From almost any, even the smallest update in the product line, Apple seeks to make a revolution. What can we say about headphones, the design of which has not changed since 2001. No, of course, Apple In-Ear was introduced back in 2008 based on "armature" emitters - but at a price of $ 79, apparently, they did not gain much popularity - there are no updates, and Apple somehow forgot about them. That's how it feels, anyway.

Our website has two Apple review In-Ear, if you are interested, I recommend that you read it. By the way, the price of these headphones in Russia is from 3 to 4 thousand rubles, you should beware of fakes, there are a lot of them on the market.

Today we will talk about the new Apple headphones called EarPods. The company presents them as a mini-revolution, in some ways this is true, in some ways it is not. But first things first.

Packaging and equipment

The headphones were kindly provided to me from the kit of the new iPhone 5, so the question of originality, I believe, should not be. On the other hand, there is not much to say about the packaging - there is only a hard carrying case.

The packaging of EarPods, sold separately, looks like this:

Since the price of these headphones is only $29 (plus tax), there is simply nothing negative to say. Beautiful, minimalist - as usual with Apple. The case, frankly, is inconvenient - the headphones look spectacular in it, but only a very persistent person will regularly take out and put away the EarPods in the complete case.

I had an idea to record a video, but then I found a very good unboxing on YouTube, I recommend you check it out:

Appearance and ease of use

EarPods look at least unusual, you can come up with a variety of associations with appearance. The case is made of milky plastic, the assembly is excellent, the details fit perfectly - at first you don’t even notice that there is a seam between the earphone case and the “overlay” in the form of a bell, this is visible only upon closer examination.

The bell is the know-how of the company, although similar solutions have already been used more than once in the form of rubber nozzles on liners. It also uses a plastic nozzle with a metal mesh. The company says it has done extensive research, used computer simulations to insert virtual earphones into virtual ears (scanned from real people), and EarPods should feel more comfortable than ever before.

Well. Compared to regular earbuds, EarPods are definitely a step up. But, alas, the plastic case does not allow the headphones to fix in the ear properly - if it were rubberized - it would be all right, and so they are far from being held like ordinary “plugs”. It should be noted that my “earbuds” (unlike “gags”) barely stay in my ears. If you're generally happy with the fit of the earbuds, you'll love the EarPods. In short, there is no revolution, and we should expect rubber pads, nozzles and other things - hardly from Apple, rather from third-party manufacturers.

No magic happened with noise isolation, the acoustic windows at the headphones pass noise well. That is, for home, work, street, even, maybe, a bus - it's normal. For the metro - it's not worth it, take care of your ears.

The remote control is standard for Apple, there is player control, volume control, microphone (very high quality). The cable is of high quality, soft, with a slight microphone effect. There is a slider for connecting wires after the separator, there is little use from it.

Sound

The headphones were tested with Hifiman HM-801 players (with Game Card amplifier) ​​and iBasso DX100. The Prime Test CD1 was used.

I would like to approach the assessment of the sound of EarPods with all severity - I read that they were compared with very expensive headphones. Apparently, this is due to some Apple magic that does not work for me, and here's why.

Low frequencies are well written, there is a minimal buzz, you quickly get used to it. It’s not worth talking about some high detail, it’s more about the amount of bass – this is the “trick” of EarPods. The bell acts, I believe, as a resonator - hence the large number of low frequencies. On easy tracks, this is a plus; on difficult tracks, EarPods stumble. I do not want to mislead you - the bass is not that much, but I would like less.

MIDs - for my taste, slightly failed, the vocals lack naturalness, it is pushed into the background. On the other hand, there is no sharpness, sibilants, whistles.

There are few high frequencies, but the headphones manage not to become deaf (rather, a little deaf), and the advantages are obvious - again, there is no sharpness.

The stereo panorama is not very wide, almost without three-dimensionality. Arrangement of tools - on the "C grade".

Attack is good, if we are not talking about the low-frequency segment.

As a result, the headphones can be called universal, since there are no genres that would sound very bad or, on the contrary, wonderful on them. Let me remind you that we are talking about complete headphones for the phone - albeit a flagship one, and they are sold separately for $ 30.

Compatibility

Of course, with the Apple iPhone 4 (as well as 5) EarPods play well, there is a decent volume margin (about half the scale), the microphone and remote control work perfectly.

