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Wireless epl. Apple AirPods wireless earbuds in-depth review and impressions

Ideal wireless headphones for iPhone owners and other Apple technology. Despite the fears, the company managed to create something - amazing, comfortable, attractive in appearance and extremely unusual technically ...

Contents of delivery

Headset
Charging case
Lightning cable
Documentation

AirPods FAQ

I would like to remind you that Apple already had experience in creating a Bluetooth headset for the iPhone, such a product was announced together with the company's first smartphone, we have a review on our website.

In short, the device turned out to be very strange and did not enjoy popularity. It was evident that together with the iPhone, it was simply necessary to make a line of accessories, the task was completed, and after that Apple did not return to the topic of its own Bluetooth devices. After buying the Beats, it seemed that now they would not return at all - what is the point if there is a world-famous manufacturer of cult headphones?

The AirPods are likely due to the iPhone 7 lacking a 3.5mm jack. Probably, the company wanted to show the potential of Bluetooth and demonstrate that the usual headphones can be deprived of the cable and retain all the advantages, for which millions of people love the EarPods.

Probably, it was possible to create AirPods and Apple bosses found the characteristics of the device (all specifications, including the price on the shelf) acceptable for the launch of mass production.

Honestly, I was very afraid that Apple would not be able to cope with the problems typical for such devices and that during operation a bitter taste of disappointment and resentment would appear. I will say in advance that there is nothing like that at all, AirPods are an excellent choice for the owner of Apple technology, the first days of use inevitably smile when you open the case and put on the headphones. Magic!

Let's start in order, and for starters, I would like to answer a few questions from AirPods critics.

The first question is, why hasn't Apple created a unique design for AirPods? Here I would like to remind you that the complete EarPods headset, which first appeared with the iPhone 5, was created for a very long time by very smart people. The challenge was unique - to make headphones that fit millions of different ears. Mission accomplished and you can now see EarPods all over the world in adults, children, seniors, men and women. Deprived of earbuds, these headphones are comfortable and a versatile solution for any Apple technology. So why look for some new form if there is already a tried and tested solution? The layman does not understand what a horror it is, the search optimal shape headphone, for the design team. Hence, a lot of the same questions on the net. The familiar, proven form factor justifies itself, AirPods fit perfectly, they can be worn for hours without discomfort in any conditions, the only drawback is that in public transport people nearby can hear your music (if you turn it up). Passive noise isolation is not AirPods' strong point.

The second question is, why do the headphones look so funny and do they retain their "legs"? Apple killed two birds with one stone. Firstly, it was great to show that these are regular EarPods, only without a cable. Secondly, in the "legs" there are microphones directed downward, which made it possible to preserve the speech quality, which is usual for EarPods - in short, the interlocutors are very satisfied, it is audible remarkably. Thirdly, I don't know what's funny about AirPods. They do not stick out of the ears to the side, it is easy to remove or insert them by the "leg" - in contrast to models of a different design, where you do not know how to pick up a miniature cup.

The third question is, what if I lose the earpiece? Buying a new headset? This interest Ask, and you can set it in relation to any technique. What happens if I lose my iPhone? Is it Apple's fault? What if I lose my MacBook? iPad? In other words, when was the problem of the company the absent-mindedness of users? It is clear that here we are talking about small headphones, but from the first days you get used to keeping the charging case in your pocket and putting the AirPods there, and not just throwing it into your pocket. It is gratifying that especially for the forgetful, the company has provided an opportunity to buy a lost earpiece or case separately, you can do this in the service, one earphone will cost about half of the entire set (divide 12,990 rubles into two parts). Someone will call it redneck or something else, but AirPods are still a curiosity, and a curiosity that has proved to be in great demand. You can add to cart on the official website, but you have to wait six weeks. That is, somewhere in February it will be possible to get the device. Therefore, while this is so, in the future Apple may revise the rules and either sell accessories for AirPods cheaper, or give out to users for free during the warranty period (although this is unlikely).

Last question What devices does AirPods work with? Naturally with all Apple devices, but I tried to connect the headset to my smartphone on Android base, Sony Xperia XZ. Everything worked out, the sound quality, speech transmission was very pleased. Using the button on the right earphone, you can start music with two clicks, answer a call. In general, even with Android, the headset can be used. But, of course, first of all it is addressed to the owners of Apple devices.

