Honeywell RTHL2310B review – CNET
The Good The $25 Honeywell RTHL2310B thermostat reliably switches among preprogrammed temperature settings and it looks fairly nice for the price.
The Bad I had to grab the user manual to figure out how to program it.
The Bottom Line Get the Honeywell RTHL2310B if you want a basic, affordable thermostat that you can program to suit your schedule.
The Honeywell RTHL2310B thermostat isn’t anything like the high-end Wi-Fi enabled models we’ve reviewed so far. It isn’t fancy or innovative and it isn’t trying to be…and I like that.
Available at chain retailers like Lowe’s for just $25, the RTHL2310B keeps things simple. This temperature controller can also autoadjust four times throughout the day to manage your Wake, Leave, Return and Sleep schedules for you.
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As with other 5-2 thermostats, you can create two different schedules — one for weekdays and one for weekends. One obvious limitation here is that a lot of schedules don’t conform to the predictable 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday work week. And some, myself included, may not keep to the same schedule on Saturday and Sunday. But if your life is at least fairly predictable, the RTHL2310B is worth consideration because the preprogrammed settings work.
In other thermostat news:
- These smart thermostats steal the heating and cooling spotlight
- Ecobee’s smart thermostat closes in on Nest
- Same great Nest, now with even better looks
- Thermostat buying guide
But you’ll want to plan for minor frustration at the outset. It isn’t all that easy to figure out how to create the custom programs. That’s mainly because the Set, Hold and Run buttons aren’t very clear. Give your user manual a quick glance, though, and you’ll be on your way to a simple preprogrammed 5-2 schedule in no time.
Honeywell’s RTHL2310B is about as basic as it gets for a programmable thermostat. Still, its customizable 5-2 program gives you a degree of HVAC automation and for some folks, that’s more than enough.
Note: This thermostat is compatible with basic heating and cooling systems; click here for more details. If you have questions about installation, consult a professional.
Comparing thermostats
| Honeywell RTHL2310B | Hunter 44157 | Emerson 1F78-151 | White-Rodgers P200 | Lux TX500U |
| MSRP: $25 Lowe’s: $24.98 | MSRP: $25 Amazon: $20.59 | MSRP: $43 Amazon: $26 | MSRP: $50 Amazon: $23.77 | MSRP: $30 Amazon/Home Depot: $30 |
| White | White | White | White | White |
| Yes, two AAA | Yes, two AA | Yes, two AAA | Yes, two AA | Yes, two AA |
| Yes, green | Yes, blue | No | Yes, green | Yes, blue |
| 4.75 x 3.4 x 1 inches | 8 x 6 x 1.6 inches | 6.2 x 4.2 x 1.8 inches | 6.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches | 5.4 x 3.4 x 1.1 inches |
| Digital | Digital | Digital | Digital | Digital |
| Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-1-1 | Yes, 5-2 |
White-Rodgers P200 review – CNET
The Good White-Rodgers’ P200 programmable thermostat lets you program Saturday and Sunday separately; it also comes with a backlight and a simple, discreet design.
The Bad I wish the display didn’t flash between the current time and the current ambient temperature.
The Bottom Line The White-Rodgers P200 is a solid option for anyone in search of an affordable thermostat with bonus weekend programming options.
You can find the $50 White-Rodgers P200 programmable thermostat for much less at most major retailers. In particular, it’s available for $24.79 at Home Depot and for $23.77 on Amazon. While it certainly isn’t a fancy thermostat, it still has a lot to offer and I can comfortably recommend it.
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What it lacks in modern design appeal, it makes up for with a bonus feature: 5-1-1 programming.
The other four thermostats I reviewed in this price range offer 5-2 programming — that means you set one heating and cooling schedule for Monday through Friday and a second schedule for the weekend. With a 5-1-1 thermostat, Monday through Friday has the same single shared program as before, but you can program Saturday and Sunday separately to give you more customization options.
That way, if your weekend routine involves hitting the gym or going to work on Saturday morning and sleeping in a bit more on Sunday, you can program the P200 accordingly.
Lux TX500U review – CNET
The Good A large display, strong blue backlight and an intuitive control panel make the $30 Lux TX500U easy to recommend.
The Bad Its plastic covering is flimsy and fell off once during use.
The Bottom Line The Lux TX500U strikes a balance between value and function, making it my top pick if you’re in the market for a basic programmable thermostat.
The Lux TX500U is my favorite all-around option for an affordable programmable thermostat, one that I would highly recommend. Available for $30 on Amazon, Home Depot and elsewhere, the TX500U is slightly pricier than the other basic models I’ve tested. But this one is worth the extra 5 bucks.
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Its main display features up and down arrow buttons and a hold button, with everything else tucked behind a plastic covering that folds down with ease. The covering is pretty flimsy, and it popped off once when I wanted to make some adjustments t0 the program settings.
It does keep the thermostat looking pleasantly minimal, though.
In other thermostat news:
- These smart thermostats steal the heating and cooling spotlight
- Ecobee’s smart thermostat closes in on Nest
- Same great Nest, now with even better looks
- Thermostat buying guide
The TX500U also features a Next button. This may not seem like a big deal, but it made it much easier to figure out how to create programs. Most of the models I’ve tested in this price range double up on buttons so that a Program button also acts as a Next button. Not so with the TX500U.
Sony Action Cam FDR-X3000 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Sony
If there was ever a camera type that desperately needed optical image stabilization, it’s action cams. Oddly, though, it hasn’t been available until now on the new 4K-resolution Sony Action Cam X3000R and full HD AS300.
The cameras were announced earlier this year for other regions, including the UK and Australia, but they are now making their way to the US. While Sony and others have had electronic image stabilization (EIS) in the tiny, mountable cameras, EIS typically hurts image quality, narrows the field of view and reduces resolution.
