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Apple AirPods

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AirPods offers a cord-free wireless audio experience with up to 5 hours of battery life. They are rechargeable through the included case that get you up to 24 hours on a single charge. AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro support wireless (Qi) charging, Hey Siri, and include the H1 chip.

Apple’s truly wireless wireless and cord-free earbuds now with Qi support

AirPods 1 Features

AirPods are Apple’s wireless, cord-free in-ear headphones, and were unveiled alongside the iPhone 7 on September 7, 2016. Priced at $159 they were originally announced to be available in late October, 2016, but were delayed until December 13.

They have a very similar form-factor to the company’s wired EarPods, with the obvious omission of a cable and the addition of Bluetooth connectivity. Despite this, early reports suggest that they are better at staying in your ears.

They offer Apple’s latest wireless pairing system, based on the W1 chip. They pair instantly, and that pairing propagates across all your Apple devices via iCloud. The secret sauce behind the new pairing system turned out to be all in the W1 chip in the headphones themselves, so it works with Bluetooth LE devices all the way back to the iPhone 5.

AirPods 2 Features

In March of 2019, Apple released AirPods 2. The new version is available for $199 with the wireless charging case, or available with the standard case for $159. Existing version 1 owners can purchase the wireless charging case separately for $79.

Version 2 moved away from the W1 chip to the new H1 chip to deliver up to 50 percent more talk time compared to the first generation. The H1 should also speed up switching between devices, with Apple saying version 2 should now connect two times faster. Version 2 also includes ‘Hey Siri’ support as well.

AirPods Pro

In October 2019, Apple announced AirPods Pro. The Pro model features “Active Noise Cancellation and superior, immersive sound in an all-new lightweight, in-ear design.” The new in-ear design of the Pro model makes for better noise cancellation. Apple says that the Pro headphones are sweat and water-resistant rated for IPX4. The box includes three different sizes of ear tips, which should make them relatively versatile.

AirPods Pro vs. AirPods comparison

There are five major features that the Pro model has have that Version 2 don’t:

  • Active noise cancellation
  • Audio Transparency mode
  • IPX4 water/sweat resistance
  • Adaptive EQ
  • In-ear design with three sets of tips
How AirPods Pro and AirPods gen 2 compare

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Here’s how Belkin’s $99 Find My-enabled Soundform Freedom earbuds compare to AirPods

Belkin Soundform Freedom vs AirPods, AirPods Pro

Along with Apple officially opening up its Find My app to third parties yesterday, Belkin started pre-orders for its new Soundform Freedom wireless earbuds. In addition to the Find My integration, the new earbuds have some impressive features like 36-hour battery life, in-ear design, Qi wireless charging, and more at just $99. Let’s dive in and look at the Belkin Soundform Freedom vs AirPods and AirPods Pro.

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Opinion: What’s Apple’s first-party strategy for Find My accessories?

Now that Apple’s Find My program has officially launched with a range of third-party accessories, we’re left wondering what Apple’s own plans are for first-party products. AirTags have been rumored for years now, but Apple has just announced a licensed Chipolo tracker. Another accessory introduced today is a pair of black wireless earbuds from Belkin with built-in Find My tech. These obviously compete with AirPods. So what does the future hold for AirPods and AirTags?

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Apple AirPods 3 not launching until Q3, says Ming-Chi Kuo

2021 AirPods

Despite a flurry of leaks surrounding next-gen AirPods in the last couple of weeks, Ming-Chi Kuo this morning said that new AirPods will not enter mass production until the third quarter of 2021, which means they won’t be launching imminently.

Many leakers have suggested that Apple will hold a product event on March 23rd. However, the date is not yet confirmed by Apple and it remains unclear what product would feature. Today’s Kuo report indicates AirPods 3 are simply not ready yet.

