At the end of 2016, Apple released a new product to the public. AirPods were teased earlier in 2016, but no one was sure when they would ship or if they would actually get out before the end of the year.
Spoiler alert! They did.
These new wireless headphones have been out in the wild for over a month now and there's still a bit of buzz about them. Jimmy Smith, our Nashville City Leader, and Lucas Acosta, our founder and CEO, both made the investment in AirPods and they have a lot of great things to say about this new product.
What’s the best thing about the Apple AirPods?
Lucas:
Plain and simple, no wires. It’s surprising how much the wires got in the way of stuff. Especially during the winter with jackets, not to mention seat belts in the car. No wires sounds like an obvious answer, but it’s the truth. Lots of people are probably curious if the AirPods are falling out of my ears, but they are the best headphones I’ve ever had when it comes to staying secure in my ears. It’s all about the wire. No snagging, less weight. The AirPods just stay in.
Jimmy:
I’ll second Lucas on this one, but I’ll also qualify my statement by being honest that I don’t have any issue with the standard, wired EarBuds staying in my ears. The AirPods are that much better though. No wires really means there is no tugging on my ears when I turn my head, and no wires when I’m running, getting in the car, or getting zipped up in my jacket. I am also thrilled with the beam-forming microphones. I made several test calls to make sure the quality was worth making a work call and everyone I spoke with had great things to say. In a really loud coffee shop, I was told the other person could tell there was stuff going on, but my voice was crystal clear!
What’s one delightful feature you didn’t anticipate?
Lucas:
The whole charging process (in the charging case that comes with the AirPods) and the integration with iOS and macOS that shows you the battery level is fantastic.
Jimmy:
Auto-Pause. Hands down. If you’re listening to a podcast or music and you want to talk to someone or place an order, just pull one of the AirPods out of your ear and it automatically pauses the video, music, or podcast. Once you’re done and put it back in your ear, it picks up right where it left off. Again, this sounds so obvious and simple, but it’s an amazing feature.
What cons have you encountered?
Lucas:
I’ve misplaced the set once. I want to have them everywhere I go, so now I have to keep track of them of them like sunglasses. The individual AirPods are small and the charging case is small so the risk of setting them down and forgetting where you put them is definitely there. I think we all lost at least one set of wired EarBuds at some point in the past though. It’s a personal problem though, not Apple’s.
Jimmy:
I haven’t misplaced them, but I am very particular about them and they are part of my every day routine now. My one draw back is that the number of things I have to charge on a regular basis seems to keep growing: Apple Watch, iPhone, AirPods, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro…Fortunately, my iPhone, AirPods, and iPad Pro all use the same charging cable so it’s relatively easy, but I do end up having those cables all over my house.
What’s one tip you would give people considering buying AirPods?
Lucas:
They should never be anywhere besides your ear or in the case. Just place one down on a table for one moment may be the last you ever see it. If that happens, a cool $69 will get you a new single AirPod from Apple.
Jimmy:
My tip is only wearing one at a time. That way you don’t drink the battery on both, and one is always fully charged if you are on a long call and you can switch from one to another seamlessly.
Are the AirPods worth the price?
Lucas:
Yes. The $159 price is in the middle of the pack, if not on the cheaper side of the wireless market. They don’t have bone-crunching bass, but the sound is really good. The whole package makes it a fantastic buy for an avid iPhone or Watch user.
Jimmy:
Totally! They aren’t at the top of the price list and come in under the PowerBeats 3 that I tested out prior to ordering the AirPods. I have since returned the PowerBeats and will be keeping the AirPods for a very long time!
As you can tell, we’ve got two raving fans of the AirPods on our team. Do your full research before buying (there are plenty of in-depth reviews and articles on the internet), but we're loving the AirPods. As always, if you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out! Have a great week!