Airpods in the wind

Airpods in the wind: a reader asks…

I’ve been trying to buy Apple Airpods but the local store is always sold out. Wanted to get these as a gift for my husband. I can order them online but the site says it’ll be March before they show up. Are there any good alternatives for my iPhone-loving husband?

Back in September I wrote about the Airpods and some alternatives in my article Wireless Earbuds. I also wrote about the shortcomings of Bluetooth for earbud equipment in my article Bluetooth Shortcomings. I think both are worth a read. Like you, I have been unable to get a set of Airpods to try out, but reading other online reviews from respected authors, I think Apple’s got a good product on its hands – certainly as good or better than most of the competition. If your husband owns an iPhone, Airpods are the best complement.

Unless your husband wants to use them swimming, running or exercising and sweating a lot. Airpods are not waterproof! And they don’t fit everyone’s ears – many reviewers talked about how they don’t fit every ear. If the wired Earpods that came with your husband’s iPhone fit his ears ok, then the Airpod earbuds will fit just as well. Personally, I think they’re worth waiting for. But you asked for alternatives, so let me lay out some good ones. Please note that the market is changing very quickly, and new models will be forthcoming maybe even by the time you read this.

Before I start talking about specific alternatives you need to consider the structural differences between Airpods and the current crop of Bluetooth earbuds. A lot are coming with tethers, which tie the two earbuds together with a light cord that wraps around the back of the head. Some folks find this so annoying that they won’t wear earbuds with tethers, considering it too much like the wired earbuds. Others find that feature indispensable, since it makes it much harder to lose one earbud, and when not using them they can easily hang around the neck.

The second thing to consider is that the Airpods have that funky-looking boom that hangs down from the ear. Some folks find that awful from a style perspective and wouldn’t be caught dead sporting Airpods. But the booms serve a particularly enticing purpose: better microphone quality. Bluetooth earbuds are notorious for having terrible sound quality – not the music or talk you hear in your ears wearing them, but the sound of your voice when you talk to someone else.

With two directional microphones pointed towards your mouth and reaching closer to it, the sound quality is significantly better – according to folks I’ve heard using them. When on the phone with someone using Airpods, they sound very clear, almost as good as someone using the wired Earpods. I’d say they’re even better than someone holding a phone to their face. Of course, this is just my subjective opinion (after testing them out in an Apple Store).

Lastly, for an iPhone owner, there’s a lot to be said for the Airpods’ ease of pairing and staying paired with all your Apple devices. It couldn’t be easier, just pop them out of the case with your iPhone nearby and a screen will pop up to tap and confirm the connection – just the first time. Not only will that pair your Airpods with your iPhone, but also your Apple Watch, iPad or Mac (as long as they’re all using the same Apple ID). All my other Bluetooth earbuds connection method has been not nearly as smooth and reliable. I’ve tried out several including the pricy offering from Bragi called The Dash, and they just don’t hold a candle to the Airpods integration with other Apple products.

Ok, on to the alternatives. I haven’t tried these out, but have reviewed other authors’ reviews and see these as the top of the market as of today. Currently, these are the top-5, tether-less models (most with dual microphones):

1. The aforementioned Bragi earbuds: The Dash. They’re about $300 and available online or from Brookstone stores
2. Samsung’s Gear IconX. About $180 and available from Amazon.com, among other online retailers
3. Motorola’s VerveOnes+. $200-$250 and available direct from Motorola or Amazon.com, among other online retailers
4. Erato Apollo 7: About $280 available from Amazon.com
5. Jabra Elite Sport: $200 available direct or from Best Buy

These are all good alternatives, although I can’t speak for their availability or efficacy for your husband. My personal opinion? This type of purchase is too personal to be done as a surprise. I think your husband should pick out what he wants, unless you are totally certain you know what he’ll like. As an iPhone user, I’m holding out for the Airpods.