The bottom line: Our quick verdict on Apple's AirPods
You should probably sit this generation out.
The fact that they look like Q-tips sticking out of your ears is just the beginning: There are other reasons you might want to think twice about buying Apple's wireless, weird-looking AirPods. For the money -- $159 -- these earbuds offer audio quality that isn't any better than what you'd get with the iPhone's pack-in EarPods. We'd also like it if Apple allowed more flexibility with the controls. Right now, for instance, you need to use Siri or take out your phone if you want to do basic things like change tracks or adjust the volume. On the plus side, the earbuds are dead-simple to set up, and work well for voice calls and Siri requests, even if they're nothing special for music playback. Unless you're an early adopter, you're better off waiting for Apple to release a next-gen version and/or drop the price.
