Noticed something funny about Apple classic 3.5mm buds

[Andain]

Yesterday, I was forced to buy the classic Apple EarPods that used to come standard un until the iPhone 7 (?). I have pairs of AirPods Max, day 1 AirPods Pro 1st gen and also the Beats Fit Pro (dont ask lol and yes I do use all of them for "different scenarios").

Forced as in, my Logitech USB "call center" headphones would not be recognized by Mac and I really needed to be in a "conference call" where the other person can actually hear me. All bluetooth headphones suck for actual phone calls. I also had a pair the "Samsung Alternative" as well the same 3.5mm but in-ear (got those for just $7 so it was a no brainer), but for whatever reason the mic does not work in certain apps or games in Windows 10, whereas the Apple ones "just worked", but boy did the Samsung ones sound surprisingly good and punchy/bassy for the price (and yes, I know that in-ear helps a lot with that).

Regardless, so, I am old enough to have caught the iPod days, and constantly used them since like 2004, so I am very accustomed to the classic "in package/bundled in" Apple headphones throughout the years.

And yet still, today as I unboxed them it felt a bit surreal as I remember Jony's speech from 2012 when the redesign was announced. I bought and had them since day 1, but have not used a pair since like 2016/17-ish. What surprised me is actually how decent they still sound. I am sure my ears are not what they used to be, but for a moment there it felt like I am not "missing that much" compared to the AirPods Max.

And the fact I dont have to worry about charging yet another device and the everybody can hear me on calls again, feels like "a new feature".

Because of this, I was tempted in getting the 2008 In Ear Apple buds but they run on ebay around $100-150.. guess I am not the only one.

But I have a feeling the normal ones from 2012 are the ones for modern devices as in the the controls work for laptops, they may have better mic. 2012 was already 5 years of iPhones and macOS entered a new age. I have a feeling the overall compatibility of the 2008 ones would ne be as good.

Just tried the 2012 ones with YouTube Music in browser on latest Sonoma and the mic controls work on it. Neat.

 

[russell_314]

Because of this, I was tempted in getting the 2008 In Ear Apple buds but they run on ebay around $100-150.. guess I am not the only one.

You can still buy new wired Apple earbuds for $19. I’m not sure if they’re the same as the ones from 2008 but they have a microphone and the little remote button. They are good for a back up, but I sure wouldn’t want to use them for a primary set. Just make sure you get the type you want because they have three different kinds. They have the old school 3.5 mm, Lightning, and USB-C.

 

[Andain]

You can still buy new wired Apple earbuds for $19. I’m not sure if they’re the same as the ones from 2008 but they have a microphone and the little remote button. They are good for a back up, but I sure wouldn’t want to use them for a primary set. Just make sure you get the type you want because they have three different kinds. They have the old school 3.5 mm, Lightning, and USB-C.

Yes those are the ones I am talking about in the OP. I am talking about the in-ear version that was limited run in 2008. Not as popular in the Apple-verse.

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

The Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic are earbuds for iPhones developed by Apple. The In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic were introduced in September 2008 for iPhone users, superseding the iPod In-Ear Headphones.[1] The remote is similar to the one introduced by Apple with their...

apple.fandom.com

 

[BrianBaughn]

I never had a pair of those. My first were the "flat" ones with the metal mesh. I'm not sure for what animal they were designed but I still have a set that works.