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The next generation of AirPods

159 points| mr_o47 | 4 years ago |apple.com

184 comments

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[+] philliphaydon|4 years ago|reply
I just discovered last week that on the Apple TV I can connect 2 apple audio devices at the same time.

Currently staying with the in laws, daughter is sleeping in the same room with us so we couldn’t watch TV.

I connected my wife’s AirPods to the Apple TV to watch tv and noticed I could connect another one, so I borrowed my sister in laws AirPods and connected them and both work at the same time. So now we can watch TV together when daughter is asleep.

It only works with apple audio devices, so looks like I’ll pick up some new AirPods for myself!

Edit: contacted > connected

[+] reportingsjr|4 years ago|reply
For people who are interested in this and don't have/want to buy apple stuff: the Chromecast 4k allows this with any bluetooth audio device. It definitely is a super handy feature!
[+] lilyball|4 years ago|reply
I haven't tried doing this with Apple TV, but iPhones also let you share your audio with a second pair of AirPods.
[+] notesinthefield|4 years ago|reply
I've been doing this with an Nvidia Shield 4k tv for so long I cant watch tv without headphones.
[+] Lio|4 years ago|reply
Does it really only work with Apple headphones?

That's terrible. I like Apple products but I hate the way they push to make things proprietary that could be open standard.

I guess that makes services "sticky" for a lot of people but it pushes me away from the ecosystem,

[+] karmakaze|4 years ago|reply
And vice-versa:

> AirPods require Apple devices running iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, watchOS 8.1, tvOS 15.1, or macOS Monterey, all available as free software updates next week.

[+] handrous|4 years ago|reply
Playstation 4 (maybe also the 5? I can't get ahold of one, so I dunno) controllers have a headphone jack on them that can be used this way, I think. Route the audio through the (bluetooth) controller, to whatever you've plugged in to it.

I think some higher-end Rokus can route audio through their remote control, to plugged-in headphones.

[+] cloogshicer|4 years ago|reply
Warning: I purchased AirPods 1st gen and after a firmware update, they just stopped working. They disconnect after a few minutes. It's been over a year and this hasn't been fixed. This seems to be a widespread issue (see links below) - but at the Apple store they just tell you to buy replacements for almost full price.

I'm quite frustrated with this and thus won't purchase these again. I think they are designed to last a year or two max, which is just too expensive and environmentally unfriendly.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8499626

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251067580

https://www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/h7furn/left_airpod...

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251532951

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250494933

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEyTDJJ6GPc (see all the comments)

[+] clairity|4 years ago|reply
i have this issue. it’s super frustrating, because a reconnect is required every 5-10 minutes.
[+] ksec|4 years ago|reply
Same here. Even if they fixed it the battery is half dead.

So I wont purchase any Wireless EarPhone again. I dont like the idea of disposable earphone.

[+] filereaper|4 years ago|reply
Apple Marketing sometimes can be incredulous:

>"First with our contour design that delivers sound directly to your ears"

What does that even mean?!? These are in-ear headphones, how else are they supposed to deliver sound?

Feels silly to have such a comment to make a two point slide.

[+] MBCook|4 years ago|reply
They like to make the page a certain size, and when there are only a few improvements over the previous generation… they get creative.
[+] luxuryballs|4 years ago|reply
Then the flavor of the cheeseburger was delivered, right in my mouth!
[+] CharlesW|4 years ago|reply
> "First with our contour design that delivers sound directly to your ears"

Google shows this thread as the only place this quote exists. What Apple does say is, "Apple today announced the third generation of AirPods [marketing speak deleted] in a new contoured design", the benefit being that it "[sits] at just the right angle for comfort and to direct audio into the ear".

This is a reference to the previous design of AirPods, which worked great for some people and not well for others (I was in the latter group). The implication is that the new design will be more comfortable for more people.

[+] theshadowknows|4 years ago|reply
they _could_ project sound outward, using beam forming, such that the sound ricochets off of the walls and other surrounding objects and is directed onto the bones behind your ear. I'm not saying that would work, but it's an option!
[+] gumby|4 years ago|reply
Pretty sure that these are the only ones with their contour design, so I suppose this is truth in advertising.
[+] beezischillin|4 years ago|reply
As much as I liked my AirPods gen 1 and the features seem tempting, my personal experience with battery longevity on Apple headphones are not great. I’ve so far had the BeatsX, Beats Studio3 and AirPods. Almost all of them completely died within a year of purchase. The AirPods still work but using them is pointless since the battery life dropped to less than an hour so I just haven’t bothered. Mind you, this is not because I’m such a heavy user, I listen to music once or twice a week at most through headphones so it doesn’t seem like this should have happened.

It’s kind of a shame because I really like the AirPods Pros for example, but if I don’t have a guarantee that I can get them repaired when this eventually happens then I feel like my money is better spent elsewhere.

[+] gumby|4 years ago|reply
I am quite astonished as I have the opposite experience. My Airpods only go flat during long phone calls of more than two hours and I had them for at least a year before the Covid lockdown.

You have a larger n than I do, but still I am surprised that they would wipe out after a year.

[+] mongol|4 years ago|reply
I like my wired, ordinary earphones. They are low tech, cheap and reliable. When I pick them up from my pocket, I may have to spend a few moments to untangle then, but it is usually just a few seconds. After some months the wires start to go bad. Then I use a new pair. But such a pair costs very little.

