Reasons why the ‘craze’ for Apple AirPods has slowed down
Reasons why the ‘craze’ for Apple AirPods has slowed down
Apple AirPods are Bluetooth wireless earbuds designed to work with your iPhone and iPad. However, because AirPods are Bluetooth audio devices, they can be used with any other computer or smartphone; you can even pair them with an Apple TV. While every iOS iPhone comes with a pair of wired earbuds, AirPods have several benefits that make them worth upgrading to.
How Do AirPods Differ From Earbuds?
The original iPhone was released in 2007; it always included a simple pair of wired headphones in the box. You’ve probably used an iPhone or iPad if you’ve ever owned one. Both earbuds are connected to an audio connector on your phone through a Y-connection.
Apple removed the standard headphone connection on the iPhone 7 and replaced it with a Lightning port connector on wired headphones. All wired earbuds come with a built-in media controller that lets you play, pause and skip tracks.
AirPods aren’t like other headphones, and they are entirely wireless with no cables and no connection to one another. Instead, both earpieces have their own Bluetooth radios that connect to your phone or other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Not only will you be able to avoid tangles of cables, but if you have an iPhone 7 or later, you’ll be able to use AirPods while charging your phone via the port.
Features of AirPods-
The first AirPod (introduced in 2016) and the AirPod 2 are the two iterations of Apple’s AirPods (released in 2019). They seem identical on the surface, but there is some significant difference.
The original AirPods are powered by Apple’s original W1 wireless chip, whereas the AirPods 2 are powered by Apple’s newer H1 wireless chipset, which Apple claims is twice as fast.
Both AirPods come with an accelerometer to detect movements, optical sensors to determine whether they’re in your ears, and microphones for making phone calls and utilising Siri.
The AirPods come with a charging case with an inbuilt battery to increase the earpieces’ energy life while they’re not plugged in. The original AirPods case had a cable for charging. The AirPod 2 does, however, come with a wireless case that must be purchased separately. However, the AirPod 2 has a wireless case that is bought separately.
Both versions of the AirPods have roughly the same total battery life, which amounts to more than 24 hours of listening time when ultimately charged within the case. The AirPods 2 have a slightly longer talk time on a single charge, about three hours instead of two.
About AirPods-
First, connect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad, or other devices.
The AirPods are built specifically for the left and right ear due to their form. If you’re having trouble distinguishing which is which, each earbud has a little “L” and “R” printed on the stem. Place them in your ears and bend the stem straight down to fit into the notch in your ear.
The AirPods do not have a power button. They recognise when they’re in your ear and are ready to work as you put them in because they’re equipped with accelerometers and optical sensors. When you remove them, they’ll also pause audio.
The way your AirPods work depends on the model you have:
- Compatible with all AirPod models: Double-tapping an earbud accepts and ends phone calls.
- Original AirPods: To wake Siri, double-tap either earbud. You can use Siri to control audio by telling her to “play,” “pause,” “lower volume,” “return to the previous song,” or “skip song.”
- AirPods 2: to skip tunes, double-tap an earpiece. Say “Hey Siri” to wake Siri up. You may also alter the settings on your AirPods so that a double-tap performs different functions.
After five years, four models, and millions of units sold, the AirPods enthusiasm appears to be waning. According to a data firm Canalys, global AirPods shipments dropped dramatically in Q3 2021. AirPods have had a fast pace in the true wireless industry for quite some time. Apple is still the clear leader, but its market share is falling.
Here are four reasons why AirPods aren’t driving people insane:
- The game of numbers-
Let’s look at the stats before we get into the explanations. According to Canalys, Apple shipped approximately 17.8 million true wireless earbuds in Q3 2021, including earlier Beats models. Apple shipped 26.8 million AirPods in the same quarter last year, a decrease of 33.8 per cent. With a market share of 24.6 per cent, Apple retains the market leader, but it is down from 37.6 per cent in Q3 2020.
- There are far too many participants on the market.
Over the years, the TWS market has exploded. Almost every smartphone manufacturer, audio manufacturer, and even Amazon has their own wireless earbuds. The Canalis number shows this. “Others” controlled nearly 49% of the market, implying that many players are stifling AirPods sales. “Audio players like Jabra, Sony, and JBL are now taking a more competitive position by selling TWS versions at a variety of price points,” stated Sherri Jin, Canalys Research Analyst.
- AirPods have a long replacement cycle.
People who own AirPods keep them for at least two years before replacing them. You can anticipate your AirPods to last at least two years if you have a pair. As a result, existing customers do not upgrade regularly, and attracting new consumers in a competitive market is difficult.
- Apple’s ‘delay’ in updating its AirPods lineup
Every year, almost every brand introduces several new products. Take Samsung, which will release two ‘flagship’ TWS in 2021. Samsung comes in second place with a market share of 12%. Every year, companies like Jabra remove several gadgets. In comparison, Apple has had three AirPods models and one AirPods Max in the TWS over the last five years. In the category of over-the-ear headphones.
People wait for the new AirPods, but they do not arrive sooner than predicted. Apple has used a two-year update schedule in the past, but that may change with the release of the new AirPods pro at the end of next year. The third-generation AirPods were released in October, and there is a possibility they will be a hit. According to the research firm, the worldwide TWS market is likely to return to robust growth in Q4 during the Christmas season, releasing the third generation AirPods.
- There are many low-cost choices available.
The cheapest AirPods you can buy in India for Rs 12,500 are the second-gen model released in 2019 — almost two years ago. Customers have a plethora of choices, with firms offering quality functionality for less than the price of AirPods. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at Rs 11,999 in India, according to Canalys, and is one of the critical reasons for the brand’s success, and the OnePlus Buds Pro costs less than Rs 10,000.
There are many cheaper alternatives to AirPods, such as Nothing, Oppo, and Jabra. Not to mention companies like Boat, the world’s fifth-largest brand, which offers a wide range of products at various rates. AirPods are an aspirational alternative and ideal for the Apple ecosystem, but customers have numerous other options at a modest cost.
