Gallery: Apple EarPods aim to fit any ear, boost sound quality

By Drew Prindle Published September 12, 2012

Looking back at Apple’s press conference today and all of the new products announced, you could easily argue that the focus was more on form than function. The new iPhone and iPods are thinner, lighter, and have bigger screens — but their functions haven’t improved too drastically. On the flip side, Apple’s new EarPods appear to be a total overhaul of its previous earbuds, even if they don’t look all that different. This new design is the result of rigorous research and development in which Apple scanned hundreds of ears to analyze their shape, and help create a headphone that will be comfortable for anyone to wear. We have yet to get our hands on a pair, but Apple claims that the EarPods will boast vastly improved sound quality as well. Stay tuned for a review in the coming days.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…

Deals

Amazon discounts Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro for Black Friday

The Apple Airpods Pro in their charging case.

In need of great Black Friday headphone deals or Black Friday true wireless earbuds deals today rather than needing to wait till the big event? You're in luck! Black Friday deals have started early this year with some great deals on the entire range of Apple AirPods at Amazon right now. If you're looking for other Black Friday AirPods deals, we've got you covered with even more options and price drops out there.
Apple AirPods with Charging Case -- $129, was $159

If you simply want the benefits of the standard Apple AirPods and you're not interested in a wireless charging pad, then these Apple AirPods are perfect. Down to just $129, a saving of $30 on the usual price, you get all the benefits of Apple AirPods for less. They promise easy setup with all your Apple devices, quick access to Siri, and simple controls with a quick double-tap to play or skip forward. The new Apple H1 headphone chip means they deliver faster and more reliable wireless connection to your devices as well. Expect rich and high-quality audio and voice for less today.

Deals

Apple AirPods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro: Which Prime Day deal is better?

Apple AirPods Pro.

A pair of trusty wireless earbuds are a great addition for anyone -- especially if you've been using wired earphones all your life. The two best wireless earbuds on the market have to be the AirPods Pro
and the Powerbeats Pro
. Both price in at about $250 without any discounts, but with Prime Day deals in full swing, the AirPods Pro are currently on sale for $199 and the Powerbeats Pro are down to $175. Wondering which headphone deals are right for you? Keep reading.

If you are going solely on price, right now the Powerbeats Pro have a better deal. They're on sale for just $175, which means they're about $34 cheaper than the AirPods Pro. But price shouldn't be the only factor used for comparison. Let's start with the basics. The AirPods Pro come in one dynamic color, the signature Apple white, but the Powerbeats Pro are available in multiple shades including ivory, lava red, and black. So if design and color are a selling point for you, you'll want to keep this in mind.

Mobile

No jack, no buds: Apple is killing the iPhone’s EarPods and we’re good with that

apple killing iphone earpods analysis opinion getty

Remember when Apple declared its “courageous” decision to eliminate the headphone jack on the iPhone 7? That was way back in 2016 and, at the time, we felt it was the wrong move. Now, it appears that Apple is driving the final nail into its wired audio support: Superstar Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently predicted the company will stop providing free EarPods with its iPhones, starting with the iPhone 12. And we’re just fine with that.

Surprised? Don’t be. Apple’s EarPods are the latest version of the iconic white wired buds that have been included with every Apple iPod and iPhone since 2001. So while we should all take a moment to reflect on the end of a remarkable 19-year era, let’s not shed too many tears. It’s more than time for the EarPods to take their final bow.