Are Apple AirPods good earbuds for Windows users?

Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster / Windows Central

AirPods are the de facto male monarch of wireless earbuds out there right now. You lot wouldn't be wrong for assuming they helped make truly wireless earbuds mainstream, peculiarly equally they've been popping up more and more than on Tv set and in remote video chats. They're also seamlessly designed to work across Apple's ecosystem of products, which doesn't injure their appeal one bit.

But what almost other platforms? If you're a Windows user with an iPhone, does it make sense to endeavor to utilise your AirPods or AirPods Pro with your PC? The do work with anything that can connect to Bluetooth headphones and earbuds, afterwards all.

Well, the answer is a piddling complicated.

What you lot'll like about using AirPods with Windows

Airpods Pro With Surface Pro X Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster / Windows Central

Besides their tight integration with Apple's products, i of the biggest benefits with AirPods Pro is their agile dissonance cancellation (ANC). If y'all want to completely tune out the globe around y'all and focus, toggle ANC on, and most of the noise around you lot fades away. If y'all need to speak with someone, you can quickly toggle ANC off to enable transparency mode.

ANC is limited to the AirPods Pro, so regular AirPods owners are left out here. However, it's a large bonus for owning Apple'due south near expensive set of AirPods. Plus, it'due south a feature you can't currently get on a ton of other, affordable, truly wireless earbuds.

Another dainty thing about using AirPods with Windows is that all of the audio controls volition still work when listening to music. One-click on AirPods Pro volition play or pause your music, for case. Clicking two or three times volition skip forward or astern while clicking and property still toggles betwixt ANC and transparency mode.

There's also audio quality and bombardment life to consider. The regular AirPods sound just okay, simply you become a slightly better soundstage from AirPods Pro. Battery life on each is also pretty good, lasting as long as they will pair to your iPhone.

While it's entirely subjective, some people just similar the look of AirPods likewise. They took some heat when they were offset introduced, but they're so mutual at present that no 1 will bat an centre seeing the stems hanging out of your ears. Plus, similar it or not, AirPods have a bit of a "status symbol" quality to them now, for what that's worth.

What you'll dislike nigh using AirPods with Windows

Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster / Windows Central

Despite the positives, AirPods have some pretty meaning shortcomings when using them with Windows. The biggest wrinkle is you're going to miss out on much of what makes AirPods great. By extension, you're missing out on what makes them worth picking over other wireless earbuds in the start place.

AirPods were congenital to work best with Apple tree devices, and no thing how overnice it may be, your Surface doesn't qualify. One of the biggest features missing when you pair them with Windows is automated ear detection. In other words, your music won't automatically pause when you take an AirPod out and resume when you lot put it dorsum in your ear.

There'south as well the seamless pairing across Apple tree devices signed into your iCloud account. In one case you pair AirPods with one of your Apple devices, it's added to all others associated with your Apple ID. That enables incredibly uncomplicated switching between devices with just a tap.

When paired with Windows, AirPods are acting as nothing more than basic Bluetooth earbuds. They will connect automatically when they're paired to your PC and removed from the instance, merely that'due south every bit far as it goes. It's non quite every bit magical as using them across your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Television set.

There'due south also the music controls to consider. You get basic controls for pausing, playing, and skipping tracks. However, you'll miss out on Siri admission. Digital assistants aren't a huge deal to everyone, simply it'due south worth keeping in mind if you actively utilize Siri with your AirPods.

AirPods and Windows aren't all-time buds

Surface Pro X With Earbuds Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster / Windows Cardinal

Expect, if you lot're already heavily invested in Apple's ecosystem and you lot just want to use what you already have with Windows, AirPods volition become the job done. But they'll do it in the nearly bones sense. For everyone else, there are a ton of better options out at that place.

The elevation 2 that come up to mind within the same general price range ad AirPods are Microsoft's Surface Earbuds and Google'south Pixel Buds (2020). Both have their perks that you won't find with Apple's Airpods. Some might contend they expect ameliorate, likewise, depending on how you feel virtually Surface Earbuds' saucer pattern.

The biggest advantage with both Pixel Buds and Surface Earbuds are the bear on controls. Almost notably, you become born volume controls with both, allowing y'all to adjust how loud your music is with just a swipe. Beyond that, some might find the swipe gestures more comfortable to use than the taps and clicks that AirPods rely on — though swipes tin can exist a flake choosy.

Surface Earbuds are likewise built to piece of work with your Office 365 apps, offering bear upon gestures and translation features for PowerPoint presentations, and more.

Another added do good is that both are more than comfortable to wear for extended periods than AirPods. Surface Earbuds were designed for this, sitting in your ear in a mode that y'all barely observe they're there after a while. Google's Pixel Buds still go into your ear culvert, simply they rely on a simple rubberized hook to stay in place rather than putting all of the stress inside of your ear.

With Pixel Buds and Surface Earbuds, there are still some sore spots. You'll miss out on ANC, which is something that's very apparent on the Surface Earbuds because of how they're designed. Additionally, there's no way to tap into the power of Google Assistant when paired with a Windows PC.

Depending on your toll range, you may also desire to look at Samsung'south new Milky way Buds Alive, or even the TOZO T6 earbuds if you're looking to save some money.

Piece of work and Play

Surface Earbuds

Microsoft Surface Earbuds

Crystal-clear audio meets productivity.

Microsoft Surface Earbuds bring the start truly wireless earbuds to the premium production lineup, promising comfortable listening on mobile and PC. They ship with touch controls and phonation control, although at a high toll.

Truly wireless

Google Pixel Buds

Fantabulous true wireless earbuds, with traditional Google flair.

The new Pixel Buds accept an fantabulous case design, overnice-sounding earbuds, and lots of neat fiddling features that drag the whole experience. They're worth the coin, even with their limited configurability and average battery life.

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