Sony’s BOSS system joins the lens and sensor to counteract shake.
Sony
Sony’s BOSS system, which stands for Balanced Optical SteadyShot, joins the camera’s lens and image sensor into one unit that moves together to compensate for camera shake. Since it’s mechanical and not electronic, you get the full view from its 17mm ultrawide-angle lens (35mm equivalent) and in 4K or full HD.
The two new cameras can be paired with an updated version of Sony’s Live-View Remote that the electronics giant says is 30 percent smaller than the previous model. The remote gives you a view from the camera and full controls, which now includes being able to power the camera on and off using low-power Bluetooth. Sony also improved the interface and menu system and added a high-power Wi-Fi mode so the remote can be used from greater distances from the camera.
The 4K Sony FDR-X3000 arrives in late September for $400 or $550 bundled with the Live-View Remote (as the X3000R). The full HD HDR-AS300 is $300 for the body only or $450 with the remote. Pricing for the X3000 bundle in the UK is £500 and AU$650 in Australia. The AS300 bundle in Australia is AU$500, but is currently not listed for availability in the UK.
Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Third-party accessory maker Belkin has created the Lightning Audio Charge RockStar adapter, which allows passthrough charging via Lightning while also listening to Lightning-compatible headphones
Belkin
Now that Apple has killed the headphone jack on the new iPhone 7 in favor of Lightning, the single connection point compels the question: can you listen to music and charge your phone at the same time? Short answer: no.
Just 24 hours after the death of the 3.5mm jack, accessory maker Belkin has come up with a solution that we all knew was coming: a Lightning splitter. That’s right, the product is called the Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar (eww) and it effectively turns one Lightning port into two.
The male end of the adapter has passthrough charging up to 12W and the two female ports are compatible with either your Lightning headphones or a charger. Of course, if you want to plug in a 3.5mm jack, you’ll need to use Apple’s Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter.
Personally though, I can’t wait to see someone use this to daisy-chain the 3.5mm adapter and an external battery pack to the iPhone. Is it finally time to bring back the Apple Fanny Pack?
Belkin tells us the splitter was developed closely with Apple, which means it paid a licensing fee to officially brand itself with genuine MiFi certification, aka “Made for iPhone.”
Unfortunately (and of course) that means it’ll also come with a high price tag. It’ll sell for $40 (£30 or AU$52) when it hits Apple stores and the Belkin website on October 10.
First thoughts and impressions of the Huawei Honor 8
2016 will be known as the year of the budget flagship device with the release of the ZTE Axon 7, OnePlus 3, and the Huawei Honor 8. We recently got our hands on the Honor 8 and while our full review isn’t ready just yet, we do have some initial impressions to pass along.
Huawei is starting its push into the United States and the likes of LG and Sony should be worried. It has shown that it can be a true powerhouse in Asian markets and now Huawei taking what its learned there and bringing it to our shores. With build materials rivaling the Samsung Galaxy S7 and one of the most interesting takes on mobile software, the Honor 8 is unlike anything else on the market right now.
Everything down to the packaging was well thought out by Huawei. The phone slots into the box instead of sitting atop of the books, charger, and cable like every other device on the market. It’s these little things that show Huawei is focused on doing things differently. Not every change is for the better, but it is truly focused on making its own phone, a big departure from the Google-guided Nexus 6P of last year.
Build
Wow. I knew that the build quality and materials on the Honor 8 were supposed to be good, but I can honestly say that I’m blown away. The Honor 8 falls just short of the Samsung Galaxy S7 in terms of build quality. But, It’s pretty close. The phone definitely channels the S7 with its glass and metal build, while keeping a more rounded edge. Those who handled the phone in our short time with it mentioned how much the sides looked and felt like an iPhone.
The Honor 8 may not feel as dense or solid as the S7 but it does weigh the almost the exact same, 153 oz for the Honor 8 and 152 oz for the S7. Both phones are also remarkably close in size. The Honor 8 is a few millimeters taller and wider and a half a millimeter thinner. After using a Nexus 6P for a few days, I was blown away how light the Honor 8 felt the first time I picked it up.
The bezels are slim and the power and volume buttons are clicky. These are two things that can truly ruin the experience with a phone and Huawei did well here. The bottom chin isn’t massive and the top of the phone is just big enough to hold the speaker and sensors. Overall I’d say it’s a pretty compact device that can easily be used in one hand.
Even though the Honor 8 looks excellent and feels great in the hand, I do wonder about how well it will hold up to scratches and falls. Phones like this tend to be fragile and I can tell my behavior changes when I’m using them as a daily driver. Added onto the suspected fragility of the device is how slippery it is. It reminds me a lot of the Samsung Galaxy S6 which is notorious for sliding off level surfaces. You won’t be able to just let this sit on your leg or a pillow because it will slide off as I found out in my first 24 hours with the phone.
If you’re one of the many people out there that feel Samsung ruins its devices by putting its branding on the front of the phone, you may feel the need to pass on the Honor 8. The Honor name is printed on the bottom chin of the phone and interestingly enough, the exact same logo is in the exact same place on the back of the phone. I know why Huawei is doing this, but it doesn’t look great and I wish they would’ve just stuck to the branding on the rear of the phone.
I find it ridiculous that this is even an issue but yes, there is a 3.5mm jack for your wired headphones.
Software
After only a small amount of time playing with the Honor 8, I feel like I could write entire books about software customizations that Huawei made atop of Android 6.0. The Honor 8 runs EMUI, or Emotion UI 4.1. If you want Android customization with all of the charms of iOS (no app drawer!) then EMUI might be for you.
To be honest, I’ve found myself a little bored with Stock Android as of late so EMUI is a nice change of pace. EMUI touches every part of the OS