Now let's move on to the design and other features.

Design, construction

The earbuds come in a small box with a charging case with AirPods and a Lightning cable inside. I am very pleased with the presence of Lightning on the charging module, you can connect it in the car, at work, and at home, use it with external battery... So far, you can only recharge the headphones using the module, perhaps additional accessories will appear in the future.

The first connection to a smartphone is very simple: open the module cover - on iPhone screen a menu immediately pops up, where it is proposed to connect an accessory. Subsequently, using the cover, you can check the remaining operating time of each earphone and module, all this information is displayed on the smartphone screen. Made as simple and elegant as possible. There is a button on the charging dock, you can use it to put the AirPods into pairing mode, I used a gadget with an Apple TV, MacBook Pro, the ease of connection is captivating. For example, if you open the lid, the headset immediately appears in the laptop's Bluetooth menu.

There are a few tweaks to make using the charging module more convenient. The cup compartments are magnetized, and the headphones literally fly in there, sit in place properly. The lid is also on a magnet, or is it a mechanism so cleverly made. To lift, you need a little effort, the lid clicks itself. The design of the Lightning connector is such that you can use any cable or proprietary docking station, this is quite logical. The indicator light in the module helps you understand what is happening with the headphones, what is the status. What is missing here are clips to carry the module with keys like a key chain. Well, or attach to a bag, jeans.

The design of the AirPods themselves is interesting. At the bottom there are microphones covered with metal nets, let me remind you that there are two microphones directed downward. You can assign one of them as the "main" one or entrust the choice of the main microphone to the system, for now I have settled on automatic selection. The Bluetooth menu provides several special features for AirPods, such as changing the name, choosing an action to double-tap the sensor on the right - start / pause a track, call Siri, turn off.

The shiny area next to the mesh covering the microphones is the contact for the charging module, charging occurs when the contact touches a pair of contacts inside the case. The ear cups also have infrared sensors that help the AirPods know what's in the ears. When both earbuds are in place, you hear a start-up confirmation sound signal... By pulling out one or the other earbuds, you can quickly stop playback, while the device's behavior for such cases is not yet regulated in the menu, but in the future the list of settings will certainly be expanded. By the way, the motion accelerometer, as it is called in the commercial, reacts to touching the right earpiece. In addition, there is an additional voice accelerometer on the cup that recognizes vibration, a sound source, they work in tandem with a microphone. Extraneous noise is filtered out, and you get what you get - good quality transmission of speech, natural, as if speaking with using iPhone... The technology is interesting and the implementation deserves a lot of praise.

A little about management. During an incoming call, to answer the call, you need to knock twice on the sensor; to hang up, you also need to knock. Tapping you can call Siri, and AirPods will surely become a kind of driver for more active use of the voice assistant. The program recognizes commands well and quickly, allows you to start music, adjust the volume, select tracks without taking your phone out of your pocket, and call people. I checked it while walking, at home, in the car. For AirPods car too good headset... After all, there is practically no passive noise isolation, so the headset seems to be not in the ears. Talking on the phone, you don't feel disconnected from reality. Now, if you start the music, then yes, you get into a trap. But we'll talk about this later.

I would like to remind you that an Apple processor called W1 is used here, it is he who must be thanked for the sound processing, the possibilities in terms of voice transmission, the operating time and other features of the device.

I note that no problems were noticed during the operation of the iPhone 7 Plus - Apple Watch series 2 - AirPods bundle, you can control playback from the watch, the operating time of all accessories is displayed.

Roughness

We must pay tribute to the Apple engineers - it is clear that the launch times were extended for a reason, the team must have faced a bunch of various problems, both hardware and software. If there are no complaints about the hardware, then questions arise regarding the software, but here it should be borne in mind that most AirPods users will not collide with them. I will list the observed roughness:

After connecting to an Android smartphone, the charging level of the headphones was incorrectly displayed on the iPhone screen, one was allegedly discharged, the second was fully charged, after disconnecting from the Sony Xperia XZ, the normal display returned.
When used with different devices Apple and the subsequent transition to use with the iPhone, the small headset indicator in the smartphone notification bar may disappear.
When connected to an iPhone, all sounds from the device are duplicated into the headphones, for example, when typing SMS, these are rather sharp "poke-poke-poke", until the device has learned to slightly soften, muffle the signals. Of course, here you can just turn down the volume - but for me this level is comfortable during a conversation, listening to music, and I don't want to jerk the buttons back and forth. On the other hand, you quickly get used to it (note, this is natural nit-picking!).
If you open the case without the headphones inside, the screen does not display information about the charging of the module.
There is no way to use AirPods with two devices at the same time, you have to choose whether it's an iPhone or it's an Apple TV.

