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by wjoe 2350 days ago
Are the AirPods actually good headphones? Personally I don't consider the basic Apple headphones that come with iPhones to be either good audio quality or comfortable design, and the AirPods look identcal aside from the lack of wires (but I've never used them).

I can sort of understand spending $200 on really good quality, comfortable headphones, though I wouldn't myself - if only because I'll inevitably break or lose them after a few months, even more of an issue with these wireless headphones. But if they don't check either of those boxes, I can't fathom why they're so popular, aside from Apple marketing.
4 comments
ogre_codes 2350 days ago
My ears are not great so it's really hard for me to speak about audio quality. But in my eyes, they are comparable to some of the more mid-range earbuds in terms of sound quality. I'd love to try the AB2 due to the sound isolation & noise cancellation, but can't justify buying a new set when my current set still work so well.

The reason I bought the original Airpods and will likely buy the newer ones is all about convenience. I wear them on my mountain bike and commuting and being truly wireless is invaluable. Turns out for me the #1 way headphones pop out is due to snagging the cable on something (hands, branches, clothing, etc). Also, being able to quickly connect and switch devices, is fantastic.

If cables truly don't bother you, then there are plenty of great options for wired headsets which offer better quality sound. For me, I can't even sit at my desk and code anymore without getting annoyed now.

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kkarakk 2350 days ago
I'd say gen 2 is good enough with the noise cancellation/passthrough.

Wish it had better bass personally

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beefalo 2350 days ago
Airpods, not really. They still are the same uncomfortable plastic and not so great sound. Apple earbuds have always hurt my ears so airpods would be a no go for me. Airpods pro are quite a bit better but still won't be comfortable for everyone.
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kofejnik 2350 days ago
yes, they are (imho). AirPods Pro are noticeably better than AirPods and wired Apple earbuds, in both comfort and sound quality. I actually prefer them over my over-ear Sennheisers.
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