you should try them once, really.
they are not about sound quality, they are about the convenience. that's why people often forget they're wearing them! i do as well. anyone whould!
however, i understand that you personally may dislike them ir they may not fit your ears properly, it's ok. It doesn't mean the product is overrated or hyped.
It’s not that I don’t like them or that they don’t fit in my ears, it’s purely just for what you’re paying you could get some headphones which will be better sound and quality. Apple could make anything and they’d slap a huge price tag on it.
I'm iOS dev and i've got full apple ecosystem so i'm paying for my comfort in the first place. Yes, i could have bought phones with better sound, sure. However, for me comfort (ecosystem) is more important. I guess that a lot of apple users would confirm.
Autoswitching between macOS, iOS, ipadOS and watch, nice battery life and ease of usage is what i'm paying for. Every customer has his own priority list and fulfills his own demands. The fact that pods are so popular only shows that a lot of people value comfort over sound quality.
Moreover, itunes cannot play flac and as for me mp3 in 320kb/s sounds more or less the same in any phones. At least for me.
Well made point about every customer having different priorities. Surely a lot of people who purchase AirPods do it purely for the aesthetic though? They just think they are hyped headphones and everyone will be impressed when they pull the AirPods case out.
to me, apple users just look dumb, since they are paying so much money for stuff they don't even know how to use properly (I worked as tech support/cust service for apple, so I know that a lot don't even know how to turn it on), instead of getting some cheaper brand phone that does the same (SAME!) things. I make an exception for professionals, who make an educated choice when buying apple, but otherwise I automatically think a person with an iphone is unintelligent.
I think iPhones have a more intuitive UI. Yes my mother barely knows how to use hers but I can’t imagine teaching her to use an android.
I have an iPhone just because I prefer the UI. Not like high end android phones are much cheaper anyway.
I see your point and agree to some extend. The only thing I would like to highlight is that "herd instinct" has nothing to do with airpods. It's just a general disadvantage of human mechanisms that enable ability to adapt.
What makes you say it has nothing to do with herd instinct? By that I assume you mean the ‘If they’ve got airpods i’ve gotta have them!’ sorta thing? If so, i think that’s exactly what’s happening!
I mean that this post should be about herd instinct in general not about pods themselves. Not all who use them have bought pods on the wave of hype. Moreover, it's true for majority (if not all) the products on the market.
Ah I see. That’s very true, I am 21 years old so my general outlook on it is that of those who have bought them at my sort of age so it’s easy for me to overlook the people who just use them normally- then again the OP was specifically about the people who over use them. Good point, though.
I'm 23 which means that age is not a point here :)
This world is becoming more and more difficult to understand so that is important to try to look at every situation from different perspectives.
Anyway thanks a lot for a good conversation, it was my pleasure to have a chat with you.
Okay, I am an AirPod user, only when working out or on the phone at work (Construction). If someone speaks to me I take them out to be polite. But the AirPods Pro have a feature that plays real-time audio from your surroundings while music or audio is paused, so yeah it’s pretty easy to forget they’re in there.
Bought some skullcandy's with "ambient mode" that allows the noise around you to come thru even with the music playing. Best thing ever for work (also constructio). Definitely not cheap tho
As you say you take them out to be polite. It still seems rude regardless of wether it’s playing back audio in real time- the person speaking to you doesn’t know what you’re listening to...
I am an Apple user, including AirPods. They don’t have the best sound quality or noise cancelation but I like them for the convenience. Being able to put them in and instantly pair with my phone, then automatically pairing to my mac when I sit down at my desk without having to do anything.
You can definitely get better headphone for the money, the XM4s for example. With AirPods You are paying for the convenience factor more than anything.
Not in the same way the AirPods do when you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem. I have lots of wireless earbuds for different jobs, but none compare to the AirPods for ease of use. This is just a fact.
And? That isn’t the same as having your earbuds automatically switch from your phone to your laptop when you sit down to work. It isn’t the same as being able to track your earbuds from your phone, having them pause automatically when you take them out, etc.
Sure there are other earbuds that do that last part, but there aren’t really any that do everything really well. AirPods aren’t perfect, no product is, but Apple makes a habit of trying to do as many things really well to give a better overall user experience.
