Music is an integral part of everyone’s life. We switch to music when we are happy, sad, angry, doing a chore, recovering from a break-up, or simply relaxing and taking a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. One cannot live without music, and that is a fact.
In today’s date, one of the important gadgets that bring music closer to us is earphones and headphones. They allow us to have our own private moments with our music, making the experience more personal rather than forcing everyone around us to listen to what we are listening to.
Recently, AirPods and wireless earbuds have emerged as the two of the most popular gadgets that are more appealing to listeners than earphones.
What are Wireless Earbuds?
Wireless earbuds, also known as truly wireless earphones, are currently the trendsetters. Every earphone manufacturer is rushing to get a pair on the market. And the manufacturer who don’t have any product ready to sell are purchasing generic models and branding them to ensure they don’t miss out. Wireless earbuds are earphones that are worn in your ears. They possess a transmitter connected to an audio source and wirelessly transmits the signal to the receiver in your ear. This means that no cords or wires are required to connect them to your device.
While talking about wireless earbuds, we have to keep in mind that there are wireless and ‘true’ wireless earbuds. Both use Bluetooth and have no wires connecting the device to the earbuds. However, traditional wireless earbuds have a wire connecting the two earbuds. They usually have a neckband, but they can also be as simple as a wire that goes behind the neck like a necklace. However, there is no such wire between the two earbuds in ‘true wireless’ earbuds. Instead, the earbuds are inserted into your ears, and the signal is wirelessly transmitted between the two earbuds. Wireless earbuds are connectible in some way, over the head, or around the back of the neck, as with many sports sets, but they no longer require access to a phone jack.
What are AirPods?
Apple first introduced AirPods in 2016, which are truly wireless, entirely wire-free earbuds that feature high-quality audio and long battery life. Further, the AirPods have a built-in microphone that filters out unnecessary background noise, allowing users to make phone calls, refer to music, watch and enjoy Apple TV shows, and converse with Siri, Apple’s digital assistant.
In March 2019, Apple released the AirPods Pro, the second generation of the AirPods. It looks almost identical to the original AirPods but includes a new H1 chip that allows one to activate Siri with their voice.
The AirPods have proximity sensors on both sides that detect when they are in our ears. When we put the AirPods in our ears, their sensors are blocked, and the AirPods are aware that they are in our ears. It communicates with other devices via Bluetooth. The AirPods have a very long battery life, lasting 5 hours. Further, the charging case adds up to 24 hours of listening time.
Wireless earbuds v/s AirPods: What is the difference?
Let us now delve deeper into the major differences between wireless earbuds and AirPods.
- Wireless.
The primary distinction between the traditional wireless earbuds and the new generation AirPods is that the AirPods are truly wireless, whereas the previous ones are wired. For those who struggled to keep the wired earbuds in their ears, the new AirPods are the way to go. AirPods are the next generation of headphones and a fantastic magical solution to the tangled headphone problem that plagued wireless earbuds. AirPods reinvented wireless listening by delivering a reimagined wireless listening experience.
- Design.
Aside from the wireless component, the basic design of both AirPods and wireless earbuds remains the same. The AirPods design took the classic wireless earbuds and simply removed the cables, leaving the stem hanging from the ears. The AirPods are housed in a sleek white casing with two compartments for the AirPods.
- Controls.
The third most notable feature of the AirPods is support for Apple’s digital assistant, Siri. Simply double-tapping the AirPods activates Siri and puts it at one’s disposal in a flash. One can ask Siri to make phone calls and to answer any questions they may have. Furthermore, Siri can control the music on the device. The second generation of AirPods, the AirPods Pro, introduces a new feature called handsfree ‘Hey Siri,’ allowing individuals to summon Siri with their voice rather than double-tapping the earbuds.
On the other hand, traditional wireless earbuds will have control buttons on the earpieces that you can tap to skip a track, increase volume, issue voice commands, or answer phone calls.
- Wireless Charging.
Another significant improvement is the new wireless charging case. The AirPods Pro is housed in a sleek white casing with two compartments for the AirPods that also serve as a charging case. The new wireless charging case is a significant addition to the new AirPods, allowing Qi-based wireless charging. However, the traditional wireless earbuds do not provide that and have to be charged using a cable or a mobile charger’s USB cable.
For those who struggled to keep the wired earbuds in their ears, the new AirPods are the better and safest option. Further, the new and improved AirPods Pro are extremely simple to set up and use. They’re also far more comfortable and have fantastic features, such as adaptive EQ and spatial audio support. The most notable distinction between AirPods Pro and other wireless buds is that the AirPods Pro uses active noise cancellation rather than passive noise reduction, is water-resistant, and comes with customizable ear tips. Unfortunately, they are a bit heavy when it comes to the price, but comfort always is expensive. So, pick the gadget that best suits you and your personality!
