Airpods - new owners views, problems and questions

[ianrip]

got the specs for Airpods, but NOT the Ear pods
Weight

AirPods (each): 4 g (0.14 ounces)
Charging Case: 38 g (1.34 ounces)

Dimensions
AirPods (each): 16.5x18.0x40.5 mm (0.65x0.71x1.59 inches)
Charging Case: 44.3x21.3x53.5 mm (1.74x0.84 by 2.11 inches)

I've read they're slighty bigger, which will help as the ear pods are too small for one of my ears

 

[873089]

Do they work with older devices like iPad Mini 1 or iPhone 4S?
Apple does not list them on the website, but they have bluetooth - so why should they NOT work?!

 

[GalaDaliGirl]

What a joke.

The major problem is much worse though. Controlling audio with the AirPods is a frustrating experience.

Since there are limited physical controls on the AirPods, you have to use Siri for everything. For example, if you want to raise the volume, you have to double tap the one of the AirPods. That pauses your music and activates Siri. Then you have to tell Siri to raise or lower the volume. Assuming Siri understands you, the music starts playing again at the adjusted volume. But if the volume isn't what you wanted, you have to go through the process again.

Oh, and Siri needs an internet connection to work. So, yeah, you literally need an internet connection just to adjust the volume or switch tracks using the AirPods. Welcome to 2016.

 

[873089]

Oh, and Siri needs an internet connection to work. So, yeah, you literally need an internet connection just to adjust the volume or switch tracks using the AirPods. Welcome to 2016.

Sounds annoying. What do iPod or iPad users do when no wifi is around? It can't be to hard to implement these simple siri commands directly into iOS. Maybe in the next update?

 

[moxxham]

Do they work with older devices like iPad Mini 1 or iPhone 4S?
Apple does not list them on the website, but they have bluetooth - so why should they NOT work?!

They do work, but for the easy set up and switching between devices, you need a device running iOS 10 or Mac OS Sierra.
They need to be paired like normal headphones on any other OS version.

 

[The Game 161]

What a joke.

The major problem is much worse though. Controlling audio with the AirPods is a frustrating experience.

Since there are limited physical controls on the AirPods, you have to use Siri for everything. For example, if you want to raise the volume, you have to double tap the one of the AirPods. That pauses your music and activates Siri. Then you have to tell Siri to raise or lower the volume. Assuming Siri understands you, the music starts playing again at the adjusted volume. But if the volume isn't what you wanted, you have to go through the process again.

Oh, and Siri needs an internet connection to work. So, yeah, you literally need an internet connection just to adjust the volume or switch tracks using the AirPods. Welcome to 2016.

And how exactly are you often away from internet connection? Almost never

And really how many people aren't at least looking at their phone when using air pods?

Yeah controls aren't great but if you have your phone by the side it's not exactly a mega issue. There's no issue if you have an Apple Watch that's for sure

I'm sure Apple can fix the controls in an update

 

[GadgetBen]

Mine came on Monday and they are wrapped up under the Christmas tree. I wanted to feel like a kid again when I opened them. Discipline!

 

[The Game 161]

Mine came on Monday and they are wrapped up under the Christmas tree. I wanted to feel like a kid again when I opened them. Discipline!

I'm buying the beats solo3 and will be doing just that. So at least i can feel like a kid in some way.

 

[GizmoDVD]

So I initially paired them with my 7 Plus. Now, how to they "just work" with my iPad logged into the same iCloud account?

If I open the case by my iPad, the Bluetooth/Headphone icon light does not come on. when I go over to settings I show them listed but "Not Connected". Do I need to press the pairing button each time? I have been going to the control panel (swipe up) and selecting them each time.

 

[teidon]

Do I need to press the pairing button each time? I have been going to the control panel (swipe up) and selecting them each time.

My understanding is that you can just press a play button on a device and the AirPods should switch to that device (there might be a delay). Or you can just use the control panel on iOS devices or the audio menu button on Mac devices.

 

[GeeDuhb]

This is apologist ********. If the port is changing, change the port on everything. Ship a USB-C power brick with the iPhone 7, with the AirPods, with everything going forward and include the cable as well.

This half step ******** prolongs the pain of a transition.

It is not apologist "stuff." It is real world, real business thinking. Not entitled, childish musings. Just because you think it works in your head doesn't mean it works in reality.

There is a reason that you are not running a big tech company...

 

[Applefan4515]

My understanding is that you can just press a play button on a device and the AirPods should switch to that device (there might be a delay). Or you can just use the control panel on iOS devices or the audio menu button on Mac devices.

You have to connect them either through the settings app or control center. They don't just automatically switch

 

[GeeDuhb]

My understanding is that you can just press a play button on a device and the AirPods should switch to that device (there might be a delay). Or you can just use the control panel on iOS devices or the audio menu button on Mac devices.

Yeah, that's how Apple made the process sound, but it doesn't seem to work that way. That is really the only "minor" disappointment for me.

Otherwise, I am loving them!

 

[GizmoDVD]

Yeah, that's how Apple made the process sound, but it doesn't seem to work that way. That is really the only "minor" disappointment for me.