So far, these are all discovered roughness. I believe the AirPods software will be upgradeable in the future.

Working hours

The declared operating time is 5 hours for each earphone, together with the charging module, 24 hours of operation are provided, there is fast charging when after 15 minutes in the case, the earbuds can be used for 3 hours to play music. Is it a lot or a little? After a few days of use, I can say the operating time is acceptable. It's all about the use cases, it's good to work with AirPods, talk on the phone without interrupting other tasks, but then you break off, and then you can put the AirPods into the case for charging. After working out for an hour or two in the gym, listening to music, you still put the AirPods away for a while, while you shower, get dressed, or go to another place. Having made my eternal three, four or five circles around the Novodevichy Convent, I go to a cafe to check my mail, listen to music, then go to the car, hide my headphones there and connect the module to the charger. On the plane, you can watch a movie or TV series for three hours, then rest for an hour, put the AirPods in a case and connect it to an external battery.

Yes, it’s not ten hours, not a day, as in modern large headphones - but it’s not three hours, as in some other models.

Acceptable. Here's how I can describe AirPods in everyday use.

Fast charging and predictability of the device also help. You can really count on up to five hours of use, and that is captivating.

Music

Another question, and what are the speakers in AirPods, like in EarPods? Oh no friends, that's a whole different story. I thought that in terms of sound, everything would be familiar here, but actually not. First of all, I turned on the song Hurt by Johnny Cash, it's very cool to hear every breath of the musician and get goosebumps from the music. Let me remind you that this is AAC 256 kbps from iTunes, not even FLAC. Incredible wireless sound quality.

Then I started experimenting with different music, streaming services, TV shows, movies (also from iTunes). Here are some observations. Firstly, the W1 processor clearly works with sound, adding volume even for songs on SoundCloud. Secondly, there are low frequencies, even if you do not touch the equalizer, the bass is felt. People who are used to Beats won't get bored here. Thirdly, I would also characterize the sound as comfortable, apparently, there is some adjustment depending on the content used. Voices sound good in movies, explosions are effectively reproduced, there is no “flat” sound typical for many Bluetooth headphones. There is also no lack of detail. Huge volume reserve, at maximum it becomes uncomfortable.

To summarize, the sound quality is excellent for small wireless headphones. I am pleased with the ability to quickly switch between different Apple devices, for example, in the evening, quickly connect to Apple TV and watch a movie, switch to MacBook Pro in the afternoon, chat using FaceTime.

The range of AirPods is about five to six meters, then interruptions begin, with normal use there are no communication problems.

conclusions

On the one hand, AirPods have competitors, and some of them, such as Bragi, draw such comparison tables.

If you read the Eldar review on our website, you will understand why these are rather strange tables. That is, what did the company's marketers want to say?

That is, there seems to be a lot of everything, a lot of functions, but it would still work as it should in reality.

If you go in for sports, then pay attention to the headset Samsung Gear IconX, but I think this device is more suitable for owners Samsung smartphones... The Jabra Elite Sport headset comes out on the market at the end of December, addressed to fans of a sports lifestyle and will cost about 20,000 rubles. Note that I have not tested this device yet and I can not say anything about the functionality, features.

In retail, AirPods cost 12,990 rubles, there are no serious complaints about the device. Let's talk about the pros:

The easiest way to connect to Apple technology.
Acceptable battery life, fast charging
Great sound quality.
Excellent speech quality, natural, this is a huge plus.
Easy control, work with Siri (for example, the "Pause Music" command stops playing music in any program, not only in the basic player, this is logical and correct).
Ease of use of headphones, charging module (even a child can figure it out).
No problems with communication, working during the day, reconnections, etc.
Although there is no special protection against sweat, but in the gym it can be used - the headphones do not have a cable, they do not cling to anything, it is comfortable to wear for a long time. About "buy or not for sports?" I advise you to make a decision for yourself based on the individual characteristics of the organism.