I don't know what I am missing, but I think I would be frustrated if expensive wireless earphones run out of battery when I need them, or lose their ability to hold charge, or I lose them. It is a worry I don't mind to live without. I am probably just a cheap grumpy old man....

[+] vwadhwani|4 years ago|reply
I just want a pair of airpods that allow me to have a conversation outdoors. I'm always getting feedback that the ambient noise makes it difficult for people to hear me talk. I can't even do the dishes while on a call without people complaining.
[+] mleonhard|4 years ago|reply
They kept the case design that requires two hands to operate and prevents installing a tether clip.

I have both AirPods Pro and Bose SoundSport. The AirPods Pro have good noise-cancelling. But the SoundSport clip to my shirt and so are always available. I can use one hand to put the right-side in my ear and press one button to turn them on and answer. I can also remove both earbuds and drop them. The tether keeps them in place on my shirt. I use the SoundSport almost exclusively and rarely touch my AirPods Pro.

[+] themadturk|4 years ago|reply
I have AirPod Pros, and like them a lot because the tips I've chosen fit just fine and the ANC is great. I also like regular Apple earbuds (and those that copy their design) because they are super-comfortable, though they don't cancel any sound.

I don't have a need for these, as the spatial sound isn't anything I need and I have a half dozen standard Apple or Apple-inspired earbuds that work just fine.

[+] etempleton|4 years ago|reply
I wonder how these will fit my ears.

The current design fits my ears perfectly whereas the pros or any other soft-tip earbuds work there way out of my ears.

[+] taurath|4 years ago|reply
No ear caps is instant no buy for me - I literally cannot keep the previous AirPods in my ear and if I do it causes aching, while I can use the pro’s without issue. Or is it just a refresh of the original AirPods?
[+] blunte|4 years ago|reply
I’ve worn Shure ~280$ in ear wires earphones for years, and with the right temperature sensitive foam inserts they passively block more sound than my AirPods Pro do. And they provide better sound quality.

Maybe these new AirPods have better sound and battery, but from a minimalist perspective they are still unnecessary. If you talk on the phone a lot, maybe I see the value. But the wired Apple headphones work fine for that, and they don’t randomly stop working while you’re on a call.

[+] poulsbohemian|4 years ago|reply
I'm not intending to be flippant here - I love my AirPods and other Apple gear - but this reads like they took the AirPod Pros and rebranded them as the next generation of AirPod. I'm not seeing what's actually new here. Can someone in the know throw me a bone if there's something I'm overlooking?
[+] whatever1|4 years ago|reply
Just don’t use them for your zoom calls. Use the company issued headset. Your colleagues will thank you.

AirPods microphones are atrocious.

[+] ElijahLynn|4 years ago|reply
Just one day before the new Pixel 6 launch...
[+] gumby|4 years ago|reply
Yes I’m sure Apple timed it that way on purpose :-)
[+] sergiotapia|4 years ago|reply
How do these compare with the Jabra 85t's? I'm in the market for new audio. I will use them for jogging, lifting and general calls while walking around.
[+] theshrike79|4 years ago|reply
The AirPod killer feature is integration across all Apple devices.

If you have exact needs for audio quality, you can always find better ones.

But if you want to get off your MacBook, walk over to your Apple TV and get your headphones connected to it with one click on the remote, then AirPods are your thing.

[+] criddell|4 years ago|reply
Apple has a pretty generous return policy. Get them and return them if you don't like them.
[+] rabidonrails|4 years ago|reply
Why isn't there a way to mute? I'd love to be able to configure one of the buttons to mute me when clicked. Fingers crossed for the next gen I guess.
[+] weystrom|4 years ago|reply
In the press release Apple talks about AAC-ELD codec being included on these earbuds, promising high-def low-latency audio.

I wonder if that's true. My biggest gripe with the industry ever since the death of 3.5mm jack has been voice/video call audio quality on BT HSP profile.

It's probably just a marketing blurb, but whoever manages to fix BT voice audio will be my personal hero.

[+] ksec|4 years ago|reply
Well Apple has been using AAC-ELD in FaceTime for a few years already. I wonder if this is ELD v2.
[+] vegai_|4 years ago|reply
Cool that they look like Pros now, i.e. not like you put Braun toothbrush heads in your ear.

What I desperately need is a way to place an Airtag in the charger. Yes, I lost a pair of Airpod Pros some months ago. No idea where they are, perhaps somebody stole them or perhaps I just lost them in the house.

[+] sangnoir|4 years ago|reply
The last time this happened to me, I waited until it was night time and very quiet and started to play music through them at max volume.
[+] drcongo|4 years ago|reply
I lost mine in a recent house move and they don't show up anywhere in the Find My app. I had to buy a pair of £10 knock offs just so I can listen to podcasts while walking the dog, however these have the added bonus of not falling out my ear at every possible opportunity.
[+] CharlesW|4 years ago|reply
> What I desperately need is a way to place an Airtag in the charger.

There are at least a couple AirPods charger cases with integrated AirTag slots. It would've been nice if this functionality was integrated into the charger.

[+] criddell|4 years ago|reply
Since these are rated for IPX4, does that mean you can clean them by washing with something that will dissolve ear wax? Could you clean them in your dishwasher?

I have some of the original AirPods and I've never felt like I can get them thoroughly clean.

[+] Closi|4 years ago|reply
No, it means it can handle a small splash of water not a dishwasher cycle.
[+] gumby|4 years ago|reply
Apparently at the Apple store they have some kind of putty they stick the Airpods into to get the gunk out of the grilles.