Expert’s Rating
Our Verdict
It ’s become de rigueur to draw Apple’swhite earbudsas “ omnipresent ” and “ iconic”—and justifiably so . Not only are they almost inextricably linked to the fellowship ’s iPods and iPhones , but Apple revealed at its late pressure event that it had shipped600 millionsets of the headphones , a number that almost certainly make them the most - used objet d’art of gear in the account of audio reproduction .
Beyond their ubiquity and iconic status , though , Apple ’s earbuds havefrequently been deride as offering sub - par speech sound . They ’ve alsooccasionally been praised — despite their mediocre sound quality liken to higher - end headphones , it ’s amazing that they sound as good as they do look at thatdesigning good earbuds is inherently difficult , not to mention that Apple bring forth them at unbelievable scale of measurement and includes them with many products at no additional toll .
Apple has distinctly seat important applied science feat in its earbuds over the year . The product ’s history include several minor rescript , include the addition of a rubberise ring to help the earphones stay in place , and an inline remote / mike mental faculty present to complement the iPhone . The company has also made two attempts at premium , after - market place headphones , include the long - lay off $ 39Apple In - auricle Headphones ( ) , and the still - useable , $ 79 dual - driverApple In - Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic()—with assorted resultant role .
All of that is to say that it did n’t arrive as a shock whenApple enclose , alongside the iPhone 5 , a entirely redesign variant of its classic earbuds , the $ 29Apple EarPods . ( The name is a cute portmanteau ofearbudsandiPod , though it ’s one that ’s been used before by theearPodheadphone case . ) Still , though Apple is known for its willingness to introduce both evolutionary update and consummate redesigns of its existing products , it ’s big news in the audio world when the most pervasive earbuds of all time get supersede with something that ’s purportedly much better — Apple say the EarPods have been in the workings for three years andboaststhat the “ audio quality is so higher-ranking , they rival gamy - end phone that be hundred of dollar more . ”
( In summation to the $ 29 retail translation , the EarPods are also admit with the iPhone 5 , fifth generation iPod touch , and 7th coevals iPod nano , but not the iPod shuffle , which continues to let in the previous Apple earbuds . )
Ear-gonomics
The retail variant of the EarPods total in typically minimalist , snowy promotional material that show off the mathematical product in an included white - and - clean - charge plate guinea pig , which also acts as a bobbin for the EarPods ’ cord . ( That corduroy is slenderly thinner than that of the late earbuds . ) The EarPods ’ inline remote / mike module , located on the correct - hand earpiece cable television , is somewhat large than that of the old earbuds , with extra strain relief , bigger buttons that are easier to iron , and no seeable mike hole . The left side of the snag cable has a cable’s length slider , which can attach to the proper - hand cable to adjust fit or to keep the schism cord together during computer storage . The connections between the cables and the headphone have also take in enhanced strain relief .
address of the headphone , that ’s where the action is . The young earpiece have an oblong , roughly teardrop - shaped silhouette rather than the round silhouette of the old earbuds . This Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the effect ofApple ’s fresh design outgrowth for the EarPods , which was base on taking capitulum feeling of a large routine of individuals and creating an earphone that would best conform to a wide range of ears . The resulting phone count a little alien ( perhaps appropriate , giventhe pop - culture tie-up between “ pod ” and “ foreign ” ) and feature two radiator grille : one on the front case and another over the curtain raising that directs sound into the listener ’s ear . The back side of the earpiece ( by from your ear canal ) , and , cleverly , the root word that leads to the cable both feature sea bass ports that facilitate melodic line sea bass and midrange response .
Sound caliber away , one of the most common complaints about Apple ’s previous earbuds was that they did n’t abide in listeners ’ ears well . That fault was annoying for the wearer , but it also mean that the earbuds were often positioned in a way that bring forth hapless good quality . The new invention , at least in my ears , offers a much more secure and comfy paroxysm . The EarPods did n’t fall out due to irritating affair like solemnity during normal use ( although a sharp drag on the cable will dislodge an earpiece ) . However , the EarPods ’ conniption is still far from perfect , as I discovered when I used them during a workout . Within a mo or two , the right earpiece would work its path out of my pinna . Everyone ’s ears are unlike , and your mileage may be better or worse than mine , but within about five minutes , I flip back to my trusty Koss KSC–75 ( ) for the rest of the workout . Still , I found the fit of the EarPods was worlds better than that of the honest-to-god Apple earbuds , and I mean that will be the case for most listeners .
Because the EarPods meet profoundly in the ear than the previous Apple earbuds , they also propose a number more closing off from outside noise , and they leak less wakeless . However , they still pale in comparing to truecanalphones and canalbuds , which form an acoustic seal in your ear .
The proof of the pudding
Beyond the well fit , Apple says the EarPods ’s cagey new shape is designed to “ make a phone that was the very best it could be . ” In my initial trial run , I was chop-chop impressed with the EarPods . Bass was always a weak daub of the premature Apple earbuds : It was either nonexistent if you had a pitiful fit , or imperious , muddy , and indistinct with a good fit . With the EarPods , sea bass is much cleaner , with decided tones , though it still lack particular — satisfying performance for an earbud , but not up to the level of , say , an inexpensive canalbud or canalphone . Midrange frequency sound seemly enough and benefit greatly from the better - moderate bass . High frequencies are particularly good , with a clear , natural audio that keep off the harsh , tinny calibre of the old exemplar ’s three-fold .
That may sound like faint praise , but getting excellent carrying into action out of earbuds is extremely unmanageable . For this style of headphones , at this price , Apple ’s EarPods are telling , and in my initial examination they appear to be a fantastic rising slope over the previous model . In my experience reviewing headphones , I ’ve found that good phone enhance the listening experience , while bad one get in the way of it . The previous Apple earbuds got in the path ; the EarPods instead fit right in the center of that grasp — not enhancing the hearing experience , but not detracting from it , either .
First impressions…
Most people who finish up with a pair of EarPods will have receive them bundled with another Apple Cartesian product . While some of them will opt for in effect speech sound through third - party headphone , many ( most ? ) will happily listen to the EarPods , never recognize they ’re getting a much - improved listening experience compared to Apple ’s former toss - IN .
If you do n’t have a set of EarPods , are they deserving spending $ 29 for ? In the world of headphones , $ 29 is fairly inexpensive , and if you ’re just looking to upgrade from existing Apple earbuds , or to replace a bemused or humiliated stage set , I can recommend the EarPods — they’re well worth their retail price ( which puts them far ahead of the company ’s previous models ) . Whether you want to spend a fiddling more for even better speech sound is another enquiry . We ’ll be update this article with more - thoroughgoing impressions of healthy quality after we ’ve spent more time with the EarPods .
Macworld contributorR. Matthew Wardlives in St. Louis and does n’t care to count the curing of Apple earbuds he ’s owned ( OK , fine , it ’s 10 ) . He drop a line ( at times ) about audio , Apple , and other cool stuff onhis personal web log .
