Mr. Chen, it is worth considering the headline for your review of the precious model: “Apple AirPods Review: Perfect Earbuds, but They Don’t Last”. I find it interesting that a model you deemed “perfect” just a few months ago can no longer be recommended. Superlatives aren’t what they used to be!
40
I found them great for sedentary activities. Noise cancelling was as expected for this sort of device (ie, one that didn't fit OVER your hear but inside it). Where I found they failed though was with exercising. Once I started biking, jumping, etc, they lost the seal (regardless of the tip size I tried), and started to fall out. Interestingly, the original airpods stay pretty snug during workouts. So despite them being very good overall, the lack of being able to work out with them was a dealbreaker so I returned them. Your mileage may vary of course. Too bad, I really liked the feature set.
12
This - "You will most likely have to pay up all over again in two years" - should be displayed like the warning on a drug label: surrounded by a black border and prominently featured at the top.
Call me cheap, but there's no way I'm shelling out more than $200 every other year for wireless earphones (from Apple or anyone else) unless and until the manufacturers figure out how to make the batteries replaceable.
I replaced the battery in a perfectly good iPhone 4S last year and it works just fine.
27
I use Shure SE530 cable earbuds from 2009 and they work very well. No battery problem, I change the tips from time to time. Work fine in planes too, and plug direct into my 2016 iPhone 6.
(Only those who lived before the revolution knew how sweet life could be - Talleyrand)
5
I own both the Bose QC35s and the AirPods Pro, fly frequently, and agree with everything in this article. Three points:
1) AirPods Pro are actually very good on the plane, but the battery will only take you about 4-5 hours, so not good for overseas trips. Bose QC35s will take you from Newark to Singapore, no problem (and will still work with cord even if noise canceling battery dies.)
2) AirPods Pro have 3 sizes of earpieces and are the only ear bud product ever made by Apple (including the old wired ones) that actually stay in my ear. Perfect for the gym!
3) Considering all of the monthly subscriptions that we're all getting used to, $20 a month for two years before replacement doesn't seem outrageous. These are infinitely better than the original AirPods.
6
It would be useful for you to follow up your review to cover two more functions that are very important to me. First, I have not been able to use Apple AirPods of the past because they do not stay in my ears. Do they come with several size tips for different size ear canals? If so, how many sizes? Second, my primary use of earphones is with a Blue Tooth capable TV. Can the Apple product connect wirelessly with a new Samsung TV while the TV volume is still on for other viewers? And is the volume independently adjustable for the Apple AirPods? If so how do they compare to Bose and to Sony H900N or H1000N, which perform this function admirably. In fact, we have two sets of Sony H900N which, using a splitter from Best Buy, can be used simultaneously with the TV and each can be set to an independent volume. Can the Apple product perform that task well?
10
@glee102 I can't wear them either. They pop out of one ear and they are actually painful.
6
Now it seems they should be able to replace hearing aids.
Why not ?
9
They do. Better than my 8K basically useless hearing aid.
7
Nothing says sheep like those white earbuds. Except maybe those Canada Goose coats.
I wouldn't be caught dead in either.
17
Out of all Apple's devices this is one I refuse to jump on the hype train. The price is ASTRONOMICALLY high for something that will barely last you 2 years and you can eaisly find better or equally good products at a fraction of the price with more afforadble ways to replace them like Skullycandy
3
@JM Not astronomical for noise cancelling.
6
Apple's creations!!!
Only $10 a month for a cordless version of "free" earbuds? Such a deal. If only there were some kind of a cord to tie them together so you don't lose one.
9
Could anyone explain why we all have to hear people yelling through their conversations on these and similar?
1
I would classify these as Apple-branded accessories. As such, unless cogently demonstrated otherwise, I would have to assume that they are grossly overpriced and designed to fail, e.g., after 2 years. Further, I would have to assume that there are other better alternatives. And music quality???? All in all, a review that basically says they do a mediocre job of cancelling noise with nothing else of any real value. I am wondering if that was intentional. Is this actually a stealthy effort on the part off someone forced to do a review that says - “don’t buy these”?
3
@Little Albert
I came to the Airpod Pro's from Sony WH-1000xm3's and many other headphones, both noise-canceling and not. The original Airpod's would never stay in my ears... These do an amazing job of staying in my ears...
