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predation

macrumors 65816
Apr 3, 2013
1,237
867
OG’s all the way for me.
Hate those silicone buds. Sooner than later, they’ll start coming off with the slightest pull (if you’re war wax prone).
Plus I love the tap functions too much
 

prospervic

macrumors 65816
Aug 2, 2007
1,154
1,433
NYC
So I got my pros today and I have normal AirPods. While the sound is obviously better on the pros I do prefer the simplicity of normal
AirPods such as a simple tap to skip songs and no faff with fitting in ear like the pros. I will probs send the pros back.
HELL NO! Always hated the shallow sound and insecure fit of standard AirPods. With the Pros I get a nice, secure fit, amazing noise-cancelling, and HUGELY improved sound quality -- with all the richness and warmth missing from the originals.
 

SBravo83

macrumors newbie
Oct 17, 2019
5
2
Texas
After extensive testing past 24 hours, I'm going to be returning the pros. I'm pretty bummed because for the past 10+ years I've wanted apple to bring back the in-ear headphones like they used to make in the iPod days. Unfortunately for me, my ears are just a tad too small (not the inner portion, the seal is fine with medium tips) and it puts a ton of pain into the sides of my head after 20 minutes or so. I thought I was going to miss out on lots of bass going back to my gen 2 airpods (which I LOVE), but it turns out, after testing them together at the same time, the mid bass is actually louder on the gen 2's... Really surprised me. What you do lose is clarity in the tones though, and the ANC. The ANC is nice but as someone who uses them primarily for cycling, it felt a little dangerous to be honest.

TL;DR, the bud portion of the APP's are too large for my ears and cause pain. Turns out the bass really isn't that much better, if at all, than the gen 2's that fit my ear perfectly. ANC is great for any time you don't need to be aware of your surroundings.. Returning today!

I had the same experience and the left ear never created a perfect seal. I ended up returning mine for a refund today and noticed the same thing in the sound department when comparing the Pro’s to the 2nd gen AirPods.
 

DribbleCastle

macrumors 6502
Apr 17, 2009
429
315
Seattle, WA
I’m also not a big fan of the squeezing gestures, it requires a lot more precision than tapping. I noticed when I was on some exercise equipment that it took a lot longer to find the stem and squeeze it than quickly slapping either side of my head to go forward/back a track.

What I love about regular AirPods is how quickly I can get them out of the case and into my ears. With these new ones it seems that immediacy is lost and the noise cancelling and better sound quality don’t really do enough to to override the drawbacks for me.

Hopefully we’ll get some red and black AirPods soon, my wallet is ready Apple!

Yep, well said. The Airpods Pro feel kinda complex compared to v1/2. I guess that makes the them Pro, ha. I'm sure over time you'd get used to some of the new ways of using them but I really don't like them in the first few days. I also have issues with the comfort/fit so I'm about 90% sure I'll be returning them. The only thing I really love about them is the look. I would love v3 of the Airpods to come with a shorter stem and the same battery life. I'm would be ok if they add the squeeze controls if they would keep around the double taps. It would be nice to have the choice, but I'm sure they are limited by space and sensors in those little things.
 

kockgunner

macrumors 68000
Sep 24, 2007
1,565
22
Vancouver, Canada
The "Pro" name is confusing because it sounds like they're better. I think these are different products. Not everyone needs noise cancellation. I can definitely see some people preferring the more simple design of the AirPods. I wouldn't sleep with the Pros in my ears but I have no hesitation doing that with the regular AirPods.
 

turbineseaplane

macrumors P6
Mar 19, 2008
17,376
40,155
What I love about regular AirPods is how quickly I can get them out of the case and into my ears. With these new ones it seems that immediacy is lost

That is very frustrating. To your point, for many of us, that is literally the number one selling point of AirPods
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The "Pro" name is confusing because it sounds like they're better. I think these are different products. Not everyone needs noise cancellation

I agree. I think Pro was the wrong moniker here.
I think they should’ve been called AirPods NC

[automerge]1572810627[/automerge]
I kind of wish they even made an even lower end AirPod model that has no touch or squeeze controls (maybe no Mic either) and it’s literally just wireless headphones to get the entry price down
 
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PHILIP1193

macrumors regular
Dec 1, 2007
174
27
I’m sadly returning mine, the fit just isn’t perfect enough for me. Plus I miss the tapping function. The gen 1’s fitted me perfectly.

I also find the silicon tips tap the inside of my ear when running and it didn’t go away with bigger buds.

Close but no cigar
 

millydog

macrumors 6502a
Oct 21, 2007
564
516
Australia
I’m feeling a bit worried after reading this thread. I love my OG AirPods and my new AirPods Pro arrive tomorrow since I ordered them with engraving (my first name and mobile number). So with the engraving, I am not going to have the chance to return them if I don’t like them as much as my OG AirPods. Fingers crossed.
 
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OasisNYK

macrumors 6502
Nov 29, 2004
464
141
I’m feeling a bit worried after reading this thread. I love my OG AirPods and my new AirPods Pro arrive tomorrow since I ordered them with engraving (my first name and mobile number). So with the engraving, I am not going to have the chance to return them if I don’t like them as much as my OG AirPods. Fingers crossed.

I passed on engraving because of that and I am glad I did - definitely returning.

I prefer the OG style and will stick with that. If I want NC I will keep my Bose QC’s or upgrade to another over ear at some point.

