Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

W1 Chip Question

M

Macaddict16

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 7, 2002
284
128
Is the W1 chip in the AirPods and the new PowerBeats3 just in the headphones? I have a 6S Plus and an Apple Watch Series 2, will I be able to take advantage of the easy pairing if I get a pair of headphones with the W1 in them?
Thanks!
Macaddict16
 
Macaddict16 said:
Is the W1 chip in the AirPods and the new PowerBeats3 just in the headphones? I have a 6S Plus and an Apple Watch Series 2, will I be able to take advantage of the easy pairing if I get a pair of headphones with the W1 in them?
Thanks!
Macaddict16
Click to expand...
The W1 is compatible with iOS 10 devices. The devices don't require any special hardware (The pairing is still Bluetooth)
 
Macaddict16 said:
Is the W1 chip in the AirPods and the new PowerBeats3 just in the headphones? I have a 6S Plus and an Apple Watch Series 2, will I be able to take advantage of the easy pairing if I get a pair of headphones with the W1 in them?
Thanks!
Macaddict16
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, the W1 chip will be exclusive to the Airpods when released.
 
So what is so special about the W1? currently when I turn on my Jaybird X2 headphones they pair with my iPhone immediately like within a second.... So what are the other advantages because fast pairing seems to take place with most other bluetooth headphones.... Initially I thought the W1 chip was meant to replace bluetooth when using it with new Apple devices.
 
bigjnyc said:
So what is so special about the W1? currently when I turn on my Jaybird X2 headphones they pair with my iPhone immediately like within a second.... So what are the other advantages because fast pairing seems to take place with most other bluetooth headphones.... Initially I thought the W1 chip was meant to replace bluetooth when using it with new Apple devices.
Click to expand...

I thought mostly battery life, could be wrong though
 
bigjnyc said:
So what is so special about the W1? currently when I turn on my Jaybird X2 headphones they pair with my iPhone immediately like within a second.... So what are the other advantages because fast pairing seems to take place with most other bluetooth headphones.... Initially I thought the W1 chip was meant to replace bluetooth when using it with new Apple devices.
Click to expand...

If you have only 1 device you don't need it. If you have 2 you should consider it. If you have 3 or 4 (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch) it's a no brainer. It can switch sources on the fly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigjnyc
matrix07 said:
If you have only 1 device you don't need it. If you have 2 you should consider it. If you have 3 or 4 (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch) it's a no brainer. It can switch sources on the fly.
Click to expand...

How do you switch sources? Have you done it or seen a video showing it? I haven't come across one, but it would be cool to see the connection getting easily switched between all 4 compatible device types!
 
Macaddict16 said:
How do you switch sources? Have you done it or seen a video showing it? I haven't come across one, but it would be cool to see the connection getting easily switched between all 4 compatible device types!
Click to expand...

When you connect it to iPhone it will be connected to every devices in your iCloud account at once. Jim Dalrymple said in podcast with John Gruber that when he was out walking listening to music from his watch he ask SIRI on his phone something and music was paused and he can listen to SIRI on his phone. When SIRI finished the music from the watch resumed after a few seconds.
It's just like what you get from iPhone with wired headphone when you're asking SIRI while listening to music, just that this is 2 devices and you didn't have to switch your headphone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: boston04and07 and jjk454ss
matrix07 said:
If you have only 1 device you don't need it. If you have 2 you should consider it. If you have 3 or 4 (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch) it's a no brainer. It can switch sources on the fly.
Click to expand...

Ok got it, that is actually pretty handy.
 
Found this video online showing the Beats Solo 3 headphones showing up everywhere. The good stuff starts about 5 min in.

https://9to5mac.com/2016/09/15/hand...eadphones-featuring-apples-new-w1-chip-video/

The question I still have is, if I am going on a run with just my watch and not my phone I need to put my iPhone in airplane mode to make sure that the GPS is from the watch. As long as my W1 chip headphones are paired to my watch when I turn the iPhone into airplane mode I should be good, right?
 
Macaddict16 said:
Found this video online showing the Beats Solo 3 headphones showing up everywhere. The good stuff starts about 5 min in.

https://9to5mac.com/2016/09/15/hand...eadphones-featuring-apples-new-w1-chip-video/

The question I still have is, if I am going on a run with just my watch and not my phone I need to put my iPhone in airplane mode to make sure that the GPS is from the watch. As long as my W1 chip headphones are paired to my watch when I turn the iPhone into airplane mode I should be good, right?
Click to expand...
I believe so. I would try it, but unfortunately i don't own the watch
 
AustinIllini said:
I believe so. I would try it, but unfortunately i don't own the watch
Click to expand...

That's how I am assuming they will work as well. I will probably be getting the PowerBeats3 when they come out mainly for the W1 chip. My current Bluetooth headphones tend to cutout when running with the watch alone due to the Bluetooth having to cross from left wrist to right ear for the transmitter. Hoping the PowerBeats3 will remedy that!
 
Macaddict16 said:
That's how I am assuming they will work as well. I will probably be getting the PowerBeats3 when they come out mainly for the W1 chip. My current Bluetooth headphones tend to cutout when running with the watch alone due to the Bluetooth having to cross from left wrist to right ear for the transmitter. Hoping the PowerBeats3 will remedy that!
Click to expand...
The range on the Solo3 is pretty insane. Like 30 ft through walls.
 
Macaddict16 said:
That's how I am assuming they will work as well. I will probably be getting the PowerBeats3 when they come out mainly for the W1 chip. My current Bluetooth headphones tend to cutout when running with the watch alone due to the Bluetooth having to cross from left wrist to right ear for the transmitter. Hoping the PowerBeats3 will remedy that!
Click to expand...

Have this same issue with the powerbeats 2 so annoying
 
I would assume all of these new W1 headphones are class 1 bluetooth. The powerbeats 3 are anyway. Most headphones are probably class 2. Class 1 puts out a lot more radiation, still a fraction of what the phones put out but a lot more than others. How safe that is I don't know but it accounts for why the range seems to be so good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bhodinut
One question I have is will the W1 chip work with the Apple TV? I would love to be able to switch between my phone and the Apple TV. Does anyone know?
 
DAMAC3 said:
One question I have is will the W1 chip work with the Apple TV? I would love to be able to switch between my phone and the Apple TV. Does anyone know?
Click to expand...

That is a very good question! I would assume so since you have all of the necessary things like iCloud login and iOS 10. Don't have any W1 headphones to test out though...
 
I just read in another thread on here that someone tried this and had to pair their Solo3 to the Apple TV manually. Bummer!

I have tried the Solo3 at the Apple Store, and I thought it sounded like crap. I am not an audio elitist. I listened to the Bose QC35, and I thought it was amazing. The Solo3 was so bad, I am wondering if there was something wrong with the pair I tried out. I think I have decided to purchase a pair tomorrow to try them out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back