The device has no serious drawbacks, you can read about the roughness above.

Of course, for some there is always not enough, and critics will find what they needed to add here - but put yourself in the shoes of an engineer and imagine what a titanic work it was. Take regular EarPods and turn them into wireless ones. Probably, AirPods 2 will have an increase in operating time, add protection from water and sweat, maybe make AirPods Sport with a heart rate sensor, add GPS and additional settings sound, headphone behavior.

But even now AirPods will not disappoint the owner. I repeat, the feeling of some kind of magic does not leave when you take out the headphones from the case and start listening to music. As they say, respect and respect to everyone involved in the creation of AirPods. Special thanks for the sound and ease of connection, I think millions of people will appreciate both. I highly recommend the gadget to all Apple technology owners. Of course, AirPods won't replace Bose QC or heart rate models, but quality everyday model for different purposes (music, games, films, conversation) they perform well.

Concluding the review, I want to note the following. As part of the puzzle, AirPods have taken their rightful place in the bundle of Apple devices, together with a smartphone, watch and laptop, headphones allow you to concentrate entirely on work, not to miss calls and notifications, and they fit into this picture very naturally. The good old EarPods, only now completely wireless, just as comfortable - and noticeable from afar. Is this good or bad, but a person with AirPods attracts eyes, they ask: “Oh, are these the same headphones? And how are they in business? Are you good? "

P.S. Several amendments to the text. After connecting to the iPhone, the headphones will recognize your iCloud account, respectively, they become familiar to all your devices registered in the cloud. Therefore, connecting to an iPad, MacBook Pro, Apple TV does not require additional manipulations, you just need to select a gadget in the audio device menu. A sensor for touch control is located on each cup, that is, the headphones are symmetrical, you can control playback, Siri, calls can be made from any “ear”. You can also listen to music through one earphone, let's say you pulled out one cup and the music paused, just press Play on the iPhone to continue playing. Probably, during the operation, some more points will become clear, we will add to the review.

Even before the AirPods hit Kickstarter, there were several similar projects. Two small in-ear headphones, no wires and a separate charging case. However, at least one of those projects literally sunk into oblivion, and all the public's attention ultimately turned out to be riveted to the new Apple product. The abolished mini-jack on the iPhone 7 should have nudged users towards wireless headphones and headsets, so AirPods sold great despite the $ 159 price tag. But personally, I immediately noticed two drawbacks for myself. First, the sound quality - for my taste, it was almost the same as the wired headphones that came with the iPhone. And secondly, the complete absence of sound insulation - the noise from the outside interfered with the enjoyment of the music, and the increase in volume inevitably led to the fact that my music became audible to others. And if on the street it was still somehow possible to come to terms with this, then on the plane I regularly caught the angry glances of my neighbors in the cabin.

In general, all of Apple's competitors are well prepared in this regard. At the IFA 2017 exhibition, four models of wireless in-ear headphones were presented at once, which will successfully replace the AirPod and will be interesting in themselves.

Sony continues to bring active noise canceling technology to the masses, and its first in-ear wireless headphones also have built-in noise canceling. And, I must admit, I always thought that these bells and whistles were useless for such models: a dense silicone liner itself does a good job of isolating external noise. But the WF-1000X convincingly prove the opposite - with them you can feel complete silence even on a noisy street. You can not only listen to music without interference, but use the headphones as earplugs - for example, to sleep peacefully on the plane.

Each earpiece has a 6mm dome-type emitter. The volume headroom is small compared to expensive wired headphones, but with noise cancellation working, you rarely have to raise the sound level above 60-70%. The headphones themselves on a single charge "live" from 3 to 4 hours (depending on the volume and the conditions in which the "noise control" works), and the charging case will allow you to get another 10 hours of playback. It charges the headphones in about an hour, and it also has an NFC module for quick connection with a smartphone. In Europe, Sony WF-1000X will be sold for 220 euros, while Russian prices will be announced in mid-September. However, I would not expect that the headphones will cost less than 18 thousand rubles.