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New leaked photos of AirPods 3 show universal fit without interchangeable ear tips

Audio tech news site 52audio shared some new photos of Apple’s upcoming third generation AirPods. These have been leaked like crazy over the past few weeks but today’s photos are the clearest ones yet. Apple’s third generation AirPods are clearly inspired by AirPods Pro with shorter stems, a shorter charging case, and rearranged sensors.

One thing that has been debated is whether or not these new AirPods will have interchangeable ear tips. Today’s photos make it clear that they won’t and instead will have a similar universal fit to that of the current generation AirPods.

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Comment: It’s time for Apple to make its own accessories for AirPods

AirPods were introduced nearly 5 years ago and since then they’ve become a mainstay of Apple’s product family. They’re an essential tool that makes the Apple ecosystem infinitely better. But along the way, they’ve become less of an accessory and more of a flagship product, as evident from the top-of-the-line AirPods Max at $549. That’s no accessory. That’s a computer for your head that just so happens to talk to your other devices.

Apple makes great accessories, even for other accessories. Why doesn’t Apple make its own accessories for AirPods?

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Poll: Do you prefer the leaked AirPods 3 design or the original?

AirPods wireless charging

Rumors about the next generation AirPods have been around for a while now, and it seems that Apple will introduce “AirPods 3” sometime later this month. Based on leaked images, the new AirPods will feature a design that combines elements of the original AirPods with the AirPods Pro. Now we want to know if you prefer the leaked AirPods 3 design or the traditional AirPods design.

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Claimed photos provide another look at upcoming AirPods 3 (update: photos)

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Update: LeaksApplePro has now shared images of supposed real AirPods 3 earbuds and charging case. Assuming these are legitimate photos, we should expect to see them launch for real very soon.

We’re expecting Apple to launch a new design of its entry-level AirPods before long, and what are claimed to be renders of “AirPods 3” have been shared today.

The design of the non-Pro AirPods has remained unchanged since their launch back in 2016, but it’s by now clear that this is set to change this year …

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Opinion: AirPods 3 rumors suggest Apple is going all-in on AirPods Pro design, here’s why that’s bad

2021 AirPods

Sooner rather than later, rumors suggest that AirPods 3 are going to hit the market. Some rumors imply that the third generation of AirPods will become more “Pro,” at least design-wise. The rumors say that Apple could switch the EarPods form factor, which should fit all ears, to an in-ear approach, as we already have with the AirPods Pro. This could be a great idea, but here’s why it’s likely not.

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AirPod Max details, charger, battery, more

Tim Cook says AirPods Max will be tough to get for a few more months, here’s where you can grab a pair right now

In an interview with Reuters earlier today, Tim Cook mentioned that AirPods Max are expected to be in very short supply over the coming months into Q2. They’ve been difficult to get since they were released in mid-December and currently won’t arrive until late February or early March if you tried to order them from Apple. Good news though! Some stores have availability right now.

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How to use Apple’s ‘Find My AirPods’ feature to locate your lost headphones

Find My AirPods

A few years ago, Apple officially rolled out a new Find My AirPods feature that makes it easy to find your lost AirPods using the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The AirPods implementation isn’t as robust as the “Find My iPhone,” but it can still be useful if you misplace your AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max.

Read on for full instructions on how to take advantage of Find My AirPods…

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PSA: How to switch off AirPods Max without Apple ‘bra’ case

How to switch off AirPods Max

While reviewers have generally been impressed by Apple’s AirPods Max over-ear headphones, there have been two consistent complaints: the terrible design of the ‘bra’ case, and the fact that there appears to be no way to switch off AirPods Max headphones unless you put them into the case that nobody wants to carry.

One YouTuber did some experimentation, to reveal good and bad news …

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Poll: As rumors suggest a redesign, do you prefer the design of AirPods or AirPods Pro?

AirPods and AirPod Pro

A new supply chain report this morning indicated that Apple is working on third-generation AirPods, referred to as “AirPods Pro Lite,” with a design that is either identical or very similar to the current AirPods Pro. This, however, is bound to be a controversial change for people who prefer the current design of AirPods.

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