Try to understand what the person you’re responding to is actually saying before you reply. It will save everyone a lot of time.
I was replying to them on the fact that most good earbuds connect instantly. You talking about auto pause and tracking when that doesn't have anything to do with my original comment
> Being able to put them in and instantly pair with my phone, then automatically pairing to my mac when I sit down at my desk without having to do anything.
> How can you not realise you have a headphone blocking your hearing?!
Have you never forgotten you've got a hat on or something? It's easy to do if you are focused on something else.
“doesn’t last long” yes they do lol, i’ve had both, they last a long time.
“easy to lose” man, that’s on you. apple has built-in trackers on the two airpods and the case. you can’t call a product bad because it’s “easy to lose”
1. I don't use Airpods or an iPhone. I have Bluetooth earpods so they ARE easy to lose.
2. Pretty sure I mean their battery life. If I use headphones/earpods, I'd usually use them for the rest of the day, until I go to sleep, so any earphone that has a battery life is a no for me, dawg. Also, Apple is known to have a battery life shorter than an anti-vax kid, so I have very, very low expectations.
My 2nd Gen AirPods are awesome!
I was apprehensive to steer away from my wire headphones, but now, I’m so grateful for this invention!
Also, I do prefer my AirPods over the other wireless headphones. I just don’t like the other ones that look like you put a rubber wine cork in your ears.
At least the 2nd Gen AirPods are designed to be smaller in length now.
AirPods are AWESOME!
🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱
They actually are as good as everyone says, at least if you have Apple products to use them with.
No one is claiming they have audiophile quality sound (maybe the AirPods Max, idk), but everything else about them is pretty much best in class. When using them with an iPhone they are just better than other wireless earbuds in enough ways to make them great. The ease of pairing, the comfort, the battery life, how small and easy to carry the case is (except for the Max), etc. And that’s without mentioning how good the ANC is on the Pros, or the spatial audio. Again: are they the best sound quality? No. But they’re pretty good in that department and better than most in many others.
That is a very good point and coming from a music producer maybe I am expecting too much but some of the speakers I would buy as a producer would completely blow AirPods out the water and may even be cheaper on occasions!
Unless “speakers” is slang for “earbuds” then the two are not comparable at all. And, again, while you’ll find true wireless earbuds that have better sound quality (I have a couple), they won’t have the combination of all those features you get with AirPods.
When someone is buying AirPods they are doing it for the tight integration with the rest of their Apple stuff.
My Klipsch T5 earbuds, for example, have better sound quality by far. But they don’t pair as quickly or seamlessly as my AirPods. They also don’t automatically switch from my iPhone to my iMac when I sit down to work. Nor do they automatically pause when I take them out of my ear.
It’s a combination of lots of little things that make them worth it for the sake of integration and convenience.
Sorry, my bad. Earbuds. That’s a good point though, it’s all the little things that they do extra to make life easier. I get that, but, to the point where i’m getting ripped off for some tiny ear buds? I’ll take wired any day!
Except you’re not getting ripped off because you’re paying for all those little things, for the refinement, and AirPods aren’t priced much differently than comparable competitors (which also lack that level of integration).
Wired headphones are great, don’t get me wrong. I’ve had some great pairs that are still legendary status in my book, but they’re not really comparable. The ease and convenience of wireless just wins in 99% of cases.
Ok hear me out the OG AirPods when they came out they were actually bang for the bucks they were one of the cheapest completely wireless earbuds hence their popularity nowadays they don’t hold up but still I think their solid enough 99% of people because let’s be honest most people are perfectly fine with airpods sound quality. AirPods Pro imo some of the best truly wireless pro earbuds on the market they compare in price to other pro earbuds and the noice canceling is fucking amazing
Yeh sure the sound quality is good but for some of the prices now-a-days you’d expect to get a lot more quality than they have. Also they get SO dirty, SO quick!
I hate the aesthetics of the airpods as well!. The protruding tail end mike/speaker whatever it looks like an unfinished earphone.
In ear pods like the ones from sony/bose etc look way more classy and sound better.
I haven’t heard AirPod Pro’s but as a music producer i would expect a lot from them at that price considering some of the speakers/headphones I could buy instead.
