Apple EarPods

[...] Almost every time I'm there I manage to chat to someone briefly, and 50% of them have earpods in. [...] My starter is usually a quick question with a "thank you so much, I'm new here" and if they reach for earpods to put back as they say you welcome, perfect you don't keep going. [...] So headphones/earpods can be a barrier but for me it's a useful barrier and a clear signal, which helps both parties.

[...] After I lost my gen 1 AirPods a couple years ago, I paid $20 for a pair of Apple's corded EarPods and used them until they failed (1) a few months ago. They had a good mic + music controls, sounded fine, and didn't need a dongle. [...]

I like my EarPods, except that the wires keep tangling up. T for that I want to try those zipper hacks They have a good mic and fit properly. [...]

Nice write-up - although I thought you've built your own HARDWARE audio player first. [...] Nobody seems to be happy, everybody seems to fail to build something that fits at least 80% of the requirements most people have. [...] criteria is a bit awkward in days of bluetooth and wireless devices: Working cable headphone remote controls like Apple devices had for more than 10 years now - especially useful for audio books. Years ago I tried to write a cross platform audio player[1] app with C and Flutter inspired by iPod Nano 7g, but it always failed for the same reason: I could not get the headset controls working properly. I've also spent some days to submit a PR on audiobookshelf-app[2], but it didn't get merged, although it worked pretty good on my device. Nowadays I use a combination of my old iPod Nano 7g for music and audiobooks on the go and my Android GrapheneOS Phone as spare device for "streaming" something I don't have with me using Navidrome[3] and Substreamer[4] / DSub[5] for music and audiobookshelf-app[6] and VLC Media Player[7] for audiobooks (the offline support for audiobookshelf regularly breaks on my device) - most of these are available on fdroid or even official app stores. Btw, if you ever wondered, why Apple EarPods do not support Volume Control on Android devices and vice versa, see this link[8] - it's definitely worth a read 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8:

[...] They've kept my earpods and airpods in even while running and dancing. [...]

[...] I use earpods[1], I started using them back when they came with a phone, I'm happy that it's still possible to buy replacements. I like having a reliable wired connection that works and disconnects predictably. [...] My laptop model no longer has a webcam cover or a physical network switch; connecting and disconnecting the trrs[2] cable reminds me of these. [...] Every now and then they take a bit longer to connect or the volume changes unpredictably, or they need to be charged, etc - when wired headphones just work. [...]

I have two wireless sony headphones for handling the battery issue. [...] Mind you, I was travelling and hence didn't follow the usual charging cadence I follow. I charged my wireless headphone for 5 mins and took the call and it went out of juice mid way through the call. [...] Thanks to this article, I just ordered a Apple Earpods USB-C 5 mins ago in Blinkit. [...] Edit after 4 mins: Earpods Delivered!

[...] EarPods and AirPods hang off the ears by protrusions on ears called tragus and antitragus, and the triangular cavity behind it, but that part can be just wide open hemisphere for some people. [...] Supposedly they offer SoTA performances in many domains, so it's kind of sad that I don't get to buy them myself or recommend to anyone unless they change it back to more commonly used shapes.

[...] Modern phones might have wireless charging - so charging while listening is possible even with a dongle. [...] There are (overear) Bluetooth headphones that support charging while listening The headphone jack is a “just works” kind of technology: there’s nothing complicated about it, and its not encumbered by patents, so anybody can make compatible equipment. Oh boy did Apple have success using a proprietary chip for their volume control in EarPods[1] and preventing others except 1more from supporting it. [...] I even submitted a PR[2] to audiobookshelf to support Apple like headset controls, but it has not been merged yet. I still use an iPod Nano 7g to listen to audio books until today :-) 1: 2:

I've been using a recently purchased Google USB-C DAC and Apple wired EarPods with a 3.5 mm plug with my Pixel 8 Pro. [...] The Google DAC sounds quite a bit better to me: fuller and more lifelike sound overall, and orchestral instruments whose sonic signatures I'm very familiar with, such as violins and oboes, sound much closer to the real thing. [...]

[...] of the cable EarPods). [...] That's something I regularly use for audiobooks, so I'm tied to the iPod Nano 7g (the 6g would also work, but I prefer the larger display for navigating chapters). [...] I also "modded" one of my iPod Nano 7g by partially milling out the aluminium backplate and soldering in an iPod Mini battery (600mah), so that I got nearly 3 times the battery life of a factory iPod Nano as well as an easy to replace battery without opening the device (which is way to hard). The bigger iPod Mini battery does not fit without a silicone bumper, but since I already used one, it was perfectly fine. Changing the battery still requires soldering, but at least not fiddling with the very fragile display removal procedure. [...] And everything is better with bluetooth... [...]

I love my EarPods as they deliver a fair package for a fair price. I use them for phone needs, client/friend calls and am always happy with the chat sound quality and the quality of the mic as I find the pick up to be pretty solid. Personally, I don’t want the sound canceling as I can wear these in public and still hear some of my environment.