Now about sound, I'm not an audiophile or anything, but these are the best sounding in ear headphones I've ever used... And from a sound standpoint, they compete very well with the Sony's and Bose, both of which cost more. I was honestly, shocked at how good they sounded.
Their sound and convenience make them ideal for running errands, working out and the coffee shop.
That's just my experience YMMV
6
Apple is rotten. The prices have turned the apple brown.
6
I wish the reviewer also evaluated the ergonomics of the new earbuds. My experience with Apple earbuds staying in my ears without causing physical discomfort has not been good.
20
I bought two different sets of the Pro as I couldn't believe how ineffective their "noise cancelling" features were. There is no comparison to any of the Bose products. Save your money and wait for Apple, Bose or someone else to deliver a quality wireless noise canceling ear bud.
4
What about exercising, e.g. running? Are they better than the original AirPods in staying in place?
Yes. I’m a marathoner and ultra runner and this was my biggest concern. I just ran a 50 mile race in the mountains over some pretty technical terrain and never had one problem with them staying in. The transparency mode is very helpful because you can hear others, cats, traffic, etc.
9
A couple of important questions, not addressed in
the review:
1. What about the fit? Are there different sizes?
And more importantly,
2. Since birth I have had only one working ear. Can I buy only a left earbud since I will never need the right?
3. The dynamic range of sound on my iphone using Bluetooth headphones or earbuds is not as great as when using wired earbuds. Has Apple fixed this ridiculously inconvenient design flaw yet?
5
How do they make music sound? Holy moly what a “tone deaf” review.
10
Why would you bother to write a review comparing in-ear noise cancellation by Apple with over ear from Bose, when Bose has in-ear noise cancellation units too?
7
@Aldo I had the Bose in-ear noise-canceling headphones... The Pro's are better, period. I've got a pair of the Bose QC 35's too and was surprised by the difference, in the negative, for the in-ear Bose. I stopped using them and then sold them for $50.
1
So interesting to read about these newfangled toys. I can't remember when I last wore headphones for any purpose, though I wore out more than one pair with my cassette Walkman back in the mid 1980's. These days, the birds and the breeze are music enough for my ears.
16
As long as you remember, while talking on your phone through your ear buds, that most people aren't wearing them and don't want to be part of your conversation.
31
1. you can connect ipods or any bluetooth enabled headphone to an airplane system by using a bluetooth transmitter such as AirFly.
2. You are correct that "The best tool for the job" of airplane noise reduction is probably a Bose or Sony noise reduction over the hear headphone
3. If sound quality alone, there are choices - Audeze, Audioquest, Focal, Ultimate Ears (just to name a couple of superb headphones, but you do pay dearly - up to $5000 or more)
4. If you stream Tidal or Qobuz for quality, adding an Audioquest Cobalt (USB DAC), would allow more reasonably priced headphones extract the last bit of detail and naturalness to the music.
5. That said, the Airpods connect easily, are not only convenient but great for phone conversations.
6. Apple should make the dongle removable and replaceable. Still not ideal, but no more so that a battery that dies over time
Lots of choices, but i usually carry Airpods and Sony.
7
$250.00? I'm out.
6
@SpotCheckBilly $145 on Best Buy...
1
That’s the old version. Pro is $249.
5
How come not a whisper on the quality of sound in relation to the music he is listening to? How come nothing on how well the units seal with the ears?
It is widely known that the seal with the ear canal the primary reason for keeping external sound out, and the reason for hearing a full dynamic range.
Noise 'cancellation' adds noise, albeit of a different type, while listening to music.
For sleeping, I use 3-flange silicon ear plugs designed for industrial settings (3M E-A-R UltraFit). They have a noise reduction rating of 25 DB.
For listening to, I use a Beyerdynamics or similar quality headphone that seals with the ears and has a wide dynamic range with no overemphasis on the bass end like Beats.
Total cost of those two set-ups is about $150.
3
My personal recommendation are the Jaybird X4 set. I am in awe of the sound quality from these earbuds.
Plus, they don't look as stupid as the AirPods. C'mon, we have to admit these white alien things in your ear look...stupid.