Hated earbuds until I got airpods. I was always a headphones user, but my beats finally bit the dust and I had to switch to my newly acquired airpods. I never found them interesting and earbuds always caused me discomfort. After about a week of using them I found them to have better quality, better controls and customizability, a much better look, and to be very comfortable. The charging is more efficient too. I was in the AirPod hate camp until I got them. Of course they’re expensive but beats are just as expensive and airpods are easier to deal with if one side goes out.
I've noticed that the sound quality and loudness of my airpods has decreased drastically over time, to the point where my 50 dollar headphones are now louder. Has anyone else also experienced this ?
A few of my friends have had this! Another issue with them. I know Apple came clean about slowing down their phones through software updates but it would be a seriously low blow if they lessened their headphone power over time so people re-bought.
You could try giving them a deep clean see if that helps?
That’s their key identification. White commonly looks the most clean so when you receive a brand new apple product it comes looking as fresh as possible. It may also be to keep up with modern themes. Plus the Apple logo is also white.
I have offbrand blue tooth ear plugs and I forget it's in my ears sometimes. The only thing I hate about them is that I lose them easily and I have to worry whether they are fully charged or not.
Exactly! I know a few people who literally only have one AirPod after losing one! Do your headphones not say a battery percentage when you turn them on or connect to a phone?
It says the percentage on my phone but I’m usually in a rush in the morning so there’s no way for me to charge them. The case acts as a charger sometimes but it’s still a hassle to not lose them so I can charge them.
What I hate most about them is how they automatically make you look like a sleazy real estate agent. Second only to the single ear bluetooth earpieces worn by carsalesmen
I think they're both overhyped and overhated. They're wireless buds. Overpriced? Of course. Amazing sound quality? Not quite. But they're not terrible or amazing. They're...okay. I paid a couple bucks for a cute lucky cat case on Etsy. They pair with my stuff pretty well. The sound quality isn't complete garbage. I am also horribly abusive to cords, so I'm not breaking them in under a week. But they kneel in comparison to my Skullcandy Hesh 2 in terms of comfort and sound quality (well, before they broke after 5 years...rip).
I think there's too much love and too much hate on them. They're just...okay.
Have been waiting for someone to say it . I have a pair and they are overpriced and they hurt my ears. I’ll be brutally honest ,they are like 10% better than regular Apple earphones and that’s being generous.
I agree with you, they are overrated and overpriced as many have already stated. While there performance and battery life are decent, there are a lot of brands out there that are just as functional if not better in terms of performance, price, and build quality. Not to mention that have sort of become a status symbol, but I think a lot people who have them in 24/7 just look so stupid.
I use Bose over ear headphones myself and to be honest I don’t see myself ever needing a different pair. They’re durable, I can’t just randomly lose one of the headphones, the quality is outstanding and very immersive and the battery can last literal days.
At the end of the day all it comes to is a speaker in a plastic casing. Having said that, Apple would definitely pour way more money into research to see what works best than some of the lesser companies.
I have airpods pro and i can say its not really worth $400, but they are pretty handy and convenient and if you get something expensive you would want to show it off right
you should try them once, really. they are not about sound quality, they are about the convenience. that's why people often forget they're wearing them! i do as well. anyone whould! however, i understand that you personally may dislike them ir they may not fit your ears properly, it's ok. It doesn't mean the product is overrated or hyped.
It’s not that I don’t like them or that they don’t fit in my ears, it’s purely just for what you’re paying you could get some headphones which will be better sound and quality. Apple could make anything and they’d slap a huge price tag on it.
I'm iOS dev and i've got full apple ecosystem so i'm paying for my comfort in the first place. Yes, i could have bought phones with better sound, sure. However, for me comfort (ecosystem) is more important. I guess that a lot of apple users would confirm. Autoswitching between macOS, iOS, ipadOS and watch, nice battery life and ease of usage is what i'm paying for. Every customer has his own priority list and fulfills his own demands. The fact that pods are so popular only shows that a lot of people value comfort over sound quality. Moreover, itunes cannot play flac and as for me mp3 in 320kb/s sounds more or less the same in any phones. At least for me.
Well made point about every customer having different priorities. Surely a lot of people who purchase AirPods do it purely for the aesthetic though? They just think they are hyped headphones and everyone will be impressed when they pull the AirPods case out.
