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Report: 'AirPods Pro' to Launch End of October with New Design, New Noise-Canceling Feature and $260 Price Tag
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Not covering the ears themselves, and putting the noise sensors inside the ear canal itself could produce some freaky frequency response on the noise cancelling itself.
I'll definitely try before I buy. Sound cancelling itself doesn't take all that much power, but when using devices in that mode, it tends to be for long periods. That makes the tiny batteries vs price point a big concern. Then again, they may well be more comfortable than my QC35's. Perhaps sleeping on one's side would be possible with AirPods?
There are a lot of trade offs here. A pair of each might turn out to be the correct answer.
I'll definitely try before I buy. Sound cancelling itself doesn't take all that much power, but when using devices in that mode, it tends to be for long periods. That makes the tiny batteries vs price point a big concern. Then again, they may well be more comfortable than my QC35's. Perhaps sleeping on one's side would be possible with AirPods?
There are a lot of trade offs here. A pair of each might turn out to be the correct answer.
I am considering getting them but I'll watch YouTube videos first. I really need to replace my current pair. Even though Apple destroyed the Health App and has made the app unusuable for me, if the AirPods Pro have any health / sleep monitoring, I'll end up getting them. If I can't handle the design, I'll get 2nd Gen.
I wish Ming-Chi Kuo used Twitter. I don't have a problem with MR (and with a lack of looking), but to find out what he is saying, I have to go to MR.
I wish Ming-Chi Kuo used Twitter. I don't have a problem with MR (and with a lack of looking), but to find out what he is saying, I have to go to MR.
Apple is really starting to grate with its overuse of the word "Pro". They currently have some really dumb people working in the marketing department with the naming of products.
The features they're adding aren't even pro, they're basic updates every other smartphone already has.
The only products in the line up that should have Pro attached to them are the 15" MacBook Pro (13" isn't Pro with that Intel integrated graphics), iMac Pro and Mac Pro.
The features they're adding aren't even pro, they're basic updates every other smartphone already has.
The only products in the line up that should have Pro attached to them are the 15" MacBook Pro (13" isn't Pro with that Intel integrated graphics), iMac Pro and Mac Pro.
AirPower was announced as a product at the September 2017 iPhone event for a 2018 release that obviously never happened.
The amount of outrage over rumors and uneducated guesses on MacRumors never ceases to entertain. I'm genuinely amazed at how many people keep saying this is a $100 price increase. Let's break it down.
Based on the rumor mill stating these new AirPods are getting the Pro suffix added to them. For Apple, Pro means more features and a more "high-end" design. Knowing that, it is a fair guess that regular AirPods are staying as they are $159 for wired charging, $199 for wireless charging. These new AirPods Pros are being rumored at $259. That's not a $100 price increase, that is paying an extra $100 for active noise-cancelling, in-ear wireless earphones. If they come with a wireless charging case as standard then it's only a $59 price increase for a better in-ear fit and better technology. This is exactly how Apple has been operating for a very long time.
I can not understand the outrage.
Based on the rumor mill stating these new AirPods are getting the Pro suffix added to them. For Apple, Pro means more features and a more "high-end" design. Knowing that, it is a fair guess that regular AirPods are staying as they are $159 for wired charging, $199 for wireless charging. These new AirPods Pros are being rumored at $259. That's not a $100 price increase, that is paying an extra $100 for active noise-cancelling, in-ear wireless earphones. If they come with a wireless charging case as standard then it's only a $59 price increase for a better in-ear fit and better technology. This is exactly how Apple has been operating for a very long time.
I can not understand the outrage.
No no no... you have it all wrong. The additional $100 is for the three letters “Pro” in the name, not for any actual design changes. 
I’ve been waiting forever to buy a pair. Each gen I try and justify it and I can’t. I’m in Canada, please understand you will second think the things you buy. As of now i’m on the fence but I want to purchase them.
We’ll have to see how my usual Youtubers review it. I am an in-ear person (I have Jaybird X3 and Senn. Urbanite XL), so that does help.
We’ll have to see how my usual Youtubers review it. I am an in-ear person (I have Jaybird X3 and Senn. Urbanite XL), so that does help.
You've missed the last three years of Sony NC wireless earphones then.
WF1000X
WF-SP700N
WF-1000XM3
Man, I really hope these come with noise cancelling on the mic. It could be a game changer for call centers. I have to use my Jabra right now, but if I could use my AirPods for that, I'd be super stoked. If the mic is better than the current get, I'll be a first day order for me.
This isn't true. Sony put out noise cancelling buds a few months ago and the reviews are pretty good.
sony wf 1000xm3 - YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.www.youtube.com
These are in fact Sonys third generation NC wireless earphones and they are very good. Comfortable, sound great (with bass), NC works as well as over ear version. First gen was good, these are better.
I don't remember. But it's not like Apple has never cancelled products in the last 10 years or so.
It is like that. It's an incredibly rare occurrence. I struggle to recall anything from the past 10 years other than AirPower that was announced in the way that it was and then failed to materialize. There may be some software features that were talked about that never became a reality, but as far as physical products go AirPower is the only one I can think of. If anyone on here can think of any others please correct me.
Here's the video of Phil talking about AirPower:
If the new Airpods don’t have active noise canx, I’m not interested. My Sony WF-1000MX3’s are pretty damn awesome for music and watching video. They suck at voice calls which I assume the AirPods will be great at.
Others have commented, as this conversation has come up in the past, with a list of products that were cancelled.
That's good to hear. I have the over ear version and love them and I've been curious about these.
This is what has kept me from buying them. I need a great mic with noise cancelling on the mic
Active noise cancelling creates an equal, opposite sound wave from whatever the background noise is.
Passive noise cancelling just creates a seal around your ear — there’s no technology involved.
Active noise cancelling is just fine for your ears. Keep in mind it’s creating an equal, opposite sound wave, which actually means the noise is no longer there to your ears — this means you can listen to something at a lower volume and still understand it instead of having to blast the volume to hear it over the background noise. This is much better for your ears.
Active noise cancelling also only cancels out lower frequency sounds (things like the hum of airplane engines or road noise). People’s voices and other things aren’t cancelled.
Best answer right now is to wait for the product to actually be released. There will be no lack of YouTube reviews that you can use to make a more informed decision. I remember AirPods being initially derided for, amongst many criticisms, being too expensive and it’s ironic now that it’s actually considered the more affordable option amongst its competitors relative to the value it offers.
And if my time here has taught me one thing - it’s to never take any advice from Macrumours haters. They are conditioned to hate on anything that isn’t a Mac Pro and cannot be an objective voice of reason in such a discussion.
Apple isn’t stupid. They want you to actually buy their products, and they will be priced appropriately relative to the value they provide.