Apple is separating the new smartphones into its usual low-cost versus high-cost categories, with big differences between the two models coming down to the camera, display, and battery life.
iOS 13 & watchOS 6 Now Available
AirPods Tidbits: Hidden Apple Watch Features, Durability Test, and High Resale Prices
Apple's AirPods are now making their way into the hands of the first round of customers who ordered the wireless headphones last Tuesday, and more tidbits of information about the device have been shared online as users play around with Apple's newest product.
Apple Watch Features
One Apple Watch wearer noticed that when a call comes in through the wearable, there's a custom AirPods button when the headphones are connected and playing music. The AirPods button replaces the usual green answer button, simply designating that the call will be relayed through the AirPods and not through the Apple Watch speaker.
Users of Apple's wearable can also swipe up from their watch face, tap battery percentage in control center, and check on their AirPods' battery levels from the Watch. Otherwise, the AirPods' battery levels can be checked in the iPhone's battery widget.
Durability Test
As is the case with most new Apple devices, durability tests are also underway, and YouTube channel EverythingApplePro this week shared one of the first major real-world drop and water tests with the AirPods. In the video, the headphones are put through basic drop tests from waist and ear height, and then to upwards of ten feet. Scuffs and marks hit the charging case hardest, but the AirPods themselves made it through largely unscathed thanks to their lightweight build. Most importantly, both the AirPods and the charging case continued to work normally after each drop.
Water tests were also conducted on the AirPods, including a washing and drying cycle that confirmed the headphones and the case will survive and function as expected even after accidentally including them in a load of laundry. The channel's ultimate stress test was five minute submersion under one foot of water. Even with those extreme conditions, the AirPods synced up with the iPhone immediately after submersion, and both headphones were "working perfectly."
Resale Prices
Naturally, with so many people looking to gift the AirPods to family and friends for Christmas, resale prices are rising on eBay. Most auctions are sitting around the $250 mark with hours left to go, and guaranteed shipping by Christmas, but some Buy it Now prices are set at upwards of $350 and $500. Prices will only continue to inflate as Christmas grows closer and shipping costs rise to overnight packages.
Availability and Tracking
Certain retailers like Best Buy in the United States and Carphone Warehouse in the United Kingdom have restocked AirPods throughout the week, but Apple's online website now has an estimated delivery in mid-February for most countries. Anyone who wants to keep as up to date as possible on AirPods availability can use iStockNow's tracking map to see where the headphones are currently available.
Users are likely to glimpse a map filled with red pins indicating no stock available, but we’ve seen occasional green pins show up throughout the morning. You’ll have to be fast though, as they sell out very quickly.
Apple Watch Features
One Apple Watch wearer noticed that when a call comes in through the wearable, there's a custom AirPods button when the headphones are connected and playing music. The AirPods button replaces the usual green answer button, simply designating that the call will be relayed through the AirPods and not through the Apple Watch speaker.
Users of Apple's wearable can also swipe up from their watch face, tap battery percentage in control center, and check on their AirPods' battery levels from the Watch. Otherwise, the AirPods' battery levels can be checked in the iPhone's battery widget.
Durability Test
As is the case with most new Apple devices, durability tests are also underway, and YouTube channel EverythingApplePro this week shared one of the first major real-world drop and water tests with the AirPods. In the video, the headphones are put through basic drop tests from waist and ear height, and then to upwards of ten feet. Scuffs and marks hit the charging case hardest, but the AirPods themselves made it through largely unscathed thanks to their lightweight build. Most importantly, both the AirPods and the charging case continued to work normally after each drop.
Water tests were also conducted on the AirPods, including a washing and drying cycle that confirmed the headphones and the case will survive and function as expected even after accidentally including them in a load of laundry. The channel's ultimate stress test was five minute submersion under one foot of water. Even with those extreme conditions, the AirPods synced up with the iPhone immediately after submersion, and both headphones were "working perfectly."
Resale Prices
Naturally, with so many people looking to gift the AirPods to family and friends for Christmas, resale prices are rising on eBay. Most auctions are sitting around the $250 mark with hours left to go, and guaranteed shipping by Christmas, but some Buy it Now prices are set at upwards of $350 and $500. Prices will only continue to inflate as Christmas grows closer and shipping costs rise to overnight packages.
Availability and Tracking
Certain retailers like Best Buy in the United States and Carphone Warehouse in the United Kingdom have restocked AirPods throughout the week, but Apple's online website now has an estimated delivery in mid-February for most countries. Anyone who wants to keep as up to date as possible on AirPods availability can use iStockNow's tracking map to see where the headphones are currently available.
Users are likely to glimpse a map filled with red pins indicating no stock available, but we’ve seen occasional green pins show up throughout the morning. You’ll have to be fast though, as they sell out very quickly.
Related Roundup: AirPods 2
Tag: AirPods Guide
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
[ 297 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
36 months ago
I can't get over how silly they look in the ear, though
If you think they look silly while worn normally, check out this: ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/12/21/man-body-modification-keep-airpods-in-place/')
36 months ago
Okay, they look weird, but in my case not an issue as my hair covers my ears. If I had short hair.....dunno.