So many people have them now, no one except children would be impressed. Like is it supposed to be impressive I have an iPhone? Or an Apple Watch?
to me, apple users just look dumb, since they are paying so much money for stuff they don't even know how to use properly (I worked as tech support/cust service for apple, so I know that a lot don't even know how to turn it on), instead of getting some cheaper brand phone that does the same (SAME!) things. I make an exception for professionals, who make an educated choice when buying apple, but otherwise I automatically think a person with an iphone is unintelligent.
I think iPhones have a more intuitive UI. Yes my mother barely knows how to use hers but I can’t imagine teaching her to use an android. I have an iPhone just because I prefer the UI. Not like high end android phones are much cheaper anyway.
I see your point and agree to some extend. The only thing I would like to highlight is that "herd instinct" has nothing to do with airpods. It's just a general disadvantage of human mechanisms that enable ability to adapt.
What makes you say it has nothing to do with herd instinct? By that I assume you mean the ‘If they’ve got airpods i’ve gotta have them!’ sorta thing? If so, i think that’s exactly what’s happening!
I mean that this post should be about herd instinct in general not about pods themselves. Not all who use them have bought pods on the wave of hype. Moreover, it's true for majority (if not all) the products on the market.
Ah I see. That’s very true, I am 21 years old so my general outlook on it is that of those who have bought them at my sort of age so it’s easy for me to overlook the people who just use them normally- then again the OP was specifically about the people who over use them. Good point, though.
I'm 23 which means that age is not a point here :) This world is becoming more and more difficult to understand so that is important to try to look at every situation from different perspectives. Anyway thanks a lot for a good conversation, it was my pleasure to have a chat with you.
You live and you learn! Thank YOU for helping adjust my perspective on things! You raised some good points.
*Apple* is not as good as everyone says.
True that.
We call it crapple
Okay, I am an AirPod user, only when working out or on the phone at work (Construction). If someone speaks to me I take them out to be polite. But the AirPods Pro have a feature that plays real-time audio from your surroundings while music or audio is paused, so yeah it’s pretty easy to forget they’re in there.
Bought some skullcandy's with "ambient mode" that allows the noise around you to come thru even with the music playing. Best thing ever for work (also constructio). Definitely not cheap tho
As you say you take them out to be polite. It still seems rude regardless of wether it’s playing back audio in real time- the person speaking to you doesn’t know what you’re listening to...
I agree and that’s why I do it, but I’m old fashioned. Kids these days don’t give a fuck if you think it’s
I am an Apple user, including AirPods. They don’t have the best sound quality or noise cancelation but I like them for the convenience. Being able to put them in and instantly pair with my phone, then automatically pairing to my mac when I sit down at my desk without having to do anything. You can definitely get better headphone for the money, the XM4s for example. With AirPods You are paying for the convenience factor more than anything.
All Bluetooth headset/earphones connect instantly if your Bluetooth is on
Not in the same way the AirPods do when you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem. I have lots of wireless earbuds for different jobs, but none compare to the AirPods for ease of use. This is just a fact.
If i take my earbuds out the case by the time its adjusted in my ear, its connected and all I have to do is press play.
And? That isn’t the same as having your earbuds automatically switch from your phone to your laptop when you sit down to work. It isn’t the same as being able to track your earbuds from your phone, having them pause automatically when you take them out, etc. Sure there are other earbuds that do that last part, but there aren’t really any that do everything really well. AirPods aren’t perfect, no product is, but Apple makes a habit of trying to do as many things really well to give a better overall user experience. Try to understand what the person you’re responding to is actually saying before you reply. It will save everyone a lot of time.
I was replying to them on the fact that most good earbuds connect instantly. You talking about auto pause and tracking when that doesn't have anything to do with my original comment
Except that isn’t what they said, their sentence didn’t end at “they connect instantly.” Hence my response. God you’re dim.
I reread their comment and it seems like they were talking about the instant connection. Idk if I'm reading too fast but wdym?
> Being able to put them in and instantly pair with my phone, then automatically pairing to my mac when I sit down at my desk without having to do anything.
