AirPods Will Reshape Wireless Audio for the Masses

Maybe you agree with Apple executives that removing the headphone jack from the iPhone is an act of "courage." Or maybe you recognize that description as the marketing spin it is. Regardless, by creating the wireless AirPods to make up for the lack of an analog audio connection on the iPhone 7, Apple will reshape the market for wireless audio with these relatively inexpensive earbuds.

With a price tag of just $159, Apple's AirPods cost $100 to $150 less than competing true-wireless earbuds. For a company with a reputation for pricey products, that's a pretty big gap. And let's not forget that this category didn't even exist until Earin launched the first pair of wireless earbuds last year, in the fall of 2015, for a whopping $300.

MORE: iOS 10 Bricked My iPhone

So while the quality and design of wireless earbuds have improved over the last 12 months, the price has stayed the same. Look at the current top two wireless buds on the market: Bragi’s Dash and Erato's Apollo 7. The Dash buds have a host of fitness- and health-tracking features, and the Apollo 7s are arguably the best-sounding wireless earbuds available. But they both cost $299, nearly double what Apple wants you to pay.

Then there's a whole horde of upcoming wireless buds. Samsung's $249 Gear IconX, Jabra's $249 Elite Sports and the $299 Yevo 1s aren't even out yet, but could be dangerously overpriced by the time they hit the market.

Apple will be in the unusual position of pushing prices of a category down instead of up.

Not every company in the wireless earbud game was caught completely off-guard by Apple’s aggressive pricing. A day before Apple's iPhone 7 event, Bragi announced The Headphones, which will cost just $149 even after the discounted preorder price of $119 goes away. There are also a handful of other unannounced wireless earbuds coming this fall that should deliver options in the $150 range, but few if any offer the sleek design or seamless integration promised by Apple's AirPods.

Nevertheless, the message is clear: For most, $300 or even $250 is simply too much to pay for true wireless audio. (There will be some exceptions for wireless earbuds and headphones that cater to audiophiles and fitness fanatics.) So if the AirPods turn out to be pretty good — and based on some early reviews, they seem to be — Apple will be in the unusual position of pushing prices of a category down instead of up.

Finally, there's still one question about the AirPods that needs to be to answered: Is the wireless connection between the earbuds and the phone any good? It's an issue that even the best wireless earbuds currently available struggle with. I've yet to test a single pair that can deliver rock-solid audio in NYC. There's so much wireless interference in Manhattan that buds like the Earin are practically unusable. Even the best wireless headphones, such as the Dash and Apollo 7s, are often unstable.

But as the saying goes, if Apple's AirPods can make it in New York, they can make it anywhere. And if they do, when the AirPods come out sometime in October, Apple will have big lead over pretty much every other set of true wireless earbuds for the immediate future. 

TOPICS

Sam is a Senior Writer at Engadget and previously worked at Gizmodo as a Senior Reporter. Before that, he worked at Tom's Guide and Laptop Mag as a Staff Writer and Senior Product Review Analyst, overseeing benchmarks and testing for countless product reviews. He was also an archery instructor and a penguin trainer too (really).

Latest in Headphones
Soundcore AeroClip open-ear earbuds in champagne mist against a blue backdrop
Soundcore AeroClip review: sleek looks and stunning sound, these new open-ears just blew me away
JBL Endurance Race 2 headphones
JBL Endurance Race 2 review: good value sports buds
Ikea Vappeby speaker
I just tested this $15 Bluetooth speaker — and it's shockingly good for the price
Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses next to AirPods Pro 2
New report says Apple is working on Meta-style smart glasses and AirPods with cameras
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 —5 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to skip
Black JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition over-ear headphones
I just tested these $199 “luxury” headphones — and they easily beat JBL and Beats
Latest in Opinion
Google Pixel 9a with thumbs up and thumbs down icons
Google Pixel 9a — 5 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to skip
Ensemble cast members of Netflix's "The Residence" cast peak around a doorway
I just started streaming 'The Residence' — Netflix's new murder mystery show already has me hooked
a photo of a woman doing a cardio workout
3 simple ways to boost your mental stamina, according to a personal trainer
Ryu Jun-yeol as Sung Min-chan in "Revelations" on Netflix
I can’t get over this new psychological thriller on Netflix — you need to stream this gripping movie now
iPhone 12
A port-free iPhone is fine with the EU — and if it happens, I’m ready for it
Google Pixel 9a hands-on.
The Pixel 9a just did something phone cameras haven't done in over a decade
  • Nick1944
    I've gotten much more interested in the AirPods over the course of the past week. I started doing research on other truly wireless earbuds and they all have compromises or problems, most notably the bluetooth audio connection. If Apple has solved this, combined with a very competetive price, compact charging case, tight Apple product integration, and good battery life, it'll vault the AirPods to the undisputed #1 spot instantly. Though I don't really like the design and color (would like to see black) I can understand how the elongated ends with mics will probably make Siri and phone calls dramatically better than with other earbuds. I think I may just pull the trigger and get these, knowing they'll likely be Apple's usual top-of-the-line quality
    Reply