Love the EarPods as I use them for the PC at home, would be amazing to make a new version with the updated ear shape of the AirPods as these unfortunately get very uncomfortable wearing for longer periods! (7+ hours a day)

when im out active, i dont use my headphones or airpods, dont wanna lose them. and the earpods sound really good. shame no anc but expected for wired

Been using wired EarPods with 3.5mm jack for conference calls and also as backup headphones for a long time now. Best mic quality for the price imo and sound signature is just fine too. Does the job for me.

Mic sounds really good, but I use EarPods for my laptop that is actually like desktop pc, plug and play, dont need 100 steps to connect via bluetooth, to charge it, to forget it were are they and I love that I dont have noice cancelation (i have Airpods PRO and my gf PRO 2) because i like to listen podcast on one ear and have conversation on other or play console on my tv. Also because it's stays with laptop on desk it isn't prone to cable snaping and loosing one or both speakers wich is a plus. Nowadays when you look for wired headphones you have cheap bs for 1$ or some audiophile bs for 1M$, so this is the nice middle ground, from me 10/10!

I think most people use them because they don’t have to be charged, the USB-C EarPods sound pretty good for semi-in ear earbuds, the mic sounds great for calls, you can plug in for Lossless audio, you can fit them anywhere, and with Macs and PC’s now with USB-C ports, they can be used for TEAMS or Zoom meetings, and if you lose them, no big loss, you just buy another pair.

I had AirPods before, I prefer these because the sound quality is so good and I don’t wanna charge my headphones

I love Apple EarPods. My last pair had a 3.5mm jack plug connector + I bought a 3.5mm-to-USB-C Audio adapter. This worked for many years on my Fairphone4 until the cables broke. [...] I bought them, plug them into my Fairphone4. They don’t play audio. [...]

I just got a new phone with type c port and it was such a disappointment with the new EarPods :( I’ve had lightning EarPods for 7 years and it was amazing, but for some reason the new type c ones are such a downgrade in mic quality. Is there a way to fix that? Tried 4(!) pairs and it’s so dull, quiet

Back in the day I had the old lightning wired earpods. [...] I'm currently using the Airpod Pro 3s which have the amazing noise canceling and HR sensor. I might grab a USB-C pair of earpods as a backup, but hard to turn down the features of the APP3. If they had a wired version with noise cancellation and HR, that'd probably be an instant buy for me.

[...] My desktop computer is the only thing I own that doesn't have a USB-C port, but I have much nicer over ear headphones I use on that. [...] It doesn't hurt that they also sound pretty good.

I switched back to EarPods earlier this year and I couldn’t be happier. I never have to worry about charging my headphones or which device they auto connect to. The only thing I miss about AirPods are the occasional times where I would like to use headphones with the Apple TV and the occasional moment where the cable gets caught on something and they get yanked out of my ears.

From a person who owns the latest airpods max, airpods 4 with anc, airpods 2 and the earpods with 3.5 jack and usbc dongle, I still used the wired one for just when laying around, they’re pretty reliable and good sounding atleast for my needs.

I still have the apple earpods the 3.5mm version that came with the ipod touch when I used to have the ipod touch and I have the moon drop quarks with the built in mic non dsp version with the 3.5mm version. The moon drop quarks sounds way better than the apple earpods since the moon drop quarks sounds more neutral than the apple earpods while the apple earpods sounds muddy in comparison. [...] I even replaced the user removable user replaceable stock cables for my fiio fa1 and sennheiser hd 600 with cables that have a built in mic for talking on phone or when I'm playing multiplayer games online from my android devices.

This is Googles answer: Apple EarPods with a USB-C connector do not work seamlessly on all smartphones. [...] Why compatibility can be limited on Android devices: DAC and USB Audio Support: Some smartphones do not output an analog audio signal via the USB-C port and require the headset to have its own DAC, or they require specific USB audio protocols. While the Apple USB-C EarPods do have a built-in DAC, Android systems don’t always initialize it correctly. Limited Remote Control: On many Android devices, music playback and microphones usually work, but the volume buttons on the inline remote are often not supported due to different manufacturer standards. Call Handling Issues: Some users report that while music plays fine, calls via the Apple EarPods microphone are not properly routed or recognized by certain non-Apple devices. Official Stance: According to Apple’s support pages, the EarPods are primarily designed for Apple devices with a USB-C port (like Macs, iPads, and iPhones from recent generations). [...] The quick trick: Flip the connector Even though USB-C plugs are physically symmetrical, the pin assignment for digital audio recognition (the handshake) can sometimes differ slightly. Unplug the EarPods. [...] Often, the Fairphone will instantly recognize the headphones as an audio device again. [...] Check the USB Audio routing settings (Common Android bug) Sometimes a hidden system setting blocks the audio signal. [...] Tap the “Build number” 7 times quickly until a message appears saying you are now a developer. [...] Scroll down to the “Media” section and look for “Disable USB audio routing”. [...]