7
another apple ad made by the nyt.
38
had the airpod pro super uncomfortable and the noise cancellation really wasn't that impressive and you really had to play with them to get a good seal! must say i love the airpod 2 which i have and will continue to use!
How long do these last?
The other Apple Air Pods die after about 2 years and must be replaced in toto.
4
@Simon Sez
ask in 2 years
1
The new AirPods may be better but remain too expensive for those with limited resources. Do they really have to be this costly...raising the suspicion of greed?
3
And now, everyone of a certain age is walking around unable to hear. They are unsafe in traffic. They are annoying when you really truly need them to move out of the way.
And, unlike actual deaf people, with the loss of their hearing goes any semblance of awareness of anything else happening around them - they become pushier on the metro, take up more physical space than they need, and generally act as if there is no universe outside of their head.
6
I use them walking around the city and can hear everything even with active noise cancellation. It allows one to play music quietly. If concerned, transparency mode permits you to hear as if there were nothing in your ears.
So much whining from people with a axe to grind who have never used earbuds!
6
Seriously!
Batteries that can't be replaced... come on Apple, it's pathetic. You are so rich, and you're destroying the environment with our tacit approval. You can do better. And also, take Facebook's lead and donate money to homelessness in CA. It's a state in which you, along with Google and Facebook (among many others) have priced out the common man and woman so much so that they have no choice but to move, give up their homes, fall into bad decisions as a result of poverty, etc.
17
You start out complaining about battery life, but then quickly jump to their failure to solve homelessness? Try first focusing, and then mention all the things you do for humanity as a way to set an example for the selfish rest of us.
12
Why not compare these to the other cutting edge noise-cancellation wireless earbuds out there? Like the Sony WF-1000XM3 or the Bose QuietComfort 20?
I know the Times tech articles are intentionally written to be more accessible to a general readership, but seriously, these were compared to one huge over the ear headphone and the prior Airpods.
It's like reviewing an electric car and only comparing to the prior year's model and a huge SUV. Not helpful.
23
On a recent long-haul flight that I took with my wife she tells me that my snoring was so loud and her new Airpods didn't help :)
3
I am so tired of Airy Podders (my name for the zombies with their full complement of Apple paraphernalia) blocking sidewalks, doorways, talking loudly on these silly things, etc. NYC is so full of tuned-out people it is no longer anything close to a society...just a collection of self-centered egotistical people tuned out to the immediate world around them. I find it so sad.
60
Brian, I know it will be hard to wean yourself off your iphone addiction some day, but there are a LOT of other wireless ear pieces that are as good or better. Try googling Jabra. For you to vote for the Air Pods on 3 of your 4 tests means you only tested Apple's products. Sorry dont agree and I bet neither does about 85% of other reviewers.
10
The concept of wireless earbuds is nice, but do they have to be so incredibly ugly? They look like some kind of white goo is dripping down peoples' earlobes.
9
I can't get past the image of them looking like someone left the q-tips in their ears when they left the bathroom that morning.
12
Since the AirPods aren’t adequate to block out screeching wheel brakes, i guess that pretty much answers the screeching kid outburst issue.
1
All males over 35 should check the outside of their ears for rogue hairs longer than Apple’s AirPods. I’m not a barber but yours thanks you in advance.
6
So, when will Apple produce and market a really cool hearing aid?
HUGE market of aging Boomers and succeeding generations blowing out their hearing with Apple earphones.
13
This is a review, right? How about battery life????
3
Two years and they wind up in a contaminated landfill?
Did Apple at least give guidance as to heavy usage vs. light usage? Does it matter? Am I doomed to spring for another post-modern gadget that puts a leaky bandage on post-modern problems––engine noise! Screaming babies!––in two years regardless of usage?
Fill out the story, journalist. Please...
Better yet, stay off of airplanes and don't buy disposable products. The Earth is begging you.
11
I stay off airplanes and usually travel by mule. At the end of the trip I eat the mule and a day later fertilize the flowers of Mother Gaia. But I’m not boasting.
77
LOL!!!
3
@polaris Yes! And why review products for the top one-tenth of one percent. Who else can afford a $250 convenience product that lasts a few years at the most if it is not lost first. Not me!