Competitors

For $ 30, I think there are simply no competitors - after all, sometimes people need just “earbuds”, and EarPods set a new level in this segment. In the end, it’s not advisable to buy YUIN for $ 100-200 - now you can safely offer EarPods. But it is worth noting that while the price for them in Russia is about 2.5 thousand rubles, it is expensive. For 1.5 thousand rubles they are worth buying, and for 2.5 I would look in the direction of "gags". After all, for 3 thousand you can already find In-Ear.

Comparison with Apple Earphones

I'll start with external changes. In addition to the design of the earbuds themselves, the design of the cambrics has changed a little - they have become tighter around the cable, which, in my opinion, should improve such a parameter of the headphones as durability. Cambric around the remote control was also added, and the remote control itself became larger, while losing the hole for the microphone.

The noise isolation of the EarPods is better than that of the Apple Earphones, the fit is also better - but not as noticeable as if you moved to the "plugs", the same In-Ear.

The internal changes are worth looking at the notorious iFixIt, they are not interesting to everyone, so I give a link.

Now - about the sound. If EarPods flaunt low frequencies, then Earphones - on the contrary, stick out the middle and top. As a result, the sound is brighter, louder and sometimes dirtier, and you have to forget about the bass. Earphones are ordinary "earbuds", without pretensions to high sound quality. Due to the brightened high frequencies, the scene is wider than that of the EarPods, the detail seems to be higher.

Generally speaking, I seriously do not understand how you can listen to music on Apple Earphones. On EarPods - you can, and even need to.

Conclusion

For $30, EarPods are a great in-ear choice. But now, on the wave of excitement, you can buy these headphones at prices ranging from 1.5 (if you order on eBay) to 2.5 thousand rubles (if you buy in Russia). Here for 1.5 - if you don’t digest the “plugs” - take it, I think it’s not so long to wait for a price drop.

For complete headphones for a player or phone, everything is fine, I believe many people will continue with EarPods, and maybe even more than those using the previous Apple Earphones.

The editors thank the iCases.ru store for the Apple EarPods provided for the test.

Ilya Tarakanov ()

For which many people around the world choose them.

As for the second version, it, unfortunately, was never shown on presentations of new models of smartphones Apple IPhone Xc, Xs and Xs Plus. For this reason, the second generation of these headphones will not be released until 2019. This news slightly upset many people, however, in this way, the headphones will become even better and more reliable.

AirPods 2 release date

Concerning AirPods 2 release dates, they were not presented at the conference on September 12. To this day, it is not known why the manufacturer does not want to release these headphones right now. However, it is known that almost everything is ready for their release.

Despite the fact that so far there is no information from the manufacturer regarding the second generation of headphones, the rumors are different. So now many people are making various assumptions. The closer the release date is, the more information will appear regarding this AirPods model.

Thus, we can now come to the following conclusions:

• Perhaps the most important innovation in new version headphones, will be longer battery life. This is the main problem with all wireless headphones, including those from Apple. Of course, all headphone users around the world are waiting for this.
• Another important argument regarding the use of such headphones is the function " Hey Siri”, which will help make the management of the gadget much more convenient. This function was already available in the first version of the headphones, but it was not fully developed, which caused minor problems in use.

Photo: Airpods 1 and 2

• The third difference is the improved noise reduction system. This will affect the sound quality - it will be much more convenient and interesting to listen to music, watch movies and play games. Among other things, given function relevant for telephone conversations.
• Also, do not forget that in the new version there will definitely be a more advanced moisture protection. Even if the headphones get into the water, they will work without much change. This feature is really useful and needed by every user.
• In addition, big changes are expected in terms of filling. Engineers have made the new control chip more convenient and reliable. Thus, the service life of the headphones, unlike the first version, will increase by 30-40 percent. Without a doubt, this is great news for all lovers of apple devices.
• AirPods 1 cost around $159. Price Airpods 2 models planned in the region of 240-260 dollars at the start.

Headphones for Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector repeat the shape of the auricle, which ensures their snug fit and, accordingly, noise isolation. The device's speakers are designed to minimize sound loss and produce the best possible sound. They are equipped with a built-in remote control that allows you to adjust the volume, control the playback of tracks and video files, answer incoming calls and end the conversation.

Main advantages

• Transmit deep and rich low frequencies;
• They have a special coating that protects against water and sweat;
• Compatible with all Apple devices, including iPod touch, iPad and iPhone.

Lightning connector

The connector is compact and has an ergonomic design that allows you to connect it to the player in either direction.