Coming from someone who owns multiple different earbuds and headphones, the wired EarPods have no business being as good as they are for $20. Very crisp sound quality, amazing call quality because of the cable and no Bluetooth, and physical controls for music that even some higher end headphones and buds are doing away with. I’ve seen cases where the mic in these and even cheaper wired buds absolutely smash the mics inside of earbuds and headphones costing $100s of dollars.

[...] I really dislike in ears, because they're uncomfortable for me and never fit right. A game changer for Earpods is putting foam covers on them. Any standard foam cover like on other earbuds will fit, and I love how it improves the sound and comfort. [...]

I like earpods precisely because of how tame the bass is compared to other brands. I listen to mostly metal/rock, so headphones with too much bass just muddle the sound and takes away the clarity of guitar riffs for me. Earpods have perfect balance for that, I can hear vocals and guitars crystal clear, and it's not like the bass is inaudible, far from it actually, it's just...exactly enough. In fact I just bought these with the USB-c connector to use on my windows notebook, and I think it's noticeably more bass heavy than the one I have with lightning connector. Now, I don't know if that's because of how my notebook processess sounds, or if the hardware is actually more bass heavy than the other one I have. [...]

I bought this for my Note 10+ after looking for some wired earbuds for some time. I bought android related products that were wireless and had issues with them just staying in my ear. [...] I bought an off-brand product from Walmart. [...] Sound quality is very good.

It depends on how you treat them. Some people burn through them like nothing. I have some 20 year old earpods still.

[...] Got a pair of Apple earpods - works for two years without issues for a fraction of the price. [...]

i've had the same pair of apple earpods kicking around since 2013, and they still work. it's crazy how well-made they are the mic sounds decent too (though my pair doesn't have one)

I got a pair of old Apple earpods from 2013 when I got my iPhone 5 back then - they still work like a charm. €90 sounds like a ripoff for that quality

If it's for a phone, nab a pair of USB C headphones from somewhere. I bought a pair for my S21 four years ago, and they sound just as nice as my old Apple Earpods that were Lightning. I will die on the hill of aux or wired headphones over Bluetooth anything.

I don’t have airpods but I still use earpods for video conferencing. Honestly they fit and sound better (louder) when I have right and left switched.

The AirPods Pro are the best earpods I've ever had for everyday use, and I've had a lot. I like some of the old beats headphones, but I also haven't had to replace the ones I bought 5 or 10 years ago. The Sony WH-whatever I have are probably my favorite and most comfortable.

$20 apple EarPods letttsss goooo. I use mine daily. If I lose them or break them, who cares??

I very much appreciate it when people use wired headphones with a decent mic for calls. Speech clarity is just so much better even with Earpods compared to tws earplugs.

I still use AirPods for listening but if I’m ever taking a call, I always use EarPods (USB-C). The microphone quality is multiple times better and that’s important to me. [...] It just seems unprofessional now because of how bad it sounds.

But you have wired earpods, both lightning and usb-3. I cannot be happier with those for my iphone and ipad, resp.

Wired headphones do still exist. :-) I often use a pair of cheap USB C Apple earpods with my Google Pixel.

I've had no trouble using corded headphones with my iphones (either via an adapter or e.g. the $20 usb-c earpods). [...]

[...] What was not, is bluetooth connections with audio devices. This is a solved problem now and my Xiaomi earpods connection is pretty stable. [...]

I used to hate Airpods in videochats since they made the person wearing them sound bad because of dropouts, had heinous latency, and frequently disconnected causing meeting interruptions. But people think they're "better" than [wired] Earpods, which have none of those problems. /me shakes fist at cloud

[...] (Personally, I have earpods but don't like them. [...]

[...] Of course the vision behind removing the 3,5mm port was of a wireless future (and after untangling my Earpods for the 100th time I agree). There was a simple dongle sold and you can still buy Earpods with Lightning or USB-C port if you want wired. It's not like you are forced in any way to wear Airpods, other Bluetooth or USB-C headphones work fine. [...] Removing the port allows for a bit more battery (yeah, I know they didn't use the space on the iPhone 7) and simplifies the design a bit (no DA converter needed, one less port that can break, no support calls from people who plug in an old Nokia 3,5mm cable thats wired different). [...] I've used the 2019 MacBook pro that liked to spin up its fans but had no real issues with performance. Keyboard was okay too ;)

I don't know if this is a helpful comparison for you, but my FTTH cable is almost identical size and material-wise to Apple EarPods cable. Has been working fine for years now, though obviously I don't move the router that much.

I own every airpods and the wired earpods have the best mic of any of them.

[...] They SOUND AWFUL! I bought three different ones because I thought they were so bad. The volume is low, the bass response is terrible and they get static sounds every now and then. [...]