1
There was no mention of the life cycle of AirPods. Correct me if I'm wrong but once the battery runs down and can no longer hold the charge and because you can't replace the battery, you basically have to throw them away & purchase a new set. Is that correct?
1
Since I am 65, I look forward to Apple making hearing aids.
And maybe they will have to compete with Amazon?
3
This article doesn't answer a major question - how are they for working out/exercising?
7
I prefer the headphones that come with the iPhone.
1. No extra $$.
2. Better sound! Esp when paired with a $20 set of silicon deals that attach to the “buds” and make for a more snug fit.
3. No problems with phone calls going to the buds accidentally when you aren’t wearing them (frequent problem if you tuck them in a pocket, for example.)
Yes, the cord is a pain at times, but the better sound alone has me sticking with the earbuds that come with the phone.
2
The corded earbuds sound no better than the Airpods. The Airpod Pros sound significantly better.
@Hans Great advice, thanks! What are the "silicone deals" you mention? I would like a better fit with my plain old Apple buds—thank you!
2
@Hans I’ve just recently started using my Lightning EarPods (I had never taken them out of the box when I got my iPhone X) and I’ve been quite impressed with the sound quality. They sound much more robust than my slowly dying AirPods. I think I’m done paying $150 or $250 for a product that only lasts two years.
1
They fall out and generally don't fit well enough to prevent outside noise from getting in. If I hold them in with my hands, they sound fantastic. But I can't be mobile and hold them with my hands.
4
Not to bring out a negative, but losing one somewhat cheaper standard AirPod is bad enough, losing half of a $249.00 pair would hurt a lot worse, but I guess that's the risk one takes to be one of the cool kids.
4
Nice review of situational functionality. Missing one important one; outdoor winter exercise. Just finished seven days of snowboarding with the Airpod Pros. While sound quality is great there is one major function change that will make me go back to my gen 2 Airpods.
I typically wear a thin neck gaitor pulled up around my head under my helmet. This setup does a nice job holding Airpods in place and capturing one if it falls out. The gen 1 and 2 Airpods can be controlled with a tap on the side of pod. True for on/off and other functions that you can choose. This allowed me to tap the ear pads on my helmet and enough force went through to control airpod. For instance, at end of a run I’d tap the right side of helmet to turn off music so I could talk with friends on the chairlift ride up. At the top, I’d tap again to turn music on again. Answering a call was a matter of tapping left side of helmet.
The Airpod Pros are controlled through touching a small button on the inside of the stem called the force sensor. This is completely inaccessible when under a helmet and it cannot register a tap on outside of helmet. So, instead, I had to use “hey siri” for all functions. This worked with a bit of practice but I’d much prefer just tapping and not “her, siri”‘in all the time in public.
Conclusion: So for biking, snowboarding I will use my older gen2 Airpods. Love the new ones for all other applications.
Transparency mode = becoming deaf faster.
When listening to music in public on portable digital devices using headphones/earbuds first became ubiquitous, doctors became alarmed at the increase in their patients' hearing loss from turning up the volume to drown out the ambient noise.
Now by increasing the level of ambient noise, listeners will also be forced to increase the level from their devices, damaging their ears even faster.
3
I have the same concern: wearing these devices so close to the eardrums for hours on end, even at the prescribed volume, is bound to exacerbate, if not cause, tinnitus and hearing loss. I would appreciate it if any audiologists reading this article would comment on these issues.
9
Actually, the ANC allows one to listen to music with low volume as outside sounds are muted. Much better for the ears. I’ve never listened at such low volumes as I have with Airpod Pros.
1
Use transparency mode only when you need to hear something - like someone talking to you. Otherwise just use without ANC if you want to hear outside world.
More ignorant complaints from non-users.
Nothing about the sound quality? I happen to think that the original AirPods sound fairly good, and I was hoping the "Pros" would improve on that as well.
1
The Airpod Pros sound significantly better than original Airpods. Perhaps not audiophile accuracy, but very good.