I started wearing them from the day one. You know what it looks weird to me now? When I see people with wires coming out of their necks, pockets, t-shirts, all over their face,chin and dangling on their chest!
36 months ago
CAN WE GET OVER A HEADPHONE? THANKS. so much drama about it.
Thousands of youtube videos about this ****.
Unboxings like people are having orgasms...
Is this humans have turned into? about a stupid bluetooth device?
If you want it...buy it...if not dont buy it...Simple....If Apple makes feces people are gonna unbox it and make a big deal if it is good or not. Most just want views, show off, anyway. I'm done about all these news of AirPods...going crazy.
Thousands of youtube videos about this ****.
Unboxings like people are having orgasms...
Is this humans have turned into? about a stupid bluetooth device?
If you want it...buy it...if not dont buy it...Simple....If Apple makes feces people are gonna unbox it and make a big deal if it is good or not. Most just want views, show off, anyway. I'm done about all these news of AirPods...going crazy.
36 months ago
Here's another AirPod easter egg that I just discovered last night - if you tripple-tap one and then double-tap the other within 2 seconds they'll auto-tune the iPhone into the SETA site and listen in on the raw space-chatter feed. It's so cool and I'm surprised Apple hasn't documented this yet. One alien even talked to me this morning but I was busy eating cereal so it sounded kinda muffled.
36 months ago
Am I the only one here that thinks they look very futuristic and cool on your ears?
36 months ago
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/concurrence?s=t
AND YES, THEY SUCK BALLS! It's just the same old iPhone's headphones, now wireless
If you don't like them, why are you reading and commenting on an AirPods-related article and trying to spread your hate for them? If you don't like them, cool. But plenty of people do/will. Completely subjective.
36 months ago
="Kaspersky, post: 24100387, member: 788819"]http://www.dictionary.com/browse/concurrence?s=t
AND YES, THEY SUCK BALLS! It's just the same old iPhone's headphones, now wireless
iPhone was never sold with headphones, it was sold with earpods. Headphones are different category.
The use of concurrence on your case makes absolutely no sense. You meant competition and you trying now to cover your silly mistake by bringing some dictionary definition for it.
36 months ago
I am still trying to grasp a product that 50% of the consumer base can't keep in their ears, or the fact these were released as a for profit product that only certain people can even use due to their ear shape. lol. The ones with the iPhones are free, so that doesn't matter.
Who says 50%? It's amazing the number of people who don't own these who continue to poo-poo them. I can tell you I don't regret spending $159 + tax for these TWICE (one set for the wifey). Not even for a second.
You couldn't pry them out of my warm, wax-filled ears.
36 months ago
Had my AirPods for 24 hours so far.
So far so good, loving them. There is no exaggeration when it comes to how they connect. It's instant, effortless, and is pretty magical compared to reg bluetooth. On my Apple Watch, iPhone, and MacBook, I have yet to find the slightest hiccup.
As far as sound quality I have 0 complaints. They sound great even in noisy environments and the sound quality using the two mics (I haven't used just 1) is fantastic as well.
So far so good, loving them. There is no exaggeration when it comes to how they connect. It's instant, effortless, and is pretty magical compared to reg bluetooth. On my Apple Watch, iPhone, and MacBook, I have yet to find the slightest hiccup.
As far as sound quality I have 0 complaints. They sound great even in noisy environments and the sound quality using the two mics (I haven't used just 1) is fantastic as well.
36 months ago
How alienated is the Apple consumer? Those headphones sucks compared with the concurrence.
Actually is the opposite, but yeah, whatever floats your b....
Silliness is getting on steroids lately here.
[ Read All Comments ]
Burst Mode refers to when the camera on your iPhone captures a series of photos in rapid succession, at a rate of ten frames per second. It's a great way to shoot an action scene or an unexpected...
Apple's Portrait Mode has become a popular way of taking impressive shots using a depth-of-field effect known as bokeh, allowing iPhone users to shoot a photo that keeps the subject sharp with a...
Apple has redesigned the native Camera app on the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro to make space for the various additional shooting options available in its new flagship phones, and one particularly...
Apple's massive launch week has come to a close, with the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and Apple Watch Series 5 all debuting on Friday. And as if that wasn't enough, Thursday...
With the arrival of the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple has introduced an optional new camera feature in iOS 13 that's designed to allow you to correct the alignment of...
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with AnyTrans to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of Apple's new iPhone 11 Pro Max devices and a lifetime AnyTrans license.
For...
Due to Apple seeding the iOS 13.1 beta prior to the public release of iOS 13, upgrading to a new iPhone may be a bit trickier this year.
In a support document, Apple has provided instructions...
Apple today the golden master version of an upcoming tvOS 13 update to developers, one week after seeding the eleventh beta and more than three months after unveiling the tvOS 13 software at the...
