Why I'm Obsessed with My AirPods Pro - The Secret Feature That Blew Me Away

I've had my fair share of wireless earbuds, but I've recently found myself in the market for a new pair. My first foray into the world of wireless earbuds was with the Xiaomi Air Mi True Wireless Earphones. They were a great value for money, with a decent feature set, but unfortunately, one of the earbuds gave up on me after a few years. I had to start looking for a replacement.

I considered going back to Apple, but I had a bit of a bad experience with the earbuds that came with my 5th iPhone. They were super uncomfortable to wear, and I found myself struggling to hear anything in noisy environments like the subway. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical about trying the AirPods Pro, given their design similarities to the standard earbuds that came with my iPhone.

However, as I started researching different options, I kept coming across the AirPods Pro, and I was intrigued by their design. I'd been eyeing the 'buds with the ear tips, and I wanted to try something a bit different.

Fast forward to me having made the switch to Apple, with my iMac, keyboard, and mouse, an iPhone with a fancy case, an iWatch, and an iPad with a keyboard case, I figured it was time to treat myself to a new pair of earbuds.

My Apple GadgetsTo be honest, I decided not to overthink the choice and just go with a tried-and-tested brand that I've never had any issues with. I bought the AirPods Pro.

✔ The AirPods Pro cost 15,237 rubles.

I have to admit, I was a bit miffed that I didn't buy them in Dubai a few weeks ago, where the prices are significantly lower than in Russia. But, I did get a great deal on a tablet with a keyboard case. Although, looking at the prices in some stores, it seems like I still got a good deal. I'm not sure how much of a bargain it is, though.

The AirPods came in a small, sturdy cardboard box.

On top, there was a protective film that I was excited to remove.

The Apple logo is prominently displayed on the side of the box.

The bottom of the box shows what the AirPods look like.

✔ Package contents:

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AirPods Pro Review Kit charging case,USB-C cable,replacement ear tips in various sizes,user manual.It's worth noting that the power adapter isn't included, but I've got all the Apple adapters and cables on hand. What really gets my goat, though:

the charging cable on AirPods Pro, USB-C type The way they mess around with their charging cables is mind-boggling – all these different types and combinations across their devices. Now I've got a bunch of cables to keep track of, and it's gotten to the point where I'm getting confused about which one to use.I wish it were simpler – one end USB-C, the other Lightning. But here, one end is Type-C, the other is the Lightning connector for my 11th-gen iPhone and Apple Watch, while the tablet uses both Lightning ends. With my AirPods, I can use the iPhone's cable and adapter or the tablet's adapter and the AirPods' cable. It's all a bit of a headache.

So, when I'm charging my Apple gear, I've got a bunch of different cable combinations to choose from – which is both good and bad. On one hand, I've got everything I need without having to buy any additional accessories. On the other hand, Apple just can't seem to settle on a single standard and keeps changing things up.

I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get started with the product. The manual is included, but to be honest, it's not really necessary. I've always been a bit skeptical about reading manuals, but in this case, everything is so straightforward that I didn't even bother to look at it.

The box also comes with two sets of ear tips in different sizes.

The earbuds come with a pre-installed size M, and you also get a size S, which is the smallest and M.However, I did have to watch a video on how to remove the ear tips from the AirPods, because when I tried to pull the tip, it wouldn't budge - it would just stretch and I was worried I'd end up breaking it. Apparently, you're supposed to pinch the tip with your fingers from both sides and pull it off firmly. But I just use my nail to pick up the small hole, and the tip comes off easily. Putting the ear tips back on the earbuds is a bit easier, just make sure you get the alignment right - they're a bit long.

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✔ Connectivity

I have to say, I was really impressed by how simple the connection process was. If you're used to just turning on Bluetooth and connecting your regular earbuds, this is a bit of a different story. But it's not complicated, and it's actually kind of fun.

I have to admit, I found it kind of funny when I realized I was scanning my ear to buy these AirPods. I mean, it's just like scanning your fingerprints and face when you purchase a phone, but with your ear!

Scanning your ear for AirPodsI was a bit skeptical at first, but the phone guided me through the process, telling me exactly how to rotate my head to get it just right.Scanning your ear for AirPodsAnd then I discovered a whole bunch of amazing features that I hadn't seen with other headphones, and I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed.

What's really interesting is that before I bought the AirPods Pro, I didn't read any reviews - that's not like me, I usually do my research. But I've had Apple products for years, and they've always worked flawlessly. Of course, there have been some issues over time, but nothing that's ever really bothered me. My 5th iPhone is still going strong, although it's mostly just for making calls and using the system, since the 16GB memory is pretty limited.

That's what I mean - I had no idea what to expect, and I thought the AirPods were just going to be your average, everyday headphones with standard features. But they're so much more than that.

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✔ Battery Life and Charging

Since I only use my headphones before bed and not every day, I find that the battery life is more than long enough for me.

My MagSafe charger has been a lifesaver for my AirPods Pro. It can charge my earbuds for up to 24 hours, and the case itself charges pretty quickly too. I love that my iPhone lets me know when the case is done charging. With these earbuds, I can listen to music for 4.5 hours straight without needing to recharge.