1
Personally, I am interested in "accurate" reproduction of what the musicians intended the music to sound like. I want a neutral and accurate reproduction of the source. Apple has been on the "dragging edge" of accurate sound reproduction, and although many people love the way that their Beats brand sound, they are in no way accurate. Most earbuds are designed as tone controls that increase the low frequencies (Bass) or the high frequencies (trebble) at the expense of accurately reproducing music. I would stay away from any Apple earbuds and look to a brand like Etymotic that is trying to faithfully reproduce music....But that's just me.
7
Son Of Liberty I had to laugh at this column because a person only needs "noise cancelling" earbuds when earbuds don't isolate you from the noise around you. So "Noise Cancelling" earphones are really unnecessary with an earphone like Etymotic that give the listener 35-40 DB of isolation.
I am an audiophile, brought up on MacIntosh and Marantz gear from my father in the 1950s. These Airpods pros sound quite good. I like them better than my Shure SE315s which are highly regarded, and the ANC is far better and different from passive.
6
"you can hear your surroundings more clearly while listening to a podcast or music. This turned out to be my favorite new feature."
Sounds like a recipe for hearing loss to me.
And. I am always amazed at how little comment there is on the cost of the stuff we buy - stuff we absolutely have to have. $250 earbuds replaced every two years, $350 Bose headphones (OK, I have them, for about 10 years), and similar prices for many other models, not to mention all the other essential electronic devices. Doesn't anyone *save* money anymore?
6
@Steven Good thing saving money and spending a certain amount of money every so often are not mutually exclusive things.
2
@Steven Prices seem not to matter much in the Apple world (you saw the $52,000 high-end Mac Pro that just came out?), and in the audio equipment world, the tendency is to link price with quality. There's a lot of conspicuous spending in both worlds. No?
My wife bought a pair of Bose active noise canceling ear buds (wired) for $250 for an extended air trip a few months ago; I bought a pair of Taotronics active noise canceling ear buds (wired) for $40 for the same trip because I couldn’t stand the thought of paying 6 times as much for an item that gets similar review scores on Amazon, CNET, etc.
My el cheapo buds were essentially identical in terms of performance compared to the Bose buds, though longevity of both items will obviously take some time to establish. Both sets also had similar battery life, took similar amounts of time to charge, etc.
The planes we took provided Bose over-the-ear active noise canceling headphones, which were better than either the Bose or Taotronics ear buds at reducing noise levels. However, the Bose over-ear headphones were much less comfortable, caused sweaty ears after extended wearing, and could not be worn while sleeping.
All of these items had the capability of muting ambient noise even when not listening to music or watching a video on my computer or the seat-back screen, a wonderful feature.
Wearing Apple AirPods around the house sounds OK to me, not too much chance of dislodging them, and a good chance of finding them if they do pop out. However, wearing them outdoors, biking, riding the subway, or doing anything active or strenuous seems like a recipe for losing one or both very expensive pods.
2
@Mon Ray With the right shape of ear, the the Pros fit snugly and will not fall out during activity - far tighter than old Airpods.
Another thing to consider when considering this highly conspicuous product is the crime rate where you live. Here in Oakland CA, the robbery capital of America, Apple products are at the top of a mugger's list for quick and profitable resale. Commuters in the know do not display their iPhones on public transit.
These Apple earbuds are valuable in their own right, and indicate that their owner is carrying a highly desirable iPhone as well. I’ve had a friend strong-armed at a BART station, in full view of hundreds of commuters who looked the other way, for his designer sunglasses.
Another aspect of the AirBuds' conspicuity: People will avoid talking to you if they think you’re already listening to something — even if your AirBuds are only on standby.
To get around these issues I forsake listening to music during the day and use a single, tiny Bluetooth earbud ($20 on Amazon) to monitor incoming calls and, when commuting or walking my dog, listening to podcasts. I don’t have to worry about missed calls because the earbud will alert me when one is coming in. I can have a full duplex voice conversation with a caller using the earbud without having to take my iPhone out of my pocket.
8
Not sure why the author compares the new pros with Bose over the ear noise canceling headphones. A better/fairer comparison would be with the Bose noise cancelling earbuds. I've owned those for several years. They come in a small-soft-sided carrying case and do a great job on flights. Plus, you can plug them in to watch in-flight movies. And the battery lasts for 10+ hours, with no sign of battery life diminishing (yet).