A more affordable alternative to the WF-1000X could be the JBL Free headphones, presented at IFA 2017 a day later. True, they do not have an active noise cancellation system, but since the headphones are in-ear, external noise is already well cut off. For my taste, JBL Free sounds even better than Sony, not to mention Apple AirPods, but at the same time there is a slight lack of bass. However, for some genres of music, this can only be a plus.

The design does not evoke any emotions - nice, practical, but overall nothing special. AirPods look more laconic, while Sony WF-1000X is more technologically advanced. The sound is reproduced by dynamic emitters with a diameter of 5.8 mm, and Bluetooth 4.2 is used for connection. The earbuds themselves work 4 hours on a single charge, but this ugly case that comes in the kit gives them another 24 hours of work, although the battery capacity in it is rather modest - 1500 mAh.

The headphones themselves in the case are charged in about an hour, and the case can be charged from the mains or from a computer via USB. JBL Free has already begun to be sold in the US for $ 149, in the EU they ask for the same amount in euros, but in Russia this novelty will appear this fall, a little later. The price in rubles has not yet been announced.

The title of the most expensive wireless headphones from IFA 2017 rightfully goes to B&O Play E8. They sell for 300 euros, exactly double the price of Apple AirPods. They do not have a noise reduction system, protection from dust and moisture, and nothing else. additional functions, but there are exactly two advantages: sound and quality of performance.

In terms of sound quality, the B&O Play E8 is my favorite. They manage to reproduce rock, pop, classics, and even extreme genres of electronic music equally well. I compared them with my wired AKG N40 and did not notice much difference. But the quality of the external design immediately catches the eye - these wireless babies are made of dark aluminum with small plastic inserts. And the charging case is trimmed with genuine leather. In general, expensive and rich in the best sense of the word.

Control is carried out by touching the external panel of the headphones. A single press starts / stops playback, double and triple switches tracks forward and backward, and so on. B&O Play E8s play music for about 3 hours, and the compact case allows them to be charged from zero to one hundred percent twice, for a total of about 9 hours of operation. Against the background of JBL Free, it is somehow not impressive, but on the whole it is an acceptable figure.

Samsung Gear IconX 2017

It should be noted that formally, with its last year's Gear IconX, Samsung was ahead of Apple. This year we are dealing with the second generation of this model. But it's not easy wireless headset, but a full-fledged fitness tracker with all that it implies. The main difference from all other models is the presence own memory(4 GB), which allows you to listen to music without a smartphone in your pocket. This will be especially convenient when jogging or exercising in the gym. True, the total number of tracks that can be recorded should not exceed 1000, even if it all takes less than 4 GB. Without connecting via Bluetooth earphone play for about seven hours, with connection - about four hours.

The second point is protection from dust and moisture. Samsung doesn't recommend taking a bath or swimming in the pool with the Gear IconX, but light rain and sweat won't hurt your headphones. Third - the built-in activity tracker - headphones are quite capable of replacing a fitness bracelet. Playback control is the same as in the B&O Play E8 - a single touch starts playback or answers a call, a double touch turns on the next track, a triple touch turns on the previous one, and a long hold activates the voice menu.

The case that comes with the kit is as clumsy as Sony, only much more compact. Plus - it is more convenient to carry it in your pocket. Minus - it will allow you to charge the headphones only once. But charging to the case itself is connected via USB Type-C, which means that you can use one cable for both a smartphone and headphones.

The second generation Samsung Gear IconX will cost $ 199 and can work with any smartphone with Android 4.4 KitKat or higher. For the built-in tracker to function correctly, you need a proprietary application that works best on Samsung smartphones.

Instead of a conclusion

In general, fans of wireless headphones will not be disappointed this year. Apple AirPods are inferior in sound quality to absolutely everyone, the same can be said about noise cancellation, control and everything else. The one thing Apple still has no equal in is design. Let be appearance headphones are largely due to their functionality, but if we talk about the charging case, then neither Samsung nor Sony, nor even JBL could create anything even close to so laconic and elegant. In addition, none of the presented models will allow you to work with several devices as easily and naturally - a smartphone, tablet and laptop. But most importantly, Apple's headset now doesn't seem all that expensive. JBL asks for the same amount for its new product, but Sony, Samsung and even more so Bang and Olufsen devices are even more expensive.

Take them out of the case and they are ready to work with all your devices. Put them on and they connect instantly. Start speaking - your voice will be heard clearly and clearly. AirPods are an amazing combination of minimalism and high technology. Fantastic result.

