Earpods are wireless. AirPods with charging case. Can I only use one earphone

AirPods come with a case, a set of instructions, and a Lightning cable.

Case

The case has rounded edges, fits well in the hand and fits in any pocket. Opening and closing the lid is a special pleasure, turning the headphone case into an alternative to anti-stress toys.

On the reverse side there is a button for connecting to Android devices and pairing with iOS devices, and on the bottom side there is a charging socket.

Over time, a dark coating forms under the lid, which has to be cleaned. It is not clear where he comes from: the case is always closed, no one touches it with dirty hands. Judging by the reviews, many owners of AirPods are engaged in periodic cleaning of cases. What to do, design costs in white colors.

Another nuance is the backlash of the cover when moving it from side to side (not in the direction of opening). There are no scenarios in which it would be necessary to move the lid in this way, but such roughness in Apple's technique is frustrating, to say the least, because they are rare.

Magnets are hidden inside the case, with the help of which the headphones literally fly into the case. The lid also magnetizes when closed, so AirPods can be safely thrown to the bottom of the bag - the headphones will not fall out or get lost.

Headphones

Wireless earbuds at first glance seem to be the same EarPods, but without wires and with slightly thickened legs. If you do not take into account the techno stuffing hidden in these legs, then these are EarPods. And it's cool. It's not even about skeuomorphism and continuity. It’s just that it’s really a very comfortable and fairly versatile shape of headphones.

If doubts before purchasing AirPods are connected with the fear of losing a dropped earpiece, then we are in a hurry to dispel them: the earbuds are held securely. The main reason for EarPods to fall out is the wires that constantly pull the earbuds down. They are not here.

The real danger lies in the habit brought up over the years to remove one of the headphones during a conversation and let it go. The EarPods would be left hanging on the wire, and the wireless earpiece would just fall to the ground. However, you can rebuild in a couple of days, and for the most unfortunate ones, there are special silicone laces on sale that connect the headphones to each other.

Sound

Sound performance is the most important part of any headphone review, but definitely the most boring when it comes to AirPods. As in the case of the wired predecessor, here we get a not particularly ambitious, smooth and slightly tinted sound in the mids and high frequencies.

For lovers of exact specifications, we borrowed the frequency response graph from the French portal Les Numeriques.

This is a good result for urban in-ear headphones that do not claim to be an audiophile device. Still, AirPods are not loved at all for sound, although they do an excellent job with the needs of the average user.

Exploitation

Creating a pair of AirPods with an "apple" device is very simple. The W1 chip specially designed for headphones is responsible for fast synchronization. Just open the cover of the case, and the iPhone will automatically recognize the AirPods.

Confirm pairing by pressing a single button on the headphone case - and that's it, the pair has been created and has already scattered to all synchronized devices. From now on, even pressing a button is not required - the broadcast will automatically be transferred to AirPods if they are inserted into your ears.

There are no buttons on the headphones. The only possible control gesture is double tapping. The best I came up with is start and pause on the right earpiece, call Siri on the left. Another way to pause playback is to pull out one of the headphones.

The new navigation system is hard to get used to. In this regard, EarPods are still more convenient. One or two buttons to control playback is not enough, and Siri is not a panacea. For example, I am still embarrassed to use it in public places.

To answer a call, you also need to double-tap on the earpiece. The quality of the outgoing sound is excellent: the work of the active noise reduction system affects. Therefore, with AirPods, you can talk with friends or call Siri even in a crowded and relatively noisy place.

If you bring an open case to the iPhone, the screen will show the charge data of the case and headphones. In addition, in the "Batteries" widget, you can see the charge of each of the earbuds. The fact is that they are identical in terms of filling, each can be used as a headset. In this case, the sound will be broadcast in mono, and the battery life of AirPods will double.

AirPods also work with all iOS devices running iOS 10 and up, Apple Watches with watchOS 3 and up, and computers running macOS 10.12 and up. In addition, the headphones can be used with any device that supports the Bluetooth 4.0 standard. In this case, the “magic” promised by the developers will disappear, but, as Android smartphone users assure, wearing AirPods with their devices is quite comfortable. True, there is no Siri, but with the help of third-party software, you can make Google Assistant respond to tapping.

Battery

Fully charged earbuds and case can last 24 hours of listening and 11 hours of talk time. Without a case, the headphones will work for five hours. And they charge very quickly: in 15 minutes they gain enough charge to play music for another three hours.