9
I find earbuds uncomfortable, even the Apple ones without the rubber earpieces. Don’t see that mentioned in the review, so I guess they are only for folks who don’t have that issue. I use Bose on ear Bluetooth headphones in case anyone is thinking of buying me a Christmas present.
4
@Patrick It's all personal. I hate wearing on-ear headphones for more than 30 mins at a time, regardless of brand, and have no problem with any Apple earphones.
2
On a bicycle I am thankful that my earbuds have a wire to the source. They never ever stay in my ear for the entire ride. At $249 I can't say I would ever buy them ,don't want to be picking thru the underbrush, leaves ,etc. for them.
3
Sorry, but I've yet to encounter any set of ear buds that were anywhere near as reliable as the old over-the-head, in-ear headphones they sold until the mid-00's. Those old plastic headphones usually cost about $20 and lived forever.
Now the industry has done away with them (and with the headphone jack!) and insists we buy $250 earbuds that rarely keep their seal on your ear, bit the dust if you sweat heavy, have a battery that will eventually stop recharging, and are beyond easy to lose.
I wonder why the industry made that change?
8
@Todd Not the industry. Apple. A conscious decision by Apple to make you have to reach more into your pockets.
4
I have a $29.95 wireless headset that I use at the gym. I recharge it every 15 days or so and it works fine. I love Apple products in general but I’m not going to spend $249 on ear buds that will probably fall out if my ears the first time I run on the treadmill.
I have bought my pros a few weeks ago in Barcelona. I agree with most of your assessments. Noise canceling works very well. Sound and clarity are superb, *if* the silicone earbuds seal your ear.
I’ve had Ultimate Ears before and wanted to get rid of the cable. With a tiny bit of pressure with my fingers everything is perfect.
But...
Unfortunately my ears must be square, so the earbuds don’t seal tight. You know the effect, you lose most off the base and some noise canceling.
So... if your ears match the mold, they are excellent.
4
For those of us challenged by finding the balance between hearing aids and hearables, transparency mode is helpful. I'll give them a try from a retailer with a generous return policy. Please don't share this comment with anyone from Best Buy.
11
Amazon Echo Buds are half the price and also have Bose noise cancelling technology. Alexa hands-free integration is liberating. I can drop-in on my Echo devices at home. Apple is far behind Amazon in audio computing. Apple ear products never fit my ears. I lost a Jabra Elite ear bud and almost replaced it but opted for the Echo Buds instead. I am really happy with my choice.
@DaveF Inferior audio quality.
I am most looking forward to using these on a flight too, and found it a bit disappointing that Mr. Chen didn’t try the Airpods to listen to a song or watch a video on his phone, just to comment on the sound quality and noise cancelling. The fact that wireless Bluetooth earphones don’t work with a proprietary airline audio system is not really that germane to the primary function of the Airpod pros: Like many, I prep for a flight by downloading things I’m going to want to watch, from podcasts to movies to music. I wanted to know how it would be to watch videos on my iPad Pro during a flight, listening on the AirPod Pro’s. Mr Chen’s review of the earbuds on the train system suggests that it will be a good experience.
7
Save your money, get the Shure SE215. The Shure noise isolation rating is higher than the Bose around ear active cancellation headphone. Oh and audio quality - leagues above Apple or Bose. So good that musicians use them for live events. Also they have 0 profile so you can sleep on pillow with them on. Protect your ears and hear music the way it suppose to sound.
6
Okay Sam, but have you actually tried the new AirPod Pro? I’m a long-time audiophile, and don’t really care for headphones in general, but I will say that the new Pro is a major improvement over the original in sound quality (as distinct from noise cancellation per se).
2
@Artie Haven't tried the AirPods, but I have the Bose QC20i, and while the noise reduction is significant, it's nothing near the reduction with the $100 Shure 215s. I use them for bike riding and only the Shure's have been able to block enough wind noise for me to adequately hear podcasts or music without turning the volume up to unhealthy levels. If I were considering $250 for the AirPods, I'd go ahead and buy the $300 dual-driver Shure 425s instead.
3
@Sam Shure SE215 are not bluetooth, wireless, or have active noise cancellation. I have SE315 - much better sound but far prefer the experience of the Airpod Pros.