There is no wire to worry about.

AirPods are one-touch set up and automatically connected. 1 Using them is easier than ever. The headphones understand when you take them off - at this point, playback pauses. AirPods work great with iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. You will be pleasantly surprised.

As for Siri.
Talking to your favorite personal assistant is as easy as shelling pears. Double-tap the earbud to activate Siri - without taking your iPhone out of your pocket. 2

What is the processor doing here? A lot of everything.

Behind all the incredible capabilities of AirPods is the W1 processor, specially designed by Apple. It provides great wireless connectivity, allowing AirPods to sound and perform superbly. In addition, it is thanks to the W1 processor that the battery is used so efficiently that you can listen to music for 5 hours on a single charge 3.

Know when you are listening.
Motion accelerometers and optical sensors work in conjunction with the W1 processor to automatically adjust playback and turn on the microphone so you can use one or two headphones. This allows AirPods to play sound as soon as you put them on.

The whole day of sounding.

AirPods deliver 5 hours of music playback on a single charge, the best in the industry. 4A with a wireless charging case providing multiple extra charge cycles, they can last over 24 hours. Need a quick charge? Just 15 minutes in the case - and you can listen to music for another 3 hours. 3 To check the battery charge, hold your AirPods close to your iPhone or ask Siri, "How much power is left in my AirPods?"

Sounds clear. Hear clearly.

Your music and movies sound great. Like anything you want to listen to with AirPods, the headphones provide high-quality audio playback in AAC format... And for better hearing, dual directional microphones reduce background noise when making calls or talking to Siri.

Automatic tuning. Instant switching.

AirPods automatically pair with all of your Apple devices. They are connected to your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time - and you can hear the sound from the device you are using. Want to listen to music on your Mac or iPad? Just select AirPods on those devices. 1

1 Required Account iCloud and macOS Sierra, iOS 10, or watchOS 3.
2 Siri may not be available in all languages or all regions. Functionality may also vary. Internet access required. Data transfer charges may apply. cellular networks.
3 Testing conducted by Apple in August 2016 using preproduction AirPods units and software paired with preproduction iPhone 7 units. Battery life will vary depending on device settings, usage conditions, and many other factors.
4 Compared to fully wireless stereo headphones.

After almost two months of absence, the hyped AirPods are finally on sale. At the end of December, the first customers received the coveted white boxes on pre-orders. Needless to say, many were impressed by the exciting promo video with their capabilities, demonstrated back in September last year - at the presentation of iPhones. Does everything correspond to reality?

In this post, we will provide a short manual on the features of the operation of innovative AirPods. Although some special instructions and not required - the interaction is intuitive.

Initial settings

So, first of all, we remove the headphone case from the package. This is what the basic configuration of a wireless headset looks like: To turn the headphones on, simply open the lid of the case. Now you need to make the first connection to the device. It can be either an iPhone or any other gadget from Apple. Activation and connection to devices is elementary. The only thing that needs to be done is to carry out the initial setup, and then pairing will occur automatically.

For the initial setup and creation of a "trusted pair", bring the ajar case (with headphones inside) to the device (first activate Bluetooth on it). This is necessary so that the headphones do not connect to all gadgets in a row that are nearby, but only work with a device from the trusted list.
After that, the connection procedure should be automatically initiated on the smartphone screen, nothing else is required from you. When finished, click on "Finish". You can use it!

By the way, we draw your attention to the fact that AirPods are not only a headset for iPhones. They are perfectly compatible with any Apple device that supports Bluetooth transmission. It can be computers, tablets, laptops, even smart watches - Apple Watch.

In the future, the headset can quickly switch to broadcasting from any other Apple device that is combined with this iPhone under one AppleID account. The earbuds instantly sync with the new device and are ready to resume playback where they left off.
Many users have successfully paired their AirPods with smartphones from other manufacturers as well. It is clear that they do not have Siri, AppleID, and therefore the functionality of wireless headphones will not be used to the full, but still there is such a possibility, and this cannot but rejoice. In this case, in order to listen to music or answer a call, the standard manual "double touches" is quite enough. More about them in the next section.

