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Apple AirPods

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AirPods offers a cord-free wireless audio experience with up to 5 hours of battery life. They are rechargeable through the included case that get you up to 24 hours on a single charge. AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro support wireless (Qi) charging, Hey Siri, and include the H1 chip.

Apple’s truly wireless wireless and cord-free earbuds now with Qi support

AirPods 1 Features

AirPods are Apple’s wireless, cord-free in-ear headphones, and were unveiled alongside the iPhone 7 on September 7, 2016. Priced at $159 they were originally announced to be available in late October, 2016, but were delayed until December 13.

They have a very similar form-factor to the company’s wired EarPods, with the obvious omission of a cable and the addition of Bluetooth connectivity. Despite this, early reports suggest that they are better at staying in your ears.

They offer Apple’s latest wireless pairing system, based on the W1 chip. They pair instantly, and that pairing propagates across all your Apple devices via iCloud. The secret sauce behind the new pairing system turned out to be all in the W1 chip in the headphones themselves, so it works with Bluetooth LE devices all the way back to the iPhone 5.

AirPods 2 Features

In March of 2019, Apple released AirPods 2. The new version is available for $199 with the wireless charging case, or available with the standard case for $159. Existing version 1 owners can purchase the wireless charging case separately for $79.

Version 2 moved away from the W1 chip to the new H1 chip to deliver up to 50 percent more talk time compared to the first generation. The H1 should also speed up switching between devices, with Apple saying version 2 should now connect two times faster. Version 2 also includes ‘Hey Siri’ support as well.

AirPods Pro

In October 2019, Apple announced AirPods Pro. The Pro model features “Active Noise Cancellation and superior, immersive sound in an all-new lightweight, in-ear design.” The new in-ear design of the Pro model makes for better noise cancellation. Apple says that the Pro headphones are sweat and water-resistant rated for IPX4. The box includes three different sizes of ear tips, which should make them relatively versatile.

AirPods Pro vs. AirPods comparison

There are five major features that the Pro model has have that Version 2 don’t:

  • Active noise cancellation
  • Audio Transparency mode
  • IPX4 water/sweat resistance
  • Adaptive EQ
  • In-ear design with three sets of tips
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AirPods and Vision Pro supplier moving production to Vietnam after Apple pressure

AirPods and Vision Pro supplier moving production to Vietnam (AirPods line-up shown)

Apple supplier Goertek has firmed up plans to move a substantial amount of production from China to Vietnam, after the Cupertino company urged it to do so. The company currently makes AirPods, and is also believed to have been lined up as a Vision Pro supplier.

The company said last year that it had been receiving almost daily queries about how quickly it could move production from China to Vietnam …

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A budget 3-in-1 charging station worth considering

I have been on the lookout for a 3-in-1 charging station for my Apple products that doesn’t break the bank. Don’t get me wrong – there are many options for 3-in-1 chargers, but it seems you have to spend upward of $100 or even $200 for a high-quality Apple 3-in-1 charger. But I think I finally found one that cuts that $100 price point in half while still keeping it high quality. Let’s check out the X23 Pro Charger.

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AirPods in 2023: Here’s how the lineup looks after Apple’s event

AirPods lineup

Apple today took a big step toward putting an end to the Lightning connector by adding USB-C to the entire iPhone 15 lineup. The company also made some updates to the AirPods lineup, which now features a new version of the AirPods Pro that has a USB-C charging case. Read on as we detail how the current AirPods lineup looks after Apple’s event.

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Apple ‘Wonderlust’ event: Here are three things Apple won’t announce tomorrow

Tim Cook MacBook Air | Apple event

Apple is holding a special event tomorrow, and by now, we all know what to expect from it: new iPhones and Apple Watches. Of course, the company may have a few surprises for Tuesday, such as new versions of its accessories to add USB-C. But there are three things we shouldn’t expect from Apple’s September event.

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What to expect at today’s Apple event: iPhone 15, new Apple Watch, and more

apple iPhone 15 event

Apple has officially set a date for its annual iPhone special event. This year, the festivities commence on September 12 and the iPhone 15 is expected to be the star of the show. Head below as we round up all of the announcements we expect at the Apple event, including new software and hardware.

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Apple’s most expensive AirPods miss out on Adaptive Audio, ‘Siri’ command, and more

AirPods Max

For AirPods users, Apple announced a notable new feature at WWDC this week called Adaptive Audio. This feature is an expansion of Adaptive Transparency mode, blending Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation together.

Adaptive Audio, however, is only available with the second-generation AirPods Pro… along with a number of other new AirPods features.

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