I bought the AirPods in 2016, and my battery life had recently diminished to 90 minutes or so. When I misplaced them during a recent trip, all I could do was shrug as they had become almost useless. I'd already upgraded to the much better sounding Powerbeats Pro, which offer 9 hours of battery life. For now.
If Apple cared about the environment like they say they do, they would move away from the planned obsolescence model, but then again, I don't think Wall Street would look so kindly on that.
23
@Logic Science and Truth - how are AirPods acts of "planned obsolescence"? Yes, the batteries are not replaceable and once they're dead, the device is no longer useable. But, as the article mentions, the device is too small to accommodate a replaceable battery. So what is Apple supposed to do? Not sell AirPods at all?
Is a pocket comb manufacturer pursuing a "planned obsolescence model" because eventually so many tines break off that the comb becomes unusable?
Apple cares & does more about the environment more than any other electronics manufacturer on the planet. But they're in the business of producing electronic widgets - and those, by their very nature, become obsolete over time.
13
@Thomas Wolf
If you think the geniuses at Apple are incapable of producing a product with replaceable batteries, think again. They could, but don't want to because of "aesthetics" and the more salient point that @Logic Science and Truth pointed out.
5
@Thomas Wolf Apple is “supposed to” support wired earbuds that don’t require batteries or add to the daily list of Things To Charge and Things To Worry About Losing. But that ship has already sailed.
1
The only question I have is which ear takes phone calls? Both? Can it be changed?
I ask because I am deaf in one ear and find my Bose buds have a single ear for calls; the wrong one.
@J. Wadd there is a setting for which headphone mic will be used. For incoming audio both headphones are active.
3
@Jeff Smith The question appeared to be about the speaker.
@Jim And Jeff's second sentence answered that question.
This review warns that Apple AirPods have nonreplaceable batteries and a limited lifespan.
And it recommends Bose QC 35 headphones as a superior alternative.
But it doesn’t warn that Bose QC 35 headphones also have nonreplaceable batteries and a limited lifespan.
62
@Observer
due to the relative sizes of the two devices, the Bose batteries will have a longer useful lifespan because they are larger and will decay over time at a relatively slower rate.
6
Comparing earbuds to over the ear headphones with drivers an order of magnitude larger does not make sense on a number of levels.
64
Ok, this article reads like exactly what I've experienced. On long-haul flights of 10+ hours, nothing beats the Bose noise canceling phones. The new AirPods are a significant improvement over the first generation and fit my ears much better besides.
4
One advantage goes unmentioned but is apparent on any city streets: airpods are comfortable and secure enough to just wear them all the time, whether listening to music or fielding calls. At home it's liberating to wander around the house while watching a movie or a lecture, and the extended range of the latest airpods really helps. The noise cancellation does a good job with appliance noise and outside road noise leaking into the house. It's much more seamless and ever-present than even the Apple Watch (which I can't justify buying).
So the real change is that we've gone from a different device for each purpose to one that can connect us to any technology, in default mode. I am hoping that voice interfaces will finally take off, and the keyboard becomes a quaint anachronism. We need a designer who understands time and context as well as Jony Ive understood space and vision.
5
How have these newer AirPods addressed the harmful environmental effects of the old ones? There are a number of articles and blog posts on how the new wireless headphones contribute to e-waste and even fires at landfills.
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@Ryan Hearty - you can go to any Apple store to return their gear for safe recycling. Seems like you're attributing a problem to Apple that's ascribable to Apple's competitors as they do not have such recycling programs.
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@Ryan Hearty You shouldn't be throwing these away to end up in landfills. Apple has a recycling program in place, where you ship them back to the company for free. The company then distributes them to recyclers who specialize in electronic waste. It's on their website.
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Pity this review doesn't compare Apple's product against direct competitors. Several companies now market high-quality, fully wireless earbuds at a similar price, or less. If you don't care for the "q-tips" look of Air Pods, consider the Jabra models. I'm very happy with my Elite 65t; there's an even newer model now. Pairs instantly to my iPhone, has the transparency ("hear-through") feature, seals well against outside noise, works well on phone calls, etc.
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@Steve love my Jabra Elite 65ts!