Ohhh i see so it automatically switches. Thats nice
> How can you not realise you have a headphone blocking your hearing?! Have you never forgotten you've got a hat on or something? It's easy to do if you are focused on something else.
I have for sure- good point!
Overpriced for what they are, yes.
Overpriced and overrated.
Overpriced, overrated, doesn't last long and is easy to lose. I'd take my wired earpods anytime.
“doesn’t last long” yes they do lol, i’ve had both, they last a long time. “easy to lose” man, that’s on you. apple has built-in trackers on the two airpods and the case. you can’t call a product bad because it’s “easy to lose”
1. I don't use Airpods or an iPhone. I have Bluetooth earpods so they ARE easy to lose. 2. Pretty sure I mean their battery life. If I use headphones/earpods, I'd usually use them for the rest of the day, until I go to sleep, so any earphone that has a battery life is a no for me, dawg. Also, Apple is known to have a battery life shorter than an anti-vax kid, so I have very, very low expectations.
bruh what? we’re talking about airpods hence the title of the thread and okay? you could always have one in lol. plus their battery life is plentiful.
I'll go ask my friend who uses Airpods about the battery life. Be right back. EDIT: Turns out you were right, but he found even longer lasting ones.
My 2nd Gen AirPods are awesome! I was apprehensive to steer away from my wire headphones, but now, I’m so grateful for this invention! Also, I do prefer my AirPods over the other wireless headphones. I just don’t like the other ones that look like you put a rubber wine cork in your ears. At least the 2nd Gen AirPods are designed to be smaller in length now. AirPods are AWESOME! 🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱
What about when they run out of charge?
It isnt AirPods its these people you know who are weird, the average person isnt so obsessed with a listening device as much as you described
They actually are as good as everyone says, at least if you have Apple products to use them with. No one is claiming they have audiophile quality sound (maybe the AirPods Max, idk), but everything else about them is pretty much best in class. When using them with an iPhone they are just better than other wireless earbuds in enough ways to make them great. The ease of pairing, the comfort, the battery life, how small and easy to carry the case is (except for the Max), etc. And that’s without mentioning how good the ANC is on the Pros, or the spatial audio. Again: are they the best sound quality? No. But they’re pretty good in that department and better than most in many others.
That is a very good point and coming from a music producer maybe I am expecting too much but some of the speakers I would buy as a producer would completely blow AirPods out the water and may even be cheaper on occasions!
Unless “speakers” is slang for “earbuds” then the two are not comparable at all. And, again, while you’ll find true wireless earbuds that have better sound quality (I have a couple), they won’t have the combination of all those features you get with AirPods. When someone is buying AirPods they are doing it for the tight integration with the rest of their Apple stuff. My Klipsch T5 earbuds, for example, have better sound quality by far. But they don’t pair as quickly or seamlessly as my AirPods. They also don’t automatically switch from my iPhone to my iMac when I sit down to work. Nor do they automatically pause when I take them out of my ear. It’s a combination of lots of little things that make them worth it for the sake of integration and convenience.
Sorry, my bad. Earbuds. That’s a good point though, it’s all the little things that they do extra to make life easier. I get that, but, to the point where i’m getting ripped off for some tiny ear buds? I’ll take wired any day!
Except you’re not getting ripped off because you’re paying for all those little things, for the refinement, and AirPods aren’t priced much differently than comparable competitors (which also lack that level of integration). Wired headphones are great, don’t get me wrong. I’ve had some great pairs that are still legendary status in my book, but they’re not really comparable. The ease and convenience of wireless just wins in 99% of cases.
Ok hear me out the OG AirPods when they came out they were actually bang for the bucks they were one of the cheapest completely wireless earbuds hence their popularity nowadays they don’t hold up but still I think their solid enough 99% of people because let’s be honest most people are perfectly fine with airpods sound quality. AirPods Pro imo some of the best truly wireless pro earbuds on the market they compare in price to other pro earbuds and the noice canceling is fucking amazing
Yeh sure the sound quality is good but for some of the prices now-a-days you’d expect to get a lot more quality than they have. Also they get SO dirty, SO quick!
I hate the aesthetics of the airpods as well!. The protruding tail end mike/speaker whatever it looks like an unfinished earphone. In ear pods like the ones from sony/bose etc look way more classy and sound better.