This means that discharging the device will never take you by surprise. One has only to charge the case with headphones every 3-4 days and not listen to music for five hours.

Verdict

• you are already fully equipped with Apple and want to add another utilitarian device to your collection;
• you are tired of the interrupted EarPods cables, but the headphones themselves completely suit you;
• you are looking for wireless headphones that won't take up much space in your bag.

• you keep losing everything;
• you live in a not very developed region, where an exotic gadget can attract unwanted attention;
• you are an audiophile to whom frequency response, THD and other obscure abbreviations are more important than everything else.

And most importantly: do not forget that the choice of headphones is always purely individual. If you like some Sennheiser or Koss more than EarPods, then buying a wireless version of your unloved headphones for 12 thousand rubles is not a good idea.

But if you want to get the most out of Apple technology, are accustomed to the ergonomics and sound of EarPods, and like to experience aesthetic and tactile pleasure from gadgets, then you will definitely like AirPods.

Apple has always been famous not only for fashionable and advanced, but also for convenient and easy-to-use gadgets. AirPods - outwardly actually a clone of EarPods, only without wires.

Miracles and more

In appearance, these are ordinary earbuds in a glossy white plastic case. Miracles begin as soon as you take them out of the case. And in many ways, thanks to the built-in "apple" processor W1. First, AirPods equipped with multipoint function. They connect to any Apple device via iCloud and pair instantly via Bluetooth. Moreover, communication range up to 50 meters even through one or two walls.

Siri, help!

Management is implemented very conveniently. Double tap on the earpiece launches the pause function, answer the call, Siri. Also, the music will stop playing if you just take one earpiece out of your ear. The accelerometer sensor will work. True, he only does this with Apple devices, but this is the only difference in control from Android. Otherwise, the functionality is identical.

Always online

Separately, we note the excellent autonomy of AirPods. They work up to 5 hours in active mode and recharged in the case. Moreover, the advanced case supports up to 4 charges, and it charges itself in just 40 minutes. That is, it is almost impossible to stay with discharged headphones.

This is where the advantages of AirPods end and the disadvantages begin.

Let's talk?

Sound. He… is. As a headset, AirPods fully justify themselves. Good noise isolation of the microphone, the audibility of the interlocutor by you and you by the interlocutor. But the musical possibilities are very mediocre. As, however, in EarPods. Although, the "air" model plays even quieter, by 10 percent. AAC codec support doesn't count. Without it, Apple is nowhere.

In general, if you are a lover of apple gadgets and everything connected with them, do not make great demands on sound, are ready to spend 230 USD for a pair of wireless earbuds, try on AirPods and if they sit firmly in your ears (there are no interchangeable ear pads for them , or they will fall out or not), take it boldly and enjoy.

Apparently, Apple will soon announce the second generation of AirPods. The company has already registered headphones in the Bluetooth SIG database with product codes A2031 and A2032. So far, not much is clear from the document, but some of the rumors are already beginning to be confirmed.

The Bluetooth SIG is a non-profit organization that oversees the development of licensing standards for Bluetooth technology. Registering with this company is a prerequisite for all manufacturers using Bluetooth in their products.

It is also interesting that AirPods appear in the document under their own name. This, of course, is not a sign that Apple will release headphones before the end of 2018, but hope is the last to die!

AirPods 2 will bring Bluetooth 5.0. This means that the data between the phone and the headphones will be transferred much faster. For example, the current generation of AirPods is Bluetooth 4.2: they can transfer data at a speed of 3.125 MB / s, and the range is 40 meters. Bluetooth 5.0 will double the transmission speed and range up to 200 meters.

Naturally, these are not all innovations. In 2017, Apple announced the AirPods 2 with wireless charging support along with the long-suffering AirPower. We, most likely, will not receive a charge until the end of the year, but a new generation of headphones may well be.

Apple, what happened to AirPower?

Ilya Kichaev

If you recall the Bloomberg messages about the new headphones, it becomes clear that the editors were not deceived. Back in June, journalists talked about increasing the range. In addition, Apple is going to increase noise cancellation in AirPods 2 and add a biometric sensor to track heart rate.

Bad news: AirPods 2 will cost much more than the current model. Some even suggest that Apple is segmenting headphone models. However, it is not surprising: for Cupertinians this is in the order of things.

In March 2019, Apple introduced the second generation of AirPods. The updated headphones can do much more than the original version, but at the same time they cost a little more.

