted.

It's sad that the tides are turning at Apple, reflected in the whiny sentiment of one-time super fans like myself, their stock price, their inability to keep maintaining same/low-ish cost of iPhones at each intro, and reflected by users like my mom and others who constantly complain that their iPhone/iPad no longer are as easy & obvious to navigate after each annual update/revision.

Also in my post above, I meant to also "criticize" local MR forum members who similarly wave off "keep the jack" fans like myself, telling us to "get with the wireless times," ha ha. Oh the good old days of magic Apple just working in ways we always wanted but never realized could be possible.

 

[Abazigal]

I really hate how Apple tries to portray to the world how great of a green company they are but at the same time makes unnecessarily disposable products with soldered batteries like the Apple pencil, the new keyboards and mice, Airpods etc, they really need to change this.

I think that's pretty much the way moving forward for Apple.

As they move towards wearables, their products are only going to get smaller, and their components more integrated. It's not going to be feasible to make everything modular, with replaceable parts. Just look at the design of the airpods. How are you even going to propose that Apple make it such that you can take it apart to service the battery inside?

 

[ryanwarsaw]

If Apple can move 100 million of these things as Kuo estimated in the other article at $159 a piece that is explosive growth. $159 billon a year in revenue on what must cost maybe $30 to make?

 

[Cosmosent]

Is the current version the best Apple product under Tim Cook ???

Anybody ???