4 causes to not purchase AirPods in 2024

It looks like some individuals deal with AirPods because the “default” headphones to purchase for iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Definitely, Apple encourages that group-think — AirPods get their very personal part at each Apple Retailer, and the deepest attainable platform integration, even past Beats merchandise just like the Beats Fit Pro. Earlier than the Vision Pro arrived, Apple tweaked the AirPods Professional to offer decrease latency audio.

Apple does not have a monopoly on headphones for its gadgets, nevertheless, and in actuality, there are many alternate options that may be simply pretty much as good or higher. It is as much as you to resolve, however think about this guidelines earlier than assuming you want new AirPods for an iPhone 16.

1 Platform help

When the walled backyard turns into a jail

Technically talking, you possibly can pair AirPods with many non-Apple merchandise, however you lose lots of performance within the course of. Losses not solely embody Siri voice instructions and automated machine switching (primarily based in your Apple ID), however stuff you would possibly think about primary for all fashionable headphones, akin to spatial audio, management customization, and automated ear detection. Likewise, lacking are marquee Apple options, akin to Adaptive Noise Management and Dialog Consciousness.

You would possibly personal a number of Apple gadgets now, however if you’d like the liberty to modify platforms with out sacrifice, it is best to skip AirPods. Apple’s purpose is to maintain you in its walled backyard by growing the price of getting out.

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2 Water resistance

Sturdiness issues

Apple 

It isn’t unusual to see individuals sporting AirPods whereas they’re lifting weights or out on a run. For essentially the most half, this is not an issue — primary AirPods and the AirPods Professional share an IPX4 water resistance ranking. In case you’re unfamiliar with IP rankings, it is the barest attainable safety in opposition to sweat and rain. Nonetheless, it implies that you could possibly doubtlessly wreck your AirPods when you sweat profusely or get caught in a heavy rainstorm. I ought to know — I’ve destroyed a number of pairs of IPX4 earbuds, together with ones from Apple, just by lifting for a lot of months throughout intense warmth.

For most individuals, the difficulty with an IPX4 ranking is long-term publicity. Water seals inevitably degrade over time, so it is higher to have more durable resistance from the get-go. I would advocate earbuds with an IP57 ranking or larger, ideally IPX8 just like the Jabra Elite 8 Active.

For train, you must skip the AirPods Max outright. They lack any type of water resistance ranking, so you make an costly gamble each time you slap them on. On high of that, they’re comparatively weighty, which may make them uncomfortable or insecure throughout bodily exercise.

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3 Value

Are you actually getting your cash’s value?

Amir Hosseini / Unsplash 
 

Most AirPods are fairly priced, assuming, after all, you are pairing them with Apple gadgets and exploiting all their options. However that is simply it — not everybody cares about these options, and budget earbuds have develop into surprisingly good in recent times. Anker’s Soundcore buds particularly are simple to advocate for individuals eager to spend below $150. Apple’s third-gen AirPods begin at $169 earlier than tax and delivery.

Pricing for the AirPods Max ($549) is just extreme. Whereas the audio and construct high quality is great, that is additionally true of headphones from Bose and Sony costing tons of of {dollars} much less. Apple hasn’t even bothered updating from Lightning to USB-C, which is ludicrous contemplating iPhones made the swap a 12 months in the past.

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4 Impending upgrades

Persistence could repay

Apple 

Regardless of how a lot of an Apple fan you’re, this merely is not the perfect timing. Fourth-gen fashions are rumored for this fall, and if that is confirmed, provides might be tight at first given a rush of latest iPhone 16 homeowners. The third-gen AirPods Professional could not ship till 2025, possible due to distinctive options like temperature sensors. And simply so as to add a cherry on high, Apple should improve the Max to USB-C, a minimum of, if it desires the product to remain related.

That stated, if nothing on this record has discouraged you from shopping for AirPods, go forward. We’re not anticipating something revolutionary in 2025, and Apple is not about to kill off help for headphones owned by thousands and thousands of its clients.

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