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@Steve
I have both the Jabra Elite 65t and new AirPods -- I also prefer the Jabra earphones. They are a far more secure fit and often double as earplugs at work for me. I am still scared to run with the AirPods because they constantly feel like they're going to fall out. I also like that the Jabras are more discreet.
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My Beatx bluetooth earphones do a good job of noise cancelling for my needs, especially when it comes to sleeping during long flights. But that might be the wine talking.
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I don’t use my AirPods in the gym because they don’t cancel the sound of people talking or music piped over the gym’s speakers. I use in ear etymotic earbuds, which do the trick because the tips seal like ear plugs. The new AirPods don’t look like they will be much better at the type of noise cancellation I need either.
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@MsB
The new ones are much better in the gym. I go to 24hr four or five times per week. The older AirPods had to be turned up quite loud. The new ones filter a fair amount of the ambient noise and fit more securely.
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My AirPods Pro had one big drawback: one of the pods would not pass the ear fit test with any of the three different tip sizes. There were no other problems with the pods. They just wouldn't fit my ears.
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Not one word in this review about the sound quality of these earbuds for listening to music- their number one raison d’etra. Also, nothing about their comfort in the ear - of primary importance.
I’ll help: While not totally accurate (the midrange is accentuated), the sound is well-balanced, bass is well-defined though not very deep, and the highs, while not pristine, are OK. Vocals sound excellent on these earbuds.
In general, I’m happy with the sound, and I’m somewhat of an audiophile.
The comfort level is subjective and depends on the shape of one’s ears. While there are three ear tips, some may find none of them comfortable or even painful, and have trouble keeping them in the ears. Others say they hardly know they are wearing them.
For me, somewhat painful at first (I tried all three tips) but may ears are getting accustomed to them after a month. Mine, with the large tips, are solidly in the ears and cannot fall out even when active. YMMV
Overall, the Apple Airbuds Pro may or may not offer a great listening experience. I’m pretty happy with them. The noise cancellation is quite good, and I sometimes use it without music to muffle the noisy sound of NYC streets when commuting.
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@Sam Kanter, NYC
Thanks, mate.
The Times should have called you to write the review.
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@Sam Kanter, NYC
Does the Jabra pause the music when you remove them from eats and resume when back in like the airpods? And does it have automatic connect feature?
The last paragraph highlights a growing problem with all of the rechargeable tech - non replaceable batteries. It’s not just the cost, it’s the massive e waste this is creating. In the last year I had both an Apple Watch battery and Bose sleep earbuds battery die. The earbud batteries can’t be replaced and Apple charges an immoral amount of money to replace the watch batteries. Where does this end.
As an aside, why is the reviewer wearing these things while running errands and walking his or her dog? How about paying attention to your surroundings?
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@Eric Schneider
Interesting. I've had every model of Apple watch and I've never had the battery in one die. I'd be curious to know how you use it?
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@Eric Schneider Transparency mode, one of the best features of the AirPods pro, which the writer mentions almost immediately, is designed precisely for "paying attention to your surroundings."
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@RPJ
As long as audio is playing from the the apple appliance the airpods are linked to.. this is largely fallacy.
A lot of people are actually zoned out while playing music, and hence are not even consciously aware of the need to hit the transparency button.
Noise cancellation technology (which is generally not really needed, and is a waste) and wireless charging is the only actual feature of the pro version, and apple extracts a $100 premium for this. Further.. for about $45, you can move regular airpods-V2 to wireless charging as well.
4
Yes, they are the perfect Christmas gift for the person who wants to further isolate themselves from the rest of humanity. It may be that no man is an island, but we're never gonna stop trying.
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@Walter Bruckner I take your point, however for those working in open plan office areas with constant chatter from co-workers, these devices offer a very real remedy.
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@Walter Bruckner And frankly Walter, when I am riding on metro north or the subway, the people around me are yakking on their phones, the whistle is blowing and the train is clattering, there is nothing I want more than to isolate myself. I am texting this article to my husband because I now know what I want for Christmas.
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And when I was taking the 7 out to Jackson Heights, a mom murmuring a lullaby to a sleeping baby in a language I couldn’t identify was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever heard.
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