INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
I'd just come off another run with Apple's Powerbeats Pro to find out that, finally, the Airpods Pro have been announced.Why finally?
Because these are the headphones that any iPhone user has needed since the first Airpods, those little white toothbrush-head-alikes, were
Wearing them down the street, I found myself wanting to cover my ears
Nowadays you can't move in any city without seeing two or three people with little white ear protrusions, such is the popularity of Apple's
top true wireless earbuds.That's not the reason that runners or fitness fans will rejoice about the Airpods Pro though - it's because
finally Apple has recognized the key reason people have been using these earbuds while working out.A frustrating experienceWhen I first used
the Airpods on a run, I was sorely disappointed
They just kept falling out, which was irritating because I was starting to enjoy the simplicity of the little white sound sticks, the smooth
opening action of the case Apple's strong design was starting to make its new headphones a regular part of the day.That's what users want -
a set of headphones that can transition from commuting companion to fitness friend with a swipe of an iPhone screen
Not something that's only good for when you're sitting quietly.If I can't run with wireless headphones, then they're useless to me - and
that was the case for many other runners too with the original Airpods
The lack of a silicon tip meant that the fit wasn't secure enough, and that looks like it's been solved with the new Airpods Pro.That more
secure fit (and smaller overall footprint) is what makes the new Airpods seem like they'll be a better option for fitness enthusiasts,
whether for running, gym workouts or yoga.The Powerbeats Pro offer a secure fit, but are larger in the ears and not as useful in day-to-day
life(Image credit: Apple / Beats)You could argue that Apple has already solved this issue with the Powerbeats Pro - and yes, they're so, so
much better at staying in when you're jogging around.That's because they're much larger than the standard Airpods, and come with a big ol'
That extra arm means that you're not going to have any issues with them falling out, and they pack the H1 chip inside - so they instantly
pair with any iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Mac connected to your iCloud account.It's hard to overstate how good that instant connection
feels, the ecosystem Apple is desperate to lock users into working at its smoothest
But the Powerbeats Pro, for all their stability, still have one major issue.Both the headphones, and the case they come in, are massive.Fit
and function for the whole dayThe thing is, both the 'normal' Airpods and the Powerbeats Pro are two sides of a coin the former comes in a
A small set of wireless earbuds that can be discreetly used throughout the day, slipping in and out of a pocket on a commute, and a powerful
set of of headphones that will actually stay in when flinging your head about (ones that also pack that all-important sweat-resistance
too).That 'powerful' point is important - because while both the Airpods and Powerbeats Pro both have a direct connection to Siri, they
don't have the extra capability to allow for noise cancelling.Sometimes music is the only thing that can save you(Image credit:
TheIndianSubcontinent)There are times when you want to truly immerse yourself in music, where it's 'headphones on, world off' so you can
added it to one of its more popular lines of headphones
This noise cancellation can work in reverse too - with a simple tap (we assume - we've not tried them yet) you can open up the microphone to
let the sound in from the outside world.If you're someone who runs near traffic or somewhere you just feel more comfortable hearing your
surroundings, true fitness headphones always have a mode to let the sound pass-through - so it's good Apple has realized it needs to add
they're hardly the cheapest thing that Apple has ever unleashed (especially when last year's Airpods can be had for nearly half the price
these days).We've also not actually tried the headphones either - for all the much-vaunted improvement to the fit, they might still not be
as snug and secure as Apple would have you believe
While it's great that an automatic equalizer can tune the sound to your ear, if they're constantly falling out and down the nearest drain
the second you take a single step at pace then that feature is somewhat redundant.However, it shows that the fitness fan - be it a runner,
gym-lover or yoga-obsessive - is being given greater and greater options when it comes to accessing music during a workout
Dropping those pesky wires, popping in a couple of small earbuds and letting the world melt away is a truly awesome thing and one that's
that the original Airpods offered.Will the Airpods Pro have the same effect? Here's hoping - because having a set of fitness-friendly,
attractive than that, then it's the user who really wins.Gareth Beavis is TheIndianSubcontinent's Running Man of Tech, bringing you his
terrible attempts to get fitter through technology.iqRm8WngSczBofLzCx52zD.jpg?#
