Do you ride your dirt bike with headphones in? This topic is sure to have lots of people on both sides but we wanted to put Apple's new AirPods to the test. Below is a full write up on what we thought about them and if they have a place in the regular motoer's gear bag.
Preface
First off we must preface this by saying that these headphones are quite pricey at nearly $200 out the door. We won't really get into the technical specifics as we really just wanted this write up to be centered around their functionality while riding and some key points real motocross riders would be interested in.
The Ride
The real question we had when picking these up was how will it feel to ride with these in. The quick and easy answer is...amazing. You really don't even notice these once you slip your helmet on. Another plus is the fact that you can hear outside noise while the music is playing. These are not noise cancelling headphones so you are able to pick up on outside noises while wearing them.
The Range
The bluetooth range was the biggest question we had about these headphones. None of us want to try and bring our phones with us out on the track, especially when some of the phones on the market cost nearly $1000. Depending on where you look online, you can find varying statistics on how far you can go with these bad boys before they start cutting out. What it really comes down to is the device you are pairing it to and the bluetooth range is has. We were testing it with an Apple iPhone X and we were able to get nearly 80 feet before experiencing any issues.
The Overall Experience
We really enjoyed riding with these out at our local track. Your experience may depend on how large the track is and where you are able to keep your phone. If you have some way of keeping your phone located somewhere central or on you as you ride, these are a must. The price is a bit steep but considering how well they work, we would highly suggest them since they allow you to hear other riders while you are jamming along to your favorite tunes. Not to mention their function off of the track for daily use.
Check out the specs below and click on the link if you are wanting to purchase a pair for yourself.
Wireless. Effortless. Magical.
AirPods will forever change the way you use headphones. Whenever you pull your AirPods out of the charging case, they instantly turn on and connect to your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac.1 Audio automatically plays as soon as you put them in your ears and pauses when you take them out. To adjust the volume, change the song, make a call, or even get directions, just double-tap to activate Siri.
Driven by the custom Apple W1 chip, AirPods use optical sensors and a motion accelerometer to detect when they’re in your ears. Whether you’re using both AirPods or just one, the W1 chip automatically routes the audio and engages the microphone. And when you’re on a call or talking to Siri, an additional accelerometer works with beamforming microphones to filter out background noise and focus on the sound of your voice. Because the ultralow-power W1 chip manages battery life so well, AirPods deliver an industry-leading 5 hours of listening time on one charge.2 And they’re made to keep up with you, thanks to a charging case that holds multiple additional charges for more than 24 hours of listening time.3 Need a quick charge? Just 15 minutes in the case gives you 3 hours of listening time.4
Highlights
- Designed by Apple
- Automatically on, automatically connected
- One-tap setup for all your Apple devices1
- Quick access to Siri with a double-tap
- More than 24-hour battery life with Charging Case3
- Charges quickly in the case
- Rich, high-quality audio and voice
- Seamless switching between devices
What’s in the Box
- AirPods
- Charging Case
- Lightning to USB Cable
Weight
- AirPods (each): 0.14 ounces (4 g)
- Charging Case: 1.34 ounces (38 g)
Dimensions
- AirPods (each): 0.65 by 0.71 by 1.59 inches (16.5 by 18.0 by 40.5 mm)
- Charging Case: 1.74 by 0.84 by 2.11 inches (44.3 by 21.3 by 53.5 mm)
Connections
- AirPods: Bluetooth
- Charging Case: Lightning connector
AirPods Sensors (each):
- Dual beam-forming microphones
- Dual optical sensors
- Motion-detecting accelerometer
- Speech-detecting accelerometer
Power and Battery
- AirPods with Charging Case: More than 24 hours listening time,3 up to 11 hours talk time6
- AirPods (single charge): Up to 5 hours listening time,2 Up to 2 hours talk time5
- 15 minutes in the case equals 3 hours listening time4 or over an hour of talk time7
System Requirements
- iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models with iOS 10 or later
- Apple Watch models with watchOS 3 or later
- Mac models with macOS Sierra or later