I'm also loving that 5 minutes of charging gives me an hour of playback time. That's a huge plus in my book!

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✔ Sound Quality

I don't have any super high-end earbuds to compare these to, but I'm really enjoying the sound quality on my AirPods Pro. It's clean, clear, and perfect for unwinding before bed. I'm a big fan of ASMR, and these earbuds deliver.

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✔ Design and Build

Design-wise, my AirPods Pro look just like any other earbuds. The case is a plain white with no Apple logos, which is actually kind of weird for me - I'm used to seeing that Apple logo everywhere!

On the front of the case, there's a little light indicator that shows when it's charging. On the back, there's a small metal clip that holds everything together.

At first, I thought the case was a bit too wide, but when I pulled out my old earbuds, I realized just how compact the AirPods Pro are.

I was surprised by how much wider they are, but also how much more compact they are. The design is so sleek that they not only look better but are also easier to grab. When you look inside, the right earbud is on the right side and the left one is on the left side.

AirPods Pro reviews I've had issues with other models figuring out where to insert things, but these earbuds fit neatly into the case. However, getting them out requires a bit of finagling with the rubber cap – the earbuds themselves don't want to budge. The earbuds themselves have a unique shape that's different from what I'm used to. When I saw photos of these earbuds online, they looked massive and elongated, but compared to others, they're actually pretty small. Still, they fit comfortably in my ears and even wrap around them a bit.I've noticed that a lot of people complain about feeling uncomfortable with their earbuds. I can't say it's the same for me, but there's definitely some truth to it. After wearing them for a long time, I get this feeling that something's off. I think it might be because of the oval-shaped ear tips, which don't fit perfectly in my ear. With round ear tips, I never had this problem, but the oval ones tend to fall out of my ear because of their shape and design. My AirPods, on the other hand, have never fallen out, even during intense cardio workouts.

Maybe I should try the smaller ear tips for AirPods and see if that makes a difference, but to be honest, I'm perfectly happy with the M-size ear tips.But that small issue is more than made up for by the amazing functionality that gets me really excited.

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A little about the earbuds' design

You can see the external microphone in the photo below. It's really useful, and I'll tell you more about it in the functionality section.

The stems have a pressure sensor, which allows me to control the earbuds. xa0

✔ AirPods Pro features review

Customization options are plentiful.I'm used to not having a separate menu for earbuds in my phone, but these guys offer a ton of customization options, including the ability to tweak each earbud individually. I'll dive deeper into the settings in my next update, where I'll cover all the features.

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Ear recognition is a thingIt's business as usual here - take one earbud out, and the music stops.

Seal checkYou can actually check how snug these earbuds fit in your ears using your phone, and if there's an issue, you'll get a prompt with some helpful advice on how to fix it.

Control with Earbuds I was really frustrated with my old earbuds because when I'd adjust them in my ear, I'd accidentally press the controls and mess up the playback. But with these AirPods, all the controls are on the stem and you can't accidentally press them. You can switch between modes, like pausing, switching tracks, and answering calls, but you can't adjust the volume.

Siri One of the coolest things about these AirPods is that you can use Siri to control them. I've even set it up to read out my notifications to me.

Noise Cancellation | Transparency Hands down, my favorite feature of these AirPods. You can activate noise cancellation and it's like being in your own little world. The first time I used it in the gym, I was blown away by how effective it was. The music and the chatter just faded away and I was left with the sound of my workout. It was a really cool feeling.

But transparency is the opposite. If you're using regular headphones, you need to take them off to really listen to what's going on around you. With these, thanks to the external mic, you can hear everything going on around you - cars approaching, people talking - while still hearing the music clearly. So, when you're out for a walk, you can stay aware of your surroundings, and when you're immersed in music, you can still keep an ear out for what's happening around you.

You can also turn these features off and just use them as regular headphones.

Personalized spatial audioThis feature really creates a sense of presence. I was watching a movie on my tablet, and when I turned my head to the side, the sound from the earbud closest to the tablet got louder. It's like having someone right next to you, speaking to you.

Personalized spatial audioWater and sweat resistanceIt's no secret that you shouldn't swim with your headphones on, but having some protection against water and sweat is still a nice bonus.

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I've tried out most of the features, and I've listed my favorites below.

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👤 Life hack: how to use AirPods to eavesdrop on others

One thing that caught my attention in the iPhone or iPad is the Live Listening feature, which isn't meant for eavesdropping, but rather to help you hear someone better in a noisy environment. Essentially, the iPhone becomes a microphone and sends the sound to your headphones. So, if you place it in the same room with Live Listening enabled, you can hear what's being said on the other side of the wall from another room. This works at the same distance as Bluetooth.

I can think of plenty of scenarios where this could come in handy, ranging from altruistic reasons to, well, let's just say not-so-nice intentions. On the positive side, it could be useful for students attending late lectures, people with hearing impairments, or even parents who want to keep an ear on their little ones while they're playing or studying. The possibilities are endless!

To enable Live Listening, head to Settings > Control Center > Hearing. You'll notice a small ear icon that indicates you're in Live Listening mode.

I'm really glad I chose these earbuds, and features like this one make me feel like I got a great value for my money.

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