I finally got my Apple AirPods a few days ago: they exceed all my expectations. Maybe I am being delusional but they sound way better than their wired version for listening to podcasts, phone calls, etc. They connect to various devices (iPhone, iPad, Macs) way quicker and more reliably than generic bluetooth (my Bose headphones). Their ear fit is perfect. Charge, seems to be more than enough for any considerable circumstances I can think of. If we are without power for a week, my devices will likely die before the AirPods. I think they are Apple’s biggest hit since the iPad - the fact that they are continually sold out doesn't surprise me one bit. Nor the fact that they have no actual competitors, and how unlikely it is for there to be one without a rival to the W1 chip. Considering that Apple’s competitors are something like two year behind the A10X CPU/GPU chip, I see no way a non-Apple W1 pops up anytime sooner.
The reviews are all very good. I like the idea of them but I use noise canceling headphones and am looking at the newest Bose Bluetooth earphones. If Apple got in that area with AirPod type device I'd be all over it. (Kinda like the Watch: I'm a bit jealous but they don't fit my needs)
They do have Beats headphones that use the same W1 chip, but to my knowledge no noise canceling ones. I've always avoid noise canceling devices so I can be aware of my surroundings, and find that my non-noise cancelling Bose headphones allow me to sleep well on red eye flights - the trick is the right Chet Baker playlist starting with the Let's Get Lost soundtrack.
I think they are fantastic, and for me feel great - you have been using them and find them uncomfortable?
If you are looking at the Bose I strongly advocate checking out the Sony MDX1000s. I would love a pair of Airpods but not dropping $150 for something I will surely lose =)
3 stages of Apple Criticism... https://medium.com/rethink-reviews/airpods-and-the-three-stages-of-apple-criticism-fed70b84e435
Almost a year later - do you still feel the same way? It's funny how the wired ones have started looking ridiculous to me in NYC. We are all creatures of habits.
I’m thinking about these. I can wear earphones at work but I’ve already murdered my regular stock set that comes with the iPhone. Wire was severed when it got caught on a door hinge. Is there a less expensive competitor to airpods?
So, Ted, I just was reading through the thread again and my old comment. I thought to myself, wow, that’s a stronger than normal dismissal for me. But the truth is, I saw someone a couple weeks ago with them getting gas and I still think they look silly. That said, hearing how satisfied people are with them and reading through some other reviews, I’m tempted to give them a try despite what I think of the looks. And maybe I’ll adjust to them more.
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLYF2LL/A/beatsx-earphones-white The only (very slightly) cheaper wireless earbuds that contain the W1 chip and therefore work properly.
My Jabra Pulse Bluetooth earbuds have started having worse and worse connection problems (they’ve always been a bit wonky) and finally got to where they would randomly unpair from my iPhone multiple times while I walked the track after work. It became infuriating to the point that I couldn’t focus on my walk because I was constantly moving my phone around trying to get it to pair-up again with the Jabras. I finally reached my breaking point so I bought some AirPods today after work. Before anyone says, “But they’re probably going to announce new ones this month!”, let me go ahead and say I was at the end of my rope with my Jabra buds and wired buds don’t cut it with me. I always seem to get the wires caught on something and pull one of the buds from my ear or worse yet, pull one of the wires out of the strain relief on the bud. Anyway, I was in need of new Bluetooth buds so I did a lot of reading and research over the past couple of days and pulled the trigger today. I love them. Plain and simple, I absolutely love them. Everything about them. The case and the way it magnetically clicks closed. The way the pods are magnetically held in place while charging. The way they fit in my ears with only tiny stems and no wires to fiddle with or annoy me by rubbing and sticking to my neck when I get sweaty while walking. The way they immediately pair with my iPhone when I open the case. The fantastic sound quality. That I can recharge them from the case in about 15-20 minutes. The way audio automatically pauses when I pull one from my ear. So help me, I’m at a loss to find anything I don’t like about them. I would actually go out on a limb and say these are the most impressive Apple product behind the Watch. Worth every penny.
Gen 2 is official. Mine are On The Way. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/03/airpods-the-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphones-are-getting-even-better/ Wish they offered black but oh well.. https://www.apple.com/airpods/
So no sign of better water resistance from the Apple Newsroom article. I’ll still get them for the better battery life is nothing else. A couple of windy days of morning dog walks when the NYC temp was like 3F (-16C) one of the AirPods would run out of juice at the end of the walk. No wish for black: I am of the old white only iPod school (back then Apple were the only company using white)
I'll upgrade to those too. I want to believe: https://9to5mac.com/2019/03/19/latest-ios-12-2-beta-includes-support-for-airpower-charging-mat-as-release-appears-imminent/
