AirPods - Better wireless or just overpriced?
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AirPods - Better wireless or just overpriced?  | ||||||||||||||
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Transcript[edit | edit source]
Apple AirPods: They claim to be “...the first headphones to deliver a breakthrough wireless audio experience” and “...they deliver innovative features including high quality sound, great battery life and automatic setup.” [1]
Setting up the AirPods is simple. Hold them next to a compatible iOS device, flip open the case, and you’ll be guided through the setup process. Once they are setup, you’ll be able to switch between devices on your iCloud account simply by selecting AirPods from the audio menu.
AirPods don’t have an on or off switch. You just take them out of the case, and they sync to the the last device they were connected to.
The idea of the AirPods is that they are entirely seamless. There is a proximity sensor on each ear piece so they know whether or not they are in your ear. Put them in, they start to play, take them out, they automatically pause your audio. And instead of buttons, the AirPods use an accelerometer, so double tapping the stem can be set to either activate Siri or control audio playback.
In practice, the auto pausing feature works great, but the auto connecting features can be a little buggy. Occasionally only one AirPod will connect. Putting both AirPods back into the case and allowing them to resync is the only way to fix the issue. However the experience is consistently more reliable than typical Bluetooth audio, and the Apple W1 chip allows for much better range with clear audio even when the connected device is a few rooms away.
Because they aren’t weighed down by a wire, AirPods stay in better than the similarly designed headphones Apple includes with every iPhone. But in cases where the AirPods don’t fit your ear, the hard plastic can make them awkward to wear, and because of the proximity sensor, adjusting them will often make your music pause or stop completely.
Battery life on the AirPods is great. When listening to audio, they lasted around 4 hours in our testing. And the batteries only need a few minutes in the case to recharge. So if you put them in the case when they aren’t in use, they can easily last through a work day. The place we found the battery to be lacking was when the microphone was being used. When the AirPods were used for FaceTiming or Skype, the battery would often be almost completely drained after just an hour.
The AirPod Case charges using Apple’s lightning connector, so if you’re already using an iPhone or iPad, you don’t have to worry about bringing along an extra charger.
And if a simple wireless audio experience is what you’re looking for, and you already use Apple products, it’s hard to find an option better than AirPods.
The AirPods are definitely ahead of the game in their wireless audio market, but they’re still a first generation product, and their issues might be a deal breaker for some.
The verdict from our panel of judges?
Todd Williams: Get it
Logan George: Get it
Michael Aranda: Get it
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