In our marketplace you can buy "Apple EarPods Lightning White (MMTN2ZM/A)" in Moscow. Cashback up to 155 bonus rubles. The product is available among 5 online stores. Prices start from 1890 rubles

Design and Usability

7.1

Specifications

8.4

Price

4.6

AirPods 2 are Apple's updated headphones from the AirPods series. Despite the stagnation of design, the internal characteristics of the headphones have undergone significant changes.

pros

• Ease of use
• Operating time
• Support voice input Siri
• The size
• Waterproof

Minuses

• Extremely high price
• Possibility of losing the earpiece

Together with new iPhone On September 7, 2016, Apple launched the AirPods wireless headphones with Bluetooth support. After the release, the new product made a lot of noise.

“Superior sound quality, excellent work of the start / stop function, unexpectedly precise control of the Siri assistant, impressive voice transmission during calls,” critics described the headphones with these words.

And now, more than a year has passed, and we are looking forward to what the sequel will be like. In this article, we will try to make an overview of reliable information, as well as rumors and gossip regarding AirPods 2 - release date, specifications, price and new features.

The first generation of AirPods appeared in September 2016. Many Apple fans were expecting a new version of the earphones next fall.

However, the idea that the company updates its product line every year turned out to be a myth: this is fully true only for the iPhone, but other company products do not have such stability.

However, almost a year and a half has passed since the release of AirPods, and Apple's intentions to release AirPods 2 are becoming more and more obvious. Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman, citing "sources familiar with the situation", argues that we should expect the release of a new product (already received an internal index B288) in 2018. He also states that the third generation of AirPods will see the light of day in 2019, so updates may become regular.

Regarding the timing of the appearance of new headphones from Apple, there are two obvious dates.

March 2015 and 2016 Apple company held special media events, during which production launches were presented Apple Watch and iPhone SE. Last spring, there were no events, and small premieres were announced exclusively through press releases. Perhaps we should expect the presentation of the new AirPods 2 in the spring, but the likelihood of such an outcome is extremely small. Devoting a whole day to the presentation of one accessory is at least expensive, which is why the likelihood of this is extremely small.

If this does not happen in the spring, then the release of AirPods 2 should be announced as part of the global developer conference on Apple platforms (), which will be held in June 2018.

The price of Apple AirPods 2 in Russia

AirPods currently cost £159/$159 (11,990 rubles), we expect the AirPods 2, with their not-too-drastic improvements, to be offered at a slightly inflated price of £199/$199 (14,990 rubles).

However, the third generation model can become significantly more expensive if it receives new design and waterproof.

Design

It is difficult to say whether this is bad or good, but the design should not undergo any changes. The same goes for the weight of the device.

New features

New features are the key factor that separates minor updates from real blockbusters. Can new flagship from Apple hit us?

Hey Siri!

It is assumed that in the new version of the headphones will be available access to Siri without the help of hands. Now, in order to call a personal electronic assistant, you need to press a button.

Of course, this is a minor problem, but iPhone users who are used to the phrase “Hey Siri!” Would be more comfortable to have the same functionality on AirPods. After all, such a feature is implemented on the recently released . Why not?

Wireless charging is now in the new Apple headphones!

Do not forget that one of the functions will definitely be implemented in AirPods 2 - special version battery with support wireless charging, which will be compatible with the new AirPower wireless charger.

However, AirPod users already know that the headphones are equipped with an exemplary extended battery.

AirPods were not the first in the world wireless headphones, but they've been successful, so it's no surprise that Apple is looking to improve them.

Waterproof

According to rumors, it is the third generation of AirPods that will be waterproof. Implementing this with AirPods 2 will be problematic due to their price. You probably won't be able to swim with the new headphones on (they're supposed to float, right?), but at least the rain won't catch you off guard.

Specifications

Little is known about the technical characteristics of AirPods 2. However, Bloomberg suggests that the earphones will be equipped with an advanced wireless chip - probably the W2 that Apple already uses. Watch Series 3.

If true, the improvements are clear: Apple says the W2 delivers 85% faster Wi-Fi data transfer and 50% less Wi-Fi and Bluetooth usage compared to the W1 used in first-generation AirPods.

Should you buy new AirPods 2?

To be honest? At the moment, no. The new AirPods 2 are quite expensive, and the competitive market will not allow the price to justify. They will not bring anything innovative and the purchase of such an item only makes sense if you are a collector and want to own all Apple products.