iPhone AirPods Question

[Nathan Parker]

I currently use the PowerBeats 2 as my Bluetooth headset. I don’t listen to music through them and mainly use them for phone calls, and I’ll occasionally switch pairing to my iPad or Mac for video conferencing purposes.

Are there any good reasons for me to look into upgrading to AirPods instead? I own the iPhone XS, plus I heard there’ll be some AirPods enhancements in iOS 13.

My only beef with them is when I see people wear them, they look really dorky. My Powerbeats are a little bulkier but at least look more like a normal headset.

The wired AirPods aren’t an option since the last time I wore them when I had a cell phone connection issue, someone thought I was a spy. Wearing a long dark coat and talking into my Apple Watch (when they first were released) after my headset wasn’t working well didn’t help convince someone I wasn’t a spy.

Nathan Parker

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Elly

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[Myst]

Nathan Parker wrote:

Are there any good reasons for me to look into upgrading to AirPods instead? I own the iPhone XS, plus I heard there’ll be some AirPods enhancements in iOS 13.

Dear Nathan “Agent99” – I don’t use AirPods but was looking around after I saw your post and found this info on Apple’s site – https://www.apple.com/airpods/. It seems to me AirPods would be the better choice because it’s iPhone specific in functionality. Most likely the pods give you more options when connected to your iPhone XS. That would be a selling point for me, even at the risk of looking “dorky”.

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Nathan Parker

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[anonymous]

They are probably fine, but an issue for me is that you have two little cells next to your ears. Do Airpod’s power cells fail gracefully or get excited after so many hours of playing the hot top 10 hits?

Another issue is that both generations of Airpods cannot be repaired, but maybe Apple are recycling them reclaiming some materials.

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Elly, Myst, Nathan Parker

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[Nathan Parker]

I don’t leave my current headset on long (only during the duration of the call or meeting), although occasionally I’ll have a long call or meeting. Then again, holding an iPhone up to my ear for the duration of the call likely isn’t much better.

The repairability factor of some Apple gear is an issue, but I believe Apple is recycling them. Here’s the official Apple recycling page:

https://www.apple.com/shop/trade-in

Nathan Parker

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Myst

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[anonymous]

Yes, indeed the Airpods might do you well for this use case. As always to this very day even when a person is using a Bluetooth communication device with a cell phone that audio & visual experience never gets less awkward when they are seemingly talking to everybody and nobody.

As for recycling, good to see Apple is put that in print especially the sub-section about aluminum alloy. Somewhere several years ago it was read or told Apple have expressed a desire to become become a fully integrated recycler of materials while supplying themselves the results of such labors.

Apple’s direction seems to be going towards a fully vertically integrated corporate structure, read the story of the Rolex watch company for a glimpse of the end result.

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[Nathan Parker]

If anyone is interested in AirPods, they’re on sale on Amazon today:

https://www.macworld.com/article/3403353/the-new-airpods-just-had-their-first-price-drop-at-amazon.html

Nathan Parker

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[Nathan Parker]

Myst wrote:

Dear Nathan “Agent99”

I missed your post earlier and just saw this. Hee hee! Great bit of humor. It was hilarious being mistaken for a spy when I wore the wired ones (plus I was mistaken once for a movie producer for just owning the iPhone 4, but that’s another topic).

Good advice, and I’ll look into the AirPods more. I have a couple of friends with them and will ask them how their experiences are. With all the Apple gear I own, they’d likely integrate well.

Nathan Parker

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Myst

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[Myst]

Yeah iPhone4 is not a high end device anymore but I betcha there’s some movie producer somewhere who recently switched. Whatever gets the job done. Should have made reference to Maxwell as opposed to Agent99 for obvious reasons, just don’t talk into your shoe and you’ll be ok Nathan. The watch is fine though

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Nathan Parker, Bluetrix

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[Nathan Parker]

When I had the iPhone 4, I was the first person in my county to get one (it was when I was living in North GA). No one else had one, and coupled with the fact I had a brand new silk shirt and there was movie filming going on with a producer that happened to look like me, added to the confusion (but that’s another story).

Unless Apple releases the Apple Shoe, I don’t plan on talking into my phone. I have Verizon now, but when I had T-Mobile, I could have always gotten these:

https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/sidekicks

Nathan Parker

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Myst

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[Alex5723]

There are new wireless Powerbeats Pro.

https://www.beatsbydre.com/earphones/powerbeats-pro

[Mod edit] please provide details if you are posting other’s opinions.

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Nathan Parker

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[anonymous]

These Powerbeats Pro could pass for Airpods generation three, with the price point to match it should make a person question if they need these items.

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Nathan Parker

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[Nathan Parker]

Thanks! I have the PowerBeats 2 now and enjoy the form factor. I won’t rush into any purchasing decisions and see what are my options. Thanks again everyone for great info.

Nathan Parker

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[Nathan Parker]

Apple sent me their support article on the Music app as well in case anyone needs this:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204951

Nathan Parker

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[Nathan Parker]

My PowerBeats headset finally had it this week, so I have finally gotten up the nerve to invest in a set of AirPods Pro. I ordered them from Apple this week. Due to COVID19, it may take a bit to ship them here, but once I receive them and try them out, I’ll post a review.

Nathan Parker

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[Paul T]

This review of wireless earbuds ranks the Pros 7th – in a very strong list.

cheers, Paul

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[Alex5723]

Paul T wrote:

This review of wireless earbuds ranks the Pros 7th – in a very strong list.

cheers, Paul

There are no alternatives to Apple’s AitPods just like Android isn’t an alternative to iOS.

None of the so called “alternatives” has W1/H1 chip and none auto connect to Apple devices nor has Siri support.

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[Nathan Parker]

I don’t listen to music, so the main reason I’ll be using AirPods Pros will be for calls and conference meetings. My $200 PowerBeats I previously owned didn’t even have noise canceling, so audio quality will be a huge upgrade. Coupled with the easy pairing and auto-connecting to all my Apple devices, Siri support, and wireless charging, They’ll be a solid upgrade to my PowerBeats. It still irks me to pay “that much” for them (it irked me to pay “that much” for the PowerBeats), but since I’m not a heavy user and keep them until they completely wear out, they’ll be an investment not simply blowing money for the fun of it.

Nathan Parker

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[Alex5723]

Nathan Parker wrote:

I’ll be using AirPods Pros will be for calls and conference meetings.

A nice addition for the AirPods is the new Satechi USB-C WIRELESS CHARGING DOCK to charge the AirPods, using a MacBook, iPad Pro, on-the go.

• This reply was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by Alex5723.

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Nathan Parker

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[Nathan Parker]

Alex5723 wrote:

A nice addition for the AirPods is the new Satechi USB-C WIRELESS CHARGING DOCK to charge the AirPods, using a MacBook, iPad Pro, on-the go.

Interesting. I also have a wireless charger I use for my iPhone that I can throw the AirPods case onto each week to charge them up.

Nathan Parker

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