Otherwise, I am loving them!

Yeah, I was a little confused as well.

 

[HopefulHumanist]

My understanding is that you can just press a play button on a device and the AirPods should switch to that device (there might be a delay). Or you can just use the control panel on iOS devices or the audio menu button on Mac devices.

You have to connect them either through the settings app or control center. They don't just automatically switch

They switch automatically between iPhone and Apple Watch; you have to select them manually for iPad and Mac.

 

[tivoboy]

I have the same issue. I spend all day on teleconferences and during today I've been having 4+ disconnects per hour while on the phone.

I love the AirPods - but they have to work !

you know, I hadn't had any problems with calls, long calls, but I DID have problems logging into webex dial ins, and they would just disconnect, not even allowing the call to trunk.

 

[danmart]

Got my AirPods set up last night and been using them quite a bit today. EarPods always fit me well and these seem to fit better, so good on that side. Listening to music is great, just like using the wired headset.

When I am on a voice call, however I have a low level of hiss and crackle when the other party is speaking. Has anyone else experienced this?

Using the headset between devices does require you to manually select the AirPods as a speaker, but that is still far better than the process needed to move other Bluetooth devices between sources.

Re: controlling things like volume, I have an Apple Watch and here there is a great synergy. Leave your iPhone in your pocket and control volume from the Watch. When a call comes in, see who is calling via the Watch then take the call using the 'Pods. A good example of Apple's ecosystem working well...

 

[tivoboy]

When I am on a voice call, however I have a low level of hiss and crackle when the other party is speaking. Has anyone else experienced this?

if you are connected to say an iphone, I think this is pretty standard.. the iphone with say the earpods makes a fair amount of noise, normally though you just can't hear it well enough. Either volume isn't high enough or the sealing of the EP's is such that ambient sound will overwhelm it. These are much better and therefore will produce/amplify those sounds a bit.

 

[JNGold]

After reading the responses from actual owners, I gather the AirPods experience is different for Apple Watch owners as opposed to non-watch owners. I always use my watch to control my music on my phone. I never use the controls on the EarPods, nor do I use Siri. The main reason I want the AirPods is for when I get a call, I press the green button on my watch and just say "Hello." From what I am reading, I will be able to do that quite easily. So, it looks like my only problem with AirPods is availability.

Do you ever wear winter jackets and gloves? I have an Apple Watch and find it terribly inconvenient when you have a jacket or pair of gloves on. In those cases, I am glad that I have a control stick on my current BT headset (i.e. Bose QC30's) that offers full control of volume, track, and noise cancellation. Basically, I want quick and unhindered response for the aforementioned actions and (right now) Airpods just don't offer that capability.

 

[Arran]

Did they pair automatically through iCloud on your 2012 iMac? I might try pairing them manually and see if that makes it difference. When the sound isn't breaking up, they sounded fine, but a micro-second blip every 4-5 seconds isn't ideal!

On the 2012 Mac mini? Yes. They appeared automatically as a destination for audio. I didn't need to touch Bluetooth settings.

 

[The Game 161]

Do you ever wear winter jackets and gloves? I have an Apple Watch and find it terribly inconvenient when you have a jacket or pair of gloves on. In those cases, I am glad that I have a control stick on my current BT headset (i.e. Bose QC30's) that offers full control of volume, track, and noise cancellation. Basically, I want quick and unhindered response for the aforementioned actions and (right now) Airpods just don't offer that capability.

I totally get your reasonings. That said If i'm out walking and i have gloves on chances are what i'm listening to is a podcast and that can carry on for 30-40 mins then move onto the next one so i wouldn't need to change podcast for example. If i get a phone call thats different but thats normally rare.

 

[danmart]

if you are connected to say an iphone, I think this is pretty standard.. the iphone with say the earpods makes a fair amount of noise, normally though you just can't hear it well enough. Either volume isn't high enough or the sealing of the EP's is such that ambient sound will overwhelm it. These are much better and therefore will produce/amplify those sounds a bit.

Certainly it's not an issue, and you're definitely right that ambient noise covers it unless you're in a very quiet location.

I'm still very happy with them.

As a test, I phoned my home answer machine whilst having the radio playing. I wouldn't have been able to tell that I was using a headset, and the reduction in environmental noise was impressive.

 

[teidon]

Has anyone tested what happens if you put one of your own AirPod and someone else's AirPod in to same charging case? Will they be paired together or will they keep their original pairs?

 

[jterp7]

They should made more tapping controls on them..

2 tap and 3 tap on both sides would give 4 different settings to change from taps

Could then be 2 tap on left to increase volume, 3 tap there and decrease it.

And on right i would have play/pause and skip track functions

like car paddles, left single tap volume down, right single tap volume up. Keep the double tap as siri or play/pause. Still need to add the skip song in there somewhere.

 

[daijholt]

Has anyone tested what happens if you put one of your own AirPod and someone else's AirPod in to same charging case? Will they be paired together or will they keep their original pairs?

I assume they would become a pair, as this would be the case if you lost one and bought a new single AirPods from apple.​