“When the first-generation AirPods were announced in September 2016, I didn’t give them too much thought,” Michael Steeber writes for 9to5Mac. “Purchasing a set didn’t cross my mind until one year later when Apple showed off the AirPods wireless charging case and elusive AirPower mat.”
“I decided I wanted to give them a try, but figured I’d wait for the wireless charging case to be released. It could arrive any day, right?” Steeber writes. “As weeks of waiting turned into months, I regretted not purchasing the first-generation AirPods on that fateful November day and enjoying them for over a full year in the interim. But by the start of 2019, even considering the ‘old’ model seemed absurd. Needless to say, I scooped up the second-generation AirPods within minutes of their availability online.”
“While I’m still thinking about how to adapt to an entirely new audio experience, I’ve been genuinely impressed by how quickly AirPods are becoming a natural part of my day,” Steeber writes. “There isn’t a steep learning curve or annoying caveats to accept. It’s easy to forget I’m even wearing them. The experience is seamless, and I think that’s the mark of success.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The seamlessness is key. Going from Apple Watch to iPhone to iPad to Mac to Apple TV and back again, seamlessly, is Apple at its very best: It just works.
SEE ALSO:
Digital Trends reviews Apple’s new AirPods 2: Impressed by Siri’s quick response to voice commands – March 28, 2019
Apple Watch is now bigger than the iPod ever was, but it’s not a cultural phenomenon like AirPods – March 28, 2019
Why Apple’s AirPods came to be everywhere – March 23, 2019
AirPods with Wireless Charging Case delivery date quickly slips into April – March 20, 2019
What we know about the H1 chip in Apple’s new AirPods – March 20, 2019
Apple’s new, 2nd-gen. AirPods offer lower latency for mobile gaming – March 20, 2019
Apple reveals second generation AirPods with new Apple-designed H1 chip – March 20, 2019
One of the few times I have DISAGREED with MDN. Going from iPad to iPhone is E-Z but NOT the Mac. When I move to my 2016 Macbook pro its always been “twitchy”. Finally found Airbuddy (Im not connected to them in any way) and OMG the missing link. An ABSOLUTE tragedy that Apple didn’t make such a utility. Now my love of my AirPods is COMPLETE!
Remember the days when the cost of ownership was clearly in apple’s favor.
The cost of ownership of airports is just sad.
I assume you mean AirPods, not Airports. If so, how are AirPods less cost-effective than other true wireless earbuds with comparable features and fidelity?
Congrats on your future brain cancer.
Well you already have it and you didn’t even need AirPods, you diqwad.
Thank goodness you’re immune, and no I don’t mean vaccinated. You probably are an anti-vaxer as well.
Now that AirPower is cancelled I wonder how many people will be returning their $199 wireless charging AirPods? Anyone know if they’ll charge on a regular Qi charger?
Let’s answer MDN’s leading headline question: because the more MDN uncritically pushes each and every disposable consumer gadget that Apple manages to bring to market, the more we assess the value proposition.
Specially in the case of Airpods, we find it is lacking. Spending hundreds of dollars for a 2 year life irreparable product that doesn’t actually perform better than the freebie headphones that come with every IPhone is absurd. Having one more item to recharge doesn’t simplify anything. The latency is still worse than any wired headphone. Siri sucks so no value there. Even if they were comfortable, which they are not, the price isn’t in line with reality.
Apple has chosen to become a services organization and the only physical things they want to offer are fashion statements that people give as gifts to others when they have no idea what the other person needs but want to offer an overpriced new thing to make themselves feel generous. Apple excels in smug fashion. Value, not so much.