[scarface74]

I have a Mac, an iPad, an iPhone, an AppleTV and an Apple Watch.

If I’m on my iPad and playing something and put my AirPods Pro in my ear, sound automatically gets sent to my AirPods. The same happens with my Mac and iPhone. It doesn’t happen with the AppleTV since multiple people might be watching.

Also once I pair my headphones to one device on my account, it’s automatically paired to all of my devices. The initial pairing process for my phone and iPad is just open the case the first time and a pop up shows up.

On the other hand, if I’m on my iPad watching a movie and get a call on my phone, it switches over automatically. It then switches back when I go back to my iPad. If I take one AirPod out of my ear to gear someone, video pauses automatically on whichever device I’m using.

Then there are the little touches like being able to control headphone options like noise cancellation and special audio from my phone, iPad, or TV, seeing battery remaining and automatically being registered with Find My.

[doikor]

> If I’m on my iPad and playing something and put my AirPods Pro in my ear, sound automatically gets sent to my AirPods.

And for me apple decides to do these switches on its own without my input at times when I do not want this to happen. I have not found a way to disable this yet.

[cebert]

This is really annoying in a family household. I use my AirPods connected to my phone when I am cleaning the house, cutting the grass outside etc. My son and daughter love to watch videos on the iPad. My AirPods randomly switch to the videos they’re playing on the iPad without me ever asking for that to happen. It irritates me that Apple does this.

[peyton]

You can disable this feature on just your iPad from the Bluetooth settings.

[jshzglr]

Can’t you just make a separate profile on the iPad for your kids.

[aaaaaaaaaaab]

What kind of videos are they watching?

[cebert]

Mostly video game walkthroughs on Hobby Kids TV.

[scarface74]

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212204

But is there ever a time that you said “I really wish I had to pair my headphones to each of my devices individually and had to adjust settings by clicking on a button on my headphones and decipher the various beeps”?

[semi-extrinsic]

I get the same on Android on almost all those things. The only thing I don't have is whatever "Find My" is. For controlling headphone options I have a couple of dedicated apps on my phone, but if you have to touch that more than once per month it's a clear symptom of bad headphone design. (For example the Jabra headset I use at work has a dedicated physical button for toggling noise canceling.)

The upshot is that I suffer zero vendor lockin. I bought Airpod equivalents from Aliexpress, the FIIL T1 Lite for $35. They are little marvels of Chinese engineering that do everything I need and actually sound great - they frequently outperform $100+ earbuds both in reviews on blogs and according to casual Reddit commentary. Since I only use them when out and about, it's not possible to experience any audio quality upgrade unless I sacrifice practicality and go with some closed-back over-the-ear cans.

[scarface74]

You get almost the same thing as long as you use third party apps, still have to change settings manually, etc? Do you also have to install the same app on your phone, tablet, watch, streaming device and your computer?

When you pair to one device, do they automatically pair to all of your devices?

All Apple headphones work as standard BT headphones on non Apple devices. I fail to see any “vendor” lock in.

As far as price, you can also pick up a pair of $50 Beat Flex headphones that have most of the same functionality with Apple devices.

I assure you those $35 “AirPod equivalents” don’t have the noise cancellation, spatial audio, transparency mode, or microphone quality that the AirPods Pro have.

[smoldesu]

I get the same thing out-of-the-box. I get tap-to-pair, noise cancellation, spatial audio, transparency mode and a better microphone than the Airpods (can use a higher-quality codec than AAC). Settings stay on-device, too.

Airpods were a neat party trick maybe... 5 years ago? Wireless audio isn't complicated nowadays though, I've tried at least a dozen Bluetooth headsets that embarrass the Airpods Pro (often at a lower price point).

The last thing I want to do is stop people from buying overpriced headphones though. If Airpods make you happy, then by all means, buy them. You're mostly paying a premium for iCloud integration though, which I'd frankly pay extra to avoid.

Shit though, if you want proof that Airpods are a downgrade from regular headphones, just compare the audio quality: https://youtu.be/N6Y_Q7RYmmY?t=360

[scarface74]

You can pair your headphones seamlessly to seven devices without unpairing? Yes I have a phone, tablet, watch, computer and two AppleTVs - one in the bedroom and one in my home gym.

[smoldesu]

Yep. Multipoint connection will tether to any availible devices, and then switch between whichever ones are actively playing. Works like a charm, don't even need an AppleTV to pair it with my display.

[semi-extrinsic]

I only have to use a third party app to change the settings on the headset (like equalizer and noise canceling level). For my devices I have no need to change these more than a couple of times per year, at most. For my Bose QC35 I think I've never touched the app after first configuration. Those settings are stored in the headset, so once I've set them they stay the same regardless what device the audio streams from.

The vendor lock-in is by definition there if there are any special Apple features. If there is no vendor lock-in, there is neither any special Apple-exclusive magic features that justify the price premium?

I know my FIIL buds don't have active noise canceling. They are IEMs and give about 20 dB passive noise reduction which is more than enough. The microphone quality is decent, but for any longer calls I use my Jabra which has a proper mic.

[etchasketch]

> The vendor lock-in is by definition there if there are any special Apple features.

This is ridiculous. Then no manufacturer, weather it be cars, or clothing, or industrial equipment would offer anything different than their competitors, lest it be deemed "vendor lock in".