To be fair - the AirPod pros are very nice, I just don’t like the silicon tips, sound of phone calls, and hearing my footsteps when I walk because of the in ear seal.

Outside of that the overall style/ quality, battery life, and sound are all winners.
 

dan9700

Suspended
May 28, 2015
3,347
4,824
The AirPods 2 are louder and have more punch to them the new AirPods hurt my ears NC is nice but I want loudness new AirPods pro don’t sound any better
 

AppleB

macrumors 65816
Oct 18, 2011
1,156
1,380
I’m still good with my standard Air Pods. Only time I need noise cancellation is when flying and I have older Studio Beats for that. Which I’ll probably upgrade sooner than later.

The Air Pods aren’t a device I need to upgrade right now so I’ll stick with the standards till they become useless.
 
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MadRed

macrumors member
Aug 16, 2013
33
11
Returning mine. AirPods Pros are nice but the design is not working for me.
1. they are short and fat. Looks like i have cotton ball sticking out of my ear.
2. white tips will fall of at some point, will get dirty from oils and sweat.
3. transparency mode is making a noticeable white noise buzzing
4. NC is nice but it takes a while to switch off so i can hear a person who is talking to me. might as well take them out.
5. not as simple. 1/2 are put in your ears and go. this one i have to decide which mode to use.
6. touch is much better than squeeze.
7. hard to take out of the case.
8. takes longer to put it in the ear for a good fit.
9. pressure build up in the ear, gets tiring after a while

my few cents
 

petvas

macrumors 603
Jul 20, 2006
5,479
1,808
Munich, Germany
So I got my pros today and I have normal AirPods. While the sound is obviously better on the pros I do prefer the simplicity of normal
AirPods such as a simple tap to skip songs and no faff with fitting in ear like the pros. I will probs send the pros back.
I got my AirPods Pro today and I am impressed. The sound quality is better and they fit much better in my ear. Sound isolation is also great to have and I will be using it in many occasions. I understand though what you are saying. The standard AirPods have a simplicity which is really unbeatable. The pro is for people that want a bit more.
 

mrklaw

macrumors 68030
Jan 29, 2008
2,749
1,026
If I’d bought from Apple I might be tempted to return. But I bought from a reseller and they have a no returns policy on worn headphones so it seems I’m going to learn to live with them

they’ve already fallen out twice while walking when the standard ones never did. it’s like it’s being pushed out of my ear. Might need a bigger tip but it already feels noticeable so I didn’t want to increase that. The originals often felt like I wasn’t wearing them

the noise cancelling doesn’t seem to block talking at all - on the train I can easily hear people and the train announcements. But it does seem to let me listen at much lower volumes which should be better for me

and they’re a lot harder to remove from The case - it’s a wide shallow slippery shape rather than the thinner AirPods which you can get a pinch onto easily
 
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1rottenapple

macrumors 601
Apr 21, 2004
4,758
2,774
OG’s all the way for me.
Hate those silicone buds. Sooner than later, they’ll start coming off with the slightest pull (if you’re war wax prone).
Plus I love the tap functions too much
Ummmm I like the comfort of the airpods, but the app, there are positives, like the sound is better, the ANC helps you not listen to loud helping to lessen hearing loss.
 

OasisNYK

macrumors 6502
Nov 29, 2004
464
141
Where does it say that you can't return an envgraved product?

I am not sure if they openly state it but most retail stores I have seen don’t take engravings back because they are personalized. I assume Apple is the same but could be wrong.
 

1rottenapple

macrumors 601
Apr 21, 2004
4,758
2,774
I am not sure if they openly state it but most retail stores I have seen don’t take engravings back because they are personalized. I assume Apple is the same but could be wrong.
Searched the issue and yes Apple accepts Apple done engraving with the return period. It doesn’t accept third party engraving.
 

kmichalec

macrumors 6502a
Aug 14, 2010
899
302
The ANC didn’t work very well for me either, I could always hear outside noise even when the tester app said I had good seals (I did check I had ANC activated!)

I think you don't have proper expectations of what ANC does. ANC will not take away all outside noise. It will take away MOST of the repetitive, low humming/background noise of the environment (plane engine, air conditioner humming, droning crowd noise, steady traffic noice, etc). It will not take away the sound of someone's voice standing next to you talking. It may reduce it a bit, but not remove it completely. It's not meant to take away ALL outside noise completely.
 
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karnsculpture

macrumors regular
Feb 19, 2006
141
47
London, UK
The silicone ear tips don't suit my ears - I had similar with PowerBeats 3 and no matter what size of tip I was using they would shift affecting sound quality as I rarely had a good seal. In contrast I'm really happy with the AirPods 2 having had the originals since launch and later upgrading. I also have Beats Studio wireless which I use more in winter or when on long journeys. For everyday use, especially in the Summer I love the AirPods 2 and am fine with no ANC. It's more about walking around with a soundtrack than being totally isolated from the world. I think both will have their place in the market.
 
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chillip

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Mar 16, 2013
3,248
2,853
The silicone ear tips don't suit my ears - I had similar with PowerBeats 3 and no matter what size of tip I was using they would shift affecting sound quality as I rarely had a good seal. In contrast I'm really happy with the AirPods 2 having had the originals since launch and later upgrading. I also have Beats Studio wireless which I use more in winter or when on long journeys. For everyday use, especially in the Summer I love the AirPods 2 and am fine with no ANC. It's more about walking around with a soundtrack than being totally isolated from the world. I think both will have their place in the market.

Sums up my thoughts.
 
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