Apple is a brand that not only captures the smartphone and laptop segment but also has a significant dominance in the sector of accessories. We might have a clash of ideas with their design approach. Still, the accessories developed by Apple are of high quality and premium materials. Their integration across the entire Apple platform is very seamless. These accessories talk to devices in a very efficient and fantastic manner. The connectivity is impressive, and the connection is very stable. The pairing process, if any, is also straightforward and vivid. To its approach going all cable-less, Apple launched the first generation of its wireless earphones last year. They were as expected, very capable, had few issues, and hence this year, they got an upgrade. The Apple air pods pro, launched in October 2020, addresses various issues that the first-generation air pods had and overall is a further refined product.
Unboxing Impressions
The packaging by Apple is always minimalistic yet containing all the necessary drama that the consumer expects. The unboxing experience is premium and posh. The box for this year’s Apple AirPods Pro is very much similar to that of last year’s, only a tiny bit larger. Upon pealing the plastic film, we have the paperwork, warranty, and regulatory information tucked in an envelope. Beneath that, we are presented with the all-time famous, dental flaws shaped, this time slightly oval, Apple AirPods Pro charging case in white. So, the unboxing experience as it should have been, with very basics included within.
Impressions
Set to be available to consumers on 30th October 2020, the Apple AirPods Pro had a fair bit of unveiling on various YouTube channels and through leaks. The AirPods Pro hosts several new and improved features in this. To name a few, we have the usual active noise cancellation aided by both hardware and software and the transparency mode to let ambient noise flow through. IPX4 water and sweat resistance make it more practical while using daily, the in-ear design with multiple sized ear tips, and lastly, the all-new Adaptive EQ, and much more. The leaks this year were properly channeled and shared to various media platforms before the launch itself. This is very unorthodox, as Apple tries to hide the product until the last moment. To test its acceptability and create a hype, our knowledge’s leaks were released un-officially through official channels. This led to different first impression content that was initiated immediately. So, we know a lot about these latest and greatest in-ear style earphones by Apple.
To start with, they cost around $250, which for a pair of wireless earbuds is pretty high-end. So, this puts a significant burden on them. They can’t sound crap. They have to compete with some other really nice earphones, which cost marginally low. To justify their worth, they have to fulfill the essential criteria of a very liberal term in their own name. We need to know that what’s so “Pro” in them that the consumer might pay the demanded price tag when he/ she can get a competent pair of earbuds at a reasonably low price. The very evident change comes in the design language itself. This year’s AirPods are a tiny bit shorter.
They have a smaller stem that protrudes less from down the ear as last year did a fair bit more. Visually speaking, they look a tiny bit better this year, and the sense of them being a regular wired AirPods, whose wires have just been cut off is somewhat gone, at least. Overall, they are more reasonable looking and a tiny bit decent pair of earbuds by Apple, keeping in view that how weird and odd-shaped these earbuds can usually get. The rumor mill had various thoughts, one of them that really caught our attention was that the Apple AirPods Pro might be available in multiple colors, but that turned out to be false. They are only available in frost white.
A very logical reason for making the earbuds white or any bright color is the ease of finding them if you accidentally drop them off. They are now officially IPX 4 water and dust resistant, which is good for those long and sweaty gym sessions or a run/ jog in a light rain that users occasionally have. This year’s AirPods also include the rubber tip, and yes, they do come in various sizes as well. The medium tips are attached out of the box, whereas the rest two sizes are included as well. Carried on from last year, they do have the custom-developed H1 chip inside them. That makes the pairing process a breeze. We have been a massive fan of how these AirPods or any Apple accessories pair to a device. The process dead simple, fast, and very stable. Bringing the AirPods pro near to your iOS or Mac device and opening the lid immediately triggers the H1 chip. The AirPods Pro is recognized, displaying an animation on the device.
A sort of tutorial starts to play, highlighting the key features of the AirPods Pro as media controls, reading your messages aloud, Siri commands that were enabled from iOS 13.2 onwards, and the very extraordinary active noise cancellation. It is worth mentioning here that this is not just the passive noise cancellation that comes with any standard pair of earbuds that make a seal in your ear to abstain any ambient noise from getting in.
The AirPods Pro uses an array of microphones located on the top and bottom facing away from the ear to pick up any unwanted noise in the surrounding, then filtering out that noise through software to cancel its effect. That’s really clever and only possible due to that powerful yet tiny H1 chip on board. Overall, the active noise cancellation is very much up power with some mid ranging over-ear style headphones. A small mesh grill present on the stem upfront allows some air to pass through them, which adds to consumers’ comfortability. This also omits the pressure development in-ear canal by the suction of ear tips over time. The H1 audio processor is a very capable chip. It has very low latency, and the processing of audio profiles is done on board. It enhances the stability of the connection, and hence a more refined sound experience is attained. The low ends have a good base, considering their tiny size. In contrast, the high lots are crystal clear even at higher volumes without distortion or tearing of nodes.
Our Verdict
At $250, for a pair of earbuds, the Apple AirPods Pro delivers very much as expected. When the bar for the price tag is raised so high, it is then made to perform. Failing to do so would lead to fewer or no sales. They are a really decent pair of earbuds, but the price tag is a bit of a hinder in their way to success. Our only concern is that if Apple somehow reduces the price tag by about $50, they will outsell the competition. They do really sound excellent compared to any other products out there.
loading...
loading...