Apple EarPods Review

The Apple Earpods

     In the iPhone 5 event, Tim Cook talked about how Apple has become a company that has a user model based off of media consumption. He said that with any thing in iTunes, you need sound. That was the premise for re-designing the stock Apple eardbuds. He claimed that these Earpods would change the way you use and interact with any iTunes multimedia. 

     I, like many people, were very skeptical. The people that made the original Apple earbuds are telling me that these are great! I was wary of Apple proclaiming them as awesome just because they looked all futuristic. When the iPhone 5 came into stores, these Earpods came with it, the iPod Touch, And The New Ipod Nano. They were also available for purchase alone. I had no interest in buying any of the new products at that point, but I wanted to get my hands on these new buds  pods. I went down to the SouthPark Apple Store and purchased them for $30. I have been actively using them as my headphones for about a month now. This is how I think that they break down.

Pros:

•  Price: $30 may seem like a lot for something that comes with the iPhone, but for how good these are that is a great deal
•  In-Line Mic: As part of my testing I used the in-line microphone for the Voice Memos App and 5 phone calls. I made calls with a lot of wind, background noise, bad cellular signal, and a couple other scenarios. In all of them, the other line reported great quality and that they could understand everything that I said.
• Ear Fit: Unlike the universally disliked "circlebuds", the Earpods not only fit and stay in your ears very well, but also are comfortable. 

Cons:

• Tangles: The earbuds have an uncanny ability to get completely tangled in a pocket. This forces you to put them in the carrying case every time you are done.
• Cord Strength: While mine have been absolutely fine, the cord does seem a little cheap. I would worry about it breaking.
• Sound Quality: The sound quality was good, but by no means studio level. You shouldn't really expect that for $30, but it is a con

Rating:

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4/5 Stars

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Final Verdict:

These are great starter headphones for anyone that just wants a convenient and comfortable way to listen to their music. I wouldn't recommend you to buy them, but you should use them if they come with your iPhone/iPod.