Control features

In general, all device control is reduced to double touches of the case. You need to call Siri, make (or answer) a call, pause the playback (or continue it) - everything is done by double-tapping the outer part of the speaker - right in the center.

You can independently set the most convenient control mode for you. To do this, in the "Bluetooth" section (in the device settings) - among the list of other devices, find your AirPods-headphones. In the item "Double tap the headphones" you can put a checkmark in front of the desired control mode. Here you can also activate or deactivate automatic ear detection (i.e. when the headset is brought to your ears, it is activated by default). Assign to headphones original name to make it easier to find them in the list of connected devices. Activate automatic microphone activation when you start speaking.
At first glance, it may seem that the proposed management tools are somehow very few, but in fact you will not need any more. The bulk of hands-free communication tasks can be performed by an assistant built into the iPhone system - Siri. The user gives her voice commands, which the device paired with the headset "hears" through the microphones mounted in the bottom of the AirPods.
So you can call anyone, and listen to the weather report (news), "write" and send a message - without even touching the touchscreen. Siri will make the sound louder / quieter, find the desired song from the list, remind you of a meeting, and much more. In this case, you will not interfere with anyone, information will be fed into your ear.

Both earbuds have their own chip and their own microphone, which means they can be used separately. In the default settings, both microphones are active, since this practically excludes the appearance of extraneous noise during communication. And all your subscribers are guaranteed to hear you always - even on a crowded street in strong winds.

Possible connection problems

Sometimes users have some difficulty connecting wireless headphones. Especially when trying to pair with new devices from other manufacturers, after successfully connecting with Apple gadgets earlier.

If for any reason automatic start the headset does not work, we recommend that you take the following actions.

Try placing the case closer to the device during the initial setup. Since sometimes there are problems with the stability of the Bluetooth connection. The optimal distance is about 5 cm. You can also disable and re-enable Bluetooth on the device paired with the headphones.
Having opened the case with the headphones, press and hold the service key built into the case. It is located on the back of the case - in the center.

Keep it pressed until the status indicator on the top panel inside the case (between the two headphones) starts blinking white. Thus, the previous settings are reset and the headset is again ready for the initial connection to a new gadget.

The third possible reason refusal to connect - a discharged battery, both of the headphones themselves and the battery built into the case. Connect the case (through the connector, it is at the bottom) with a Lightning cable to charger(or USB port) and try pairing again later. It usually takes a couple of hours to fully charge.

If the connection is successful, the charge level will be displayed on the iPhone screen - separately for the headphones, and separately for the case. In the future, this information will be displayed in the battery widgets on the smartphone.
Moreover, the battery of the case itself can be recharged even without the headphones inside, plug it in and calmly go about your business. Then it is enough to place the AirPods "on the base" for 15 minutes to provide them with several hours of full-fledged work.

This is what the manufacturer promises us, knowingly warning about possible deviations - up or down - due to different settings and the intensity of use of the headset by different owners. Users who have tested it confirm that the headphones can withstand the promised 24 hours of broadcasting (it is clear that with quick charging cycles).
In order for the user to have an idea of the charge level of the case without unnecessary gestures, a special indicator is provided in it (we have already talked about it). So if it lights up green, the case battery is fully charged. If it is yellow, it means there is only one charge left for the AirPods. Or you can just ask Siri how much charge is left.

AirPods come with earbuds in a case, a set of instructions, and a Lightning cable.

Case

The case has rounded edges, fits well in the hand and fits in any pocket. Opening and closing the lid is a special pleasure, transforming the headphone case into an alternative to anti-stress toys.

WITH back side there is a button for connecting to Android devices and pairing with iOS devices, and on the bottom side there is a socket for charging.

Over time, a dark coating forms under the lid, which must be cleaned. It is not clear where it comes from: the case is always closed, no one touches it with dirty hands. Judging by the reviews, many AirPods owners are engaged in periodic cleaning of cases. What to do, the overhead of a design in white.

Another nuance is the backlash of the lid when it moves from side to side (not in the direction of opening). There are no scenarios in which it would be necessary to move the lid in this way, but such roughness in Apple's technique is frustrating, at least because they are rare.

Magnets are hidden inside the case, with the help of which the headphones literally fly into the case. The lid also magnetizes when closed, so AirPods can be safely thrown to the bottom of the bag - the headphones won't fall out or get lost.