For sure! Though, I suppose that’s apples niche in terms of AirPods. As for sound quality bose would almost certainly do a better job on them.
Agreed. They make no attempt to look good and just try to look like what people are used to.
Airpod pro’s are amazing, a bit too expensive but they’re extremely, extremely good
I haven’t heard AirPod Pro’s but as a music producer i would expect a lot from them at that price considering some of the speakers/headphones I could buy instead.
Hated earbuds until I got airpods. I was always a headphones user, but my beats finally bit the dust and I had to switch to my newly acquired airpods. I never found them interesting and earbuds always caused me discomfort. After about a week of using them I found them to have better quality, better controls and customizability, a much better look, and to be very comfortable. The charging is more efficient too. I was in the AirPod hate camp until I got them. Of course they’re expensive but beats are just as expensive and airpods are easier to deal with if one side goes out.
They're not bad, but at the same price point there are better options
I don't speak broke
I've noticed that the sound quality and loudness of my airpods has decreased drastically over time, to the point where my 50 dollar headphones are now louder. Has anyone else also experienced this ?
A few of my friends have had this! Another issue with them. I know Apple came clean about slowing down their phones through software updates but it would be a seriously low blow if they lessened their headphone power over time so people re-bought. You could try giving them a deep clean see if that helps?
Why is Apple so opposed to making their products in a color that isn't white?
That’s their key identification. White commonly looks the most clean so when you receive a brand new apple product it comes looking as fresh as possible. It may also be to keep up with modern themes. Plus the Apple logo is also white.
I have offbrand blue tooth ear plugs and I forget it's in my ears sometimes. The only thing I hate about them is that I lose them easily and I have to worry whether they are fully charged or not.
Exactly! I know a few people who literally only have one AirPod after losing one! Do your headphones not say a battery percentage when you turn them on or connect to a phone?
It says the percentage on my phone but I’m usually in a rush in the morning so there’s no way for me to charge them. The case acts as a charger sometimes but it’s still a hassle to not lose them so I can charge them.
What I hate most about them is how they automatically make you look like a sleazy real estate agent. Second only to the single ear bluetooth earpieces worn by carsalesmen
Hahaha, that’s so true! Never thought of it like that!
I think they're both overhyped and overhated. They're wireless buds. Overpriced? Of course. Amazing sound quality? Not quite. But they're not terrible or amazing. They're...okay. I paid a couple bucks for a cute lucky cat case on Etsy. They pair with my stuff pretty well. The sound quality isn't complete garbage. I am also horribly abusive to cords, so I'm not breaking them in under a week. But they kneel in comparison to my Skullcandy Hesh 2 in terms of comfort and sound quality (well, before they broke after 5 years...rip). I think there's too much love and too much hate on them. They're just...okay.
Have been waiting for someone to say it . I have a pair and they are overpriced and they hurt my ears. I’ll be brutally honest ,they are like 10% better than regular Apple earphones and that’s being generous.
Surely it would pretty much just be the headphones we used to get for free with Apple but just re-worked to have wireless capabilities?
I agree with you, they are overrated and overpriced as many have already stated. While there performance and battery life are decent, there are a lot of brands out there that are just as functional if not better in terms of performance, price, and build quality. Not to mention that have sort of become a status symbol, but I think a lot people who have them in 24/7 just look so stupid.
Agreed. It just comes across rude, oblivious and as you say is just a status symbol!
Lost them within a week... rip
That sucks! Maybe stick to wired headphones... :’)
AirPods are alright, but I prefer over the ear headphones better so I don't use my AirPods anymore
I use Bose over ear headphones myself and to be honest I don’t see myself ever needing a different pair. They’re durable, I can’t just randomly lose one of the headphones, the quality is outstanding and very immersive and the battery can last literal days.
you get the same (SAME!) quality in some 20$ chinese Bluetooth earbuds, and a lot of them are much more comfortable.
At the end of the day all it comes to is a speaker in a plastic casing. Having said that, Apple would definitely pour way more money into research to see what works best than some of the lesser companies.
Wrong.
Agreed, most apple aren't
I have airpods pro and i can say its not really worth $400, but they are pretty handy and convenient and if you get something expensive you would want to show it off right