AirPods
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IDC: Wearable shipments nearly doubled thanks to earbuds like AirPods
If you hate the fact that you can't use wired earphones with a lot of mobile devices anymore, we've got bad news for you. We doubt phonemakers would change their minds about moving towards a future without headphone jacks -- not when global shipments for wearable devices nearly doubled, mostly thanks to wireless earbuds (like the AirPods) and headphones. According to IDC, 84.5 million wearable devices shipped in the third quarter of 2019. That's a 94.6 percent year-over-year increase and a new record for quarterly shipments.
Target Black Friday deals: AirPods, Beats Studio 3 Wireless and more
Target has shared its Black Friday flyer, detailing many of the hardware-related deals the retailer plans to offer later this week. You'll be able to take advantage of the company's promotions starting November 28th through the 30th. We've only highlighted a handful of deals that looked compelling to us -- so you may want to browse Target's flyer to see what else it has on offer. We've linked the current product pages below for easy access when the deals go live.
Apple’s AirPods Pro are on sale just weeks after their release
Less than a month after Apple released its AirPods Pro, they're on sale for $235 on Amazon. That $14 savings is a little surprising. It's unusual to see these things go on sale so soon, and it might irk some of the folks who bought them at full price a couple weeks ago.
AirPods Pro review: Apple’s latest earbuds can hang with the best
As true wireless earbuds continue to evolve, companies are making them smaller and adding powerful features like active noise cancellation (ANC). They're more reliable and offer better battery life than when they first burst on to the scene, and they're becoming increasingly popular. Apple clearly knows all of this. The company's AirPods have been the most popular true wireless earbuds for a while now, despite their polarizing design. And even though the company just debuted version 2.0 back in the spring, it held something back for the holidays. The AirPods Pro were hardly a surprise. We'd heard rumors about a refined design and ANC for months. Perhaps the only real surprise is that they weren't announced at the big iPhone event in September, but instead, they quietly revealed in a press release on a Monday afternoon. The Pro model introduces a host of new features, but that comes at a cost. And the question is: Are the AirPods Pro ($249) worth the extra $50?
The Engadget Podcast: Do you need Apple's AirPods Pro?
This week it's all about computers in our ears, or hearables, if you prefer. Apple announced the long-awaited AirPods Pro on Tuesday, but even though they helped popularize wireless earbuds, now just about every tech company has their own pair as well. We chat about what's new with the AirPods Pro, as well as how to find the perfect pair of earbuds for you. Plus, we talk about the state of smartwatches. (Note: This episode was recorded before Google's Fitbit acquisition was confirmed.) Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Subscribe! iTunes Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Play Music Links AirPods Pro hands-on: We can already hear the difference Sony WF-1000XM3 review: Simply the best true wireless earbuds Jaybird Vista review: The best true wireless earbuds under $200 Now is the time to buy true wireless earbuds Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien
Apple AirPods Pro hands-on: I can already hear the difference
Earlier today, I popped in a set of Apple AirPods, jumped onto an uptown 6 train, and began a short journey to our New York office. That would be a pretty apt description of any of my daily commutes to work, but today was different: Because I was using the new AirPods Pro, I didn't have to dial up the volume dangerously high to hear my music over the din.
An AirPods Pro replacement costs $89 per earbud
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their higher price than the standard AirPods, it'll cost more for you to repair or replace the new AirPods Pro through Apple Support. Out of warranty, the price this time around is $89 per earbud, and it costs the same to have the wireless charging case repaired or replaced. If you lose an AirPods Pro earbud, Apple charges $89 for a new one or $99 to replace a misplaced case.
Recommended Reading: Your AirPods are going to die
Everyone's AirPods will die. We've got the trick to replacing them. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Washington Post If you hopped on the AirPod bandwagon early, your earbuds are likely near the end of their life. The Washington Post details what happens when your true wireless audio accessory stops working, including the fact that "battery service" really just means giving you a new pair and tossing your old ones in the recycling bin.
iOS 13.2 beta may shed light on Apple's new AirPods design
Besides a look at the company's upcoming Deep Fusion photography mode, the latest iOS 13 beta includes another preview Apple might not have intended people to see just yet. Digging into the 13.2 developer beta, 9to5Mac discovered an icon that may depict the company's next-generation AirPods.
Amazon's Echo Buds are an Alexa-powered answer to Apple's Airpods
Apple has proven that combining true wireless earbuds with always-on access to a virtual assistant can be a reliable recipe for success. Its Airpods continue to be the best selling option, even as the true wireless scene really starts to take off. So, it's no surprise then that Amazon is looking to cash in. Its Echo Buds don't look terribly different from the competition. (They've got a bit of a Bragi vibe going on.) But they do allow you to talk to Alexa without touching a button -- basically it's an Echo you shove in your ears. One thing the Echo Buds definitely have over their Apple competitors though, is noise cancellation. Airpods have none, whereas Amazon has partnered with Bose to borrow its active noise reduction tech. And while Bose isn't king of the hill anymore when it comes to noise cancellation it's still pretty dang good (not to mention a pioneer in the field). It doesn't seem like Amazon sacrificed too much on sound quality either... at least on paper. (Again, the final judgement will have to wait for when we get to test them on our own terms.) Inside each bud is a pair of balanced armature drivers, which should deliver pretty solid bass. The five hours of battery life isn't exactly earth-shattering, but the charging case brings the total runtime up to 20 hours before you need to plug in again. Echo Buds are available to preorder today for $130. Update 9/25/2019 3:10PM ET: This article originally used the term "active noise cancellation" (ANC). It has been updated to reflect the terminology used by Amazon, "active noise reduction." It's unclear currently if this is purely for marketing reasons, or if there is a functional difference between Bose's ANC and what is found in the Echo Buds. Follow all the latest news from Amazon's 2019 hardware event here!
Inside Apple's redesigned 'cube' store in New York City
Just in time for the launch of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, Apple is finally re-opening the doors to its flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Better known as "the cube," the iconic 77,000 square feet space has been closed for renovations since 2017, but Apple is ready to let customers back in starting this Friday. Before it opens to the public tomorrow, though, we got a sneak peak. And frankly, it doesn't just feel renovated, it feels like a completely new store, especially underground, where everything is brighter and more spacious than before.
Apple's latest AirPods and wireless charging case are $30 off on Amazon
Apple's AirPods with the wireless charging case are $30 off on Amazon. That puts them at $170, the lowest price we've seen all year and a deal that doesn't come around often. Apple's AirPods have consistently reviewed well, and by some accounts, they're the most popular true-wireless earbuds in the world. The wireless charging case is a newer addition and a welcomed convenience.
New $29 AppleCare+ option covers AirPods and Beats
Apple has launched an AppleCare+ option for headphones, which sounds like a great deal for people who keep dropping their AirPods. The $29 add-on is available not just for AirPods, but also for select Beats earphone and headphone models. It extends the devices' hardware repair coverage from one year to two, and it covers two more incidents of accidental damage from handling.
The MTA is tired of saving AirPods from subway tracks
If you're a New Yorker and you've been on a delayed 4, 5 or 6 train recently, you can probably blame Apple's AirPods for your recent transit woes. According to The Wall Street Journal, New York City commuters have lost so many AirPods over the summer that the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) is considering recording a new public service announcement aimed directly at AirPods owners. The potential PSA would ask commuters to refrain from taking their AirPods on or off when entering or exiting a train. The hope is that the PSA will reduce the number of times the MTA is forced to delay a train while its staff rescues one or more of the in-ear headphones.
Tariffs hit Apple and other tech companies tomorrow
Some of the tech you like is about to get more expensive -- at least for the companies that design them, if not you. True to earlier plans, the Trump administration has formally enacted a new round of tariffs against China-made products that will take effect September 1st. The measures will hit tech companies with 15 percent tariffs on a range of goods, with Apple potentially feeling the pinch harder than most. The hikes will affect AirPods, the Apple Watch, some Beats earphones, the HomePod and iMacs.
Apple is selling Mophie's new AirPower knock-off
Apple wasn't quite able to make its promised AirPower wireless charging pad work. It canceled the project 18 months after announcing it. Its goal was to let you charge several devices at once using a single pad. However, where Apple failed, Mophie may have succeeded.
How would you rate Apple's newest AirPods?
The original Airpods from 2016 had issues with sound quality and fit, but the second generation packed in a few upgrades, including a H1 chipset that bolstered Bluetooth connection speeds and a wireless charging case. In his review Senior Editor Chris Velazco also approved of the new Airbuds' consistent wireless performance and extended battery life. However, the upgrades were not enough to wow Chris entirely; he still thought the earbuds lacked audio quality and a truly comfortable fit.
Uber wants to sell you Echos, AirPods and Oculus headsets
Uber is taking its retail offerings up a notch. Last year, the company teamed up with Cargo to let drivers hawk goods ranging from snacks to phone chargers. Now, Uber and Cargo are hoping riders will buy more expensive products, like Amazon Echos, Apple AirPods, Oculus devices and Glossier make-up.
Apple may unveil two new AirPod models by the end of 2019
Apple's refreshed AirPods might be just the start of a tidal wave of new models. Historically accurate analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple has two new AirPod variants launching sometime between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. One of them would be cosmetically similar to the current earbuds and would be priced accordingly, while the other would represent an "all-new design" and carry a higher price tag.
Amazon’s earbuds are a shot at Google, not Apple
Late Thursday, Bloomberg reported that Amazon could be working on a pair of wireless earbuds, similar to Apple's AirPods. Just as the latest AirPods offer hands-free access to Siri, the rumored Amazon pair will also likely work with Alexa. They'll also apparently have gesture controls and come in a charging case, again, much like the AirPods. But as much as it seems Amazon is going after Apple with this new venture, the company might really be going after another rival too: Google.