Despite the fact that outwardly AirPods 2 completely repeat the first generation of headphones, inside the new product has been redesigned quite significantly. At the heart of AirPods 2 is the H1 processor, which provides the new product with 50% better autonomy, improves playback quality, as well as support for the “Hey Siri” command, allowing you to activate the assistant with your voice without having to do it manually.

AirPods 2 comes to the market in two versions: with a case with support for wireless charging and in a case without it. They cost 16,990 rubles and 13,490 rubles, respectively.

AirPods first went on sale in 2016 and have become one of the company's best-selling products in a short amount of time. Three years later with noise canceling and second-generation AirPods with wireless charging. Along with the high demand for the AirPods lineup, several other factors are making this one arguably the hit of the upcoming holiday season.

2019 can already be confidently called the year when wireless headphones have their viability in the market. According to the Svyaznoy-Euroset company, the share of wireless headphones in total sales of these accessories for January-March 2019 amounted to 22% in piece and 58% in monetary terms. But, unfortunately, instead of wires, these devices have other problems. What to do with them? Let's figure it out.

We continue to talk about the new features of the latest version of iOS under lucky number 13. One of the nice, and, most importantly, free innovations in this version of the operating system is audio sharing. This feature is actually not so new, and most of all it resembles listening to music together from one device using a splitter for two pairs of headphones, only now everything has become more expensive and more fashionable. Although the principle has remained approximately the same, now additional adapters and other wires are no longer required for this.

The most famous smartphone is from Apple, the most famous tablet is from Apple, even the most famous headphones are from Apple. For the average user, such fame is practically meaningless, and sometimes even harmful, because one of the distinguishing features of popular devices is high liquidity. Because of it, such gadgets practically do not lose value during the entire period of their stay on sale. Here are just the second generation, apparently, are an exception to the general rule, because in just six months they have fallen in price by more than a third.

Jokes about the fact that for AirPods headphones you will have to buy an elastic band like the one that tie mothers to the mittens of absent-minded children appeared on the Web immediately after the announcement of new headphones. And indeed, many users face the loss of one of the headphones (if you have had this, share it in our Telegram chat). But it's one thing when you just lose them in a bag, at home or in a car, and quite another if the loss occurs in public transport.

Apple has made up for the remote jack on the iPhone 7 with AirPods that automatically connect to your smartphone in seconds. This is thanks to the new W1 chip, which opened a new page in the history of Bluetooth connectivity.

Many probably regret that such advanced features of AirPods are tailored only for devices made by Apple. But AirPods' tight integration with Apple products doesn't mean you can't use them as Bluetooth headphones with devices from other companies.

You can pair your AirPods with your Android smartphone, Windows Phone, computer, or Apple TV using the same Bluetooth pairing method that we are used to and that annoys us so much. But what can you do for your own comfort, sound quality and stunning design that Apple offers in its new headphones.

Using optical sensors and a motion accelerometer, AirPods are able to detect when they are in your ears. Using advanced noise-canceling technology, the headphones deliver clear sound. They can work 5 hours on a single charge. The case can provide an additional 24 hours of operation for the device.

Just a 15-minute charge will extend your listening time by 3 hours. This is a very important feature that will offer you more freedom to enjoy your favorite music without worrying too much about the battery. It is unlikely that most wireless headphones for Android can offer this.

So, in order to pair AirPods with an Android smartphone, you need to follow these simple steps:

Step 1. First you need to open the case and put your AirPods in there.

Step 2. Now you have to press and hold the connect button located at the back of the case. After that, the LED indicator on the case should flash white.

Step 3. Following this, launch Bluetooth on your device.

Step 4. Now, you have to select your AirPods from the list.

Step 5. Finally, confirm the pairing process.

That's all it takes! If you didn’t succeed the first time, then Apple advises you to repeat the procedure from the very beginning. That is, you need to put the headphones in the case, close it, and only after that start following the described instructions. With standard modern Android smartphones, you should be fine. Now it's time to enjoy your wireless headphones and make the best use of them.

Of course, when using AirPods with Android, you won't get all the features that are meant to be paired with iOS 10. For example, you won't be able to use the voice assistant or the battery indicator. But still, AirPods will honestly and efficiently do their main job.

Using the example of pairing AirPods with a Samsung Galaxy S7, double-clicking on the earbuds pauses and restarts the music being played. Perhaps with other smartphones, by experimenting, you will discover other possibilities that we currently do not know about.