Apple's AirPods are finally available to order with a price tag of $159. The completely wireless earbuds made their official debuts alongside iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September.
Tech Bits
Underneath the slightly quirky, yet familiar looks of the Apple AirPods lies the tech giant's custom-made, highly sophisticated W1 wireless chip, which enables the earbuds to seamlessly pair with Apple devices. It also helps the AirPods deliver up to five hours battery life — an impressive feat for completely wire-free earbuds.
In addition to the W1 chip, the Apple AirPods also pack a duo of microphones and optical sensors, as well as a motion and speech-detecting accelerometer. Despite all the advanced tech features on board, each AirPod weighs barely more than a tenth of an ounce.
Siri support is also among the earbuds' handy tech features. You can change tracks and volume, of perform other common tasks by double tapping on the side of the AirPods and asking the virtual assistant for help.
The AirPods come with a neat carrying case with a built-in battery that's also a charging station and a backup battery. Charging it requires a Lightning cable, which comes bundled in the earbuds' retail package.
Intuitive Pairing
Thanks to the Apple W1 chip, the AirPods offer the easiest, most intuitive pairing experience of in the business — all you need to do is flip the cover of their case open with them inside it and bring them close to your iPhone.
In addition to your smartphone, the earbuds will also automatically connect to all your Apple devices that use the same iCloud account. The process works on devices with iOS 10.2 and up, macOS Sierra, and watchOS 3 and up.
The Fit Might Not Suit All Tastes
The AirPods have the same fit as the Apple Earpods, so you'll either love how they feel in your ears, or have a constant feeling that they are trying to slip away. There are no ear tips to adjust the fit, so it's best to spend a bit of time with the regular EarPods that come with your iPhone before committing to the pricier wireless model.
The looks of the earbuds are also a subject of personal taste. The AirPods look like EarPods with the cable cut off, so there's definitely something quirky about them hanging freely from your ears.
What About the Sound Quality?
The AirPods deliver a well-tuned sound signature that's distortion-free even at full volume. Just like in the case of the regular EarPods, bass is slightly pronounced, though not overwhelmingly so.
Phone calls with the earbuds sound excellent. Because of their clever connectivity and built-in microphones in each earbud, the AirPods allow you to use them separately for calling — you just leave the other one in the storage case.
Because of their fit, the AirPods let a bit of ambient noise through. This comes in handy while commuting or at work, as you will be more aware from your surroundings.
Most importantly, unlike any pair of earbuds we have tested to date, the Apple AirPods deliver wireless connection with exceptional quality. We did not experience a signal drop a single time while testing the earbuds. This is a feat that none of their competitors has managed to achieve yet.
And the Battery Life?
The real-life battery life of the AirPods is just as advertised — you can expect about five hours of audio playback and two hours of phone calls on a charge. Again, this is a number that's ahead of most competitors.
When combined with their carrying/battery case, you can get over 24 hours for wireless tunes before a trip to a wired charger. The coolest bit is that, when drained, the AirPods can get up to three hours of battery life after only 15 minutes in their carrying case.
Wrap-Up
The AirPods are handily the wire-free earbuds for Apple hardware users. They deliver excellent connectivity, a well-sorted sonic experience, and top-notch battery life in an easy-to-use, though slightly quirky-looking package.
Completely wireless earbuds are a product category that's yet to mature, and the AirPods are not perfect by any means. However, they cover the basics better than their competitors. If you like the looks and the fit, you will enjoy having them in your daily routine.
Photos by Stefan Vazharov