Headphones

At first glance, the wireless earbuds seem to be the same EarPods, but without wires and with slightly thicker legs. If you do not take into account the techno-stuff hidden in these legs, then these are EarPods. And that's cool. It's not even about skeuomorphism and continuity. It's just really a very comfortable and rather versatile form of headphones.

If doubts before purchasing AirPods are associated with the fear of losing a dropped earphone, then we is in a hurry to dispel them: the earbuds are held securely. The main reason for EarPods to fall out is the wires that constantly pull the headphones down. They are not here.

The real danger lies in the habit brought up over the years to take off one of the headphones when talking and let it go. The EarPods would remain dangling from the wire, and the wireless earbud would simply fall to the ground. However, you can rebuild in a couple of days, and for the most unlucky ones, there are special silicone cords on sale that tie the headphones together.

Sound

Sound performance is the most important part of any headphone review, but definitely the most boring when it comes to AirPods. As in the case of the wired predecessor, here we get a not very ambitious, even and slightly tinted sound in the middle and high frequencies.

For lovers of precise specifications, we borrowed the frequency response graph from the French portal Les Numeriques.

This is a good result for urban in-ear headphones that do not claim to be an audiophile device. Still, AirPods are not loved at all for the sound, although they do an excellent job with the requests of the average user.

Exploitation

Pairing AirPods with an Apple device is easy. The W1 chip, specially designed for headphones, is responsible for fast synchronization. Flip open the case and iPhone automatically recognizes AirPods.

Confirm the pairing by pressing a single button on the headphone case - and that's it, the pair has been created and has already spread to all synchronized devices. From now on, even pressing the button is not required - the broadcast will be automatically transferred to AirPods if they are inserted into the ears.

There are no buttons on the headphones. The only possible control gesture is a double tap. The best I've come up with is start and pause on the right earbud, and Siri on the left. Another way to pause playback is to remove one of the headphones.

TO new system navigation is hard to get used to. In this regard, EarPods are still more convenient. One or two buttons to control playback are not enough, and Siri is not a panacea. For example, I am still embarrassed to use it in public places.

To answer the call, you also need to tap on the earpiece twice. The quality of the outgoing sound is excellent due to the work of the active noise cancellation system. Therefore, with AirPods, you can talk with friends or call Siri even in a crowded and relatively noisy place.

If you bring the open case to the iPhone, the charging data for the case and headphones will appear on the screen. In addition, in the "Batteries" widget, you can see the charge of each of the earbuds. The fact is that they are identical in terms of filling, each can be used as a headset. In this case, the sound will be broadcast in mono, and the time autonomous work AirPods will double in size.

AirPods also work in conjunction with all iOS devices with iOS 10 and higher, Apple Watch with watchOS 3 and higher, as well as computers with macOS 10.12 and higher. In addition, the headphones can be used with any device that supports bluetooth standard 4.0. The "magic" promised by the developers will disappear in this case, but, as users of Android smartphones assure, it is quite comfortable to carry AirPods with their devices. True, there is no Siri, but with the help of third-party software, you can make Google Assistant respond to tapping.

Battery

Fully charged earbuds and case can last 24 hours of listening time and 11 hours of talk time. Without a case, the headphones will work for five hours. Moreover, they charge very quickly: in 15 minutes they gain an amount of charge sufficient to play music for another three hours.

This means that discharging your device will never take you by surprise. One has only to charge the case with headphones every 3-4 days and not listen to music for five hours.

Verdict

you are already fully equipped with Apple and want to supplement the collection with one more utilitarian device;
you are tired of interrupted EarPods cables, but the headphones themselves are completely fine with you;
you are looking for wireless headphones that won't take up much space in your bag.

you are constantly losing everything;
you live in an undeveloped region, where an exotic gadget can cause unwanted attention;
you are an audiophile for whom frequency response, THD and other incomprehensible abbreviations are more important than anything else.

And most importantly: do not forget that the choice of headphones is always highly individual. If you like some Sennheiser or Koss more than EarPods, then buying a wireless version of your unloved headphones for 12 thousand rubles is not the best idea.

But if you want to get the most out of Apple technology, are accustomed to the ergonomics and sound of EarPods, and like to experience the aesthetic and tactile pleasure of gadgets, then AirPods will definitely appeal to you.