Force sensor is a joke, who asked for this??

[shadowboi]

I have no words, the only words I have now to describe my disappointment with AirPods 4 might get my account banned here…

So I myself had never owned AirPods, but my mom had it since her old 1st Gen. Recently the headphones somehow started to sound very quiet and battery barely holds 15 minutes now. So I decided to make her a small Christmas gift and got Gen 4.

As with every Apple gadget, I am the “hacker” in my family and always explain how to use new tech, OS updates and stuff. So the first problem that was encountered is that she couldn’t answer calls as she used to – by tapping one of the headphones on the one or other side. I thought “what is that” and started digging it.

And then I learned Apple had changed the way to force sensor. What a dealbreaker and downgrade! You gotta squeeze the headphone like a slice of lemon into the tea to answer or stop the call! I cannot recall this experience even with my old wired+remote EarPods, even there it was easier.

How could Apple do that? My mom will obviously have to get used to the new controls, but it will be so inconvenient.

I wonder why barely anyone on the web speaks about the problem? AirPods are probably the most popular Apple accessory out there and… people are ok with using wireless earbuds and using the phone to answer calls? What is the point of having them wireless then.

They could have at least included a software switch for this behavior. I just don’t understand.

It is not the first time when moving from smth “old gen” to “new gen” brings some issues that cannot be overcome. Apple should really sit and think if the “updates” and “upgrades” they add aren’t actually downgrades in disguise. And now I have a feeling I made a bad present and feel like crap now, if I knew that I would have probably got her different set of buds. Have you had similar experience with you Gen 3 and Gen 4?

 

[Night Spring]

Sorry about your bad experience. This is why I always buy new tech products from places with a good return policy, so I can return them if they don't work out. You never know what pitfalls you might encounter.

As for this squeeze to answer calls, I did think, when I first heard about it, that it sounded trickier to do than the tap. I personally never need to use it because I don't use AirPods for phone calls. Why nobody seems to be complaining, I don't know. My guess is most people use Siri. Oh, and there's also nod to answer, shake to decline. But I haven't seen any discussion of actual user experiences with that, either. 🤷

 

[shadowboi]

My guess is most people use Siri. Oh, and there's also nod to answer, shake to decline.

Hmm, I didn’t think about that. Will definitely recommend these “gestures”. Thank you!

 

[waw74]

I wonder why barely anyone on the web speaks about the problem? AirPods are probably the most popular Apple accessory out there and… people are ok with using wireless earbuds and using the phone to answer calls? What is the point of having them wireless then.

because it's not an issue.
the squeeze will be second nature after a few days of using, if not sooner.

If you're having to squeeze that hard, you're squeezing in the wrong spot or there's a very small possibility you got a bad set.

I've got the 2nd gen Pros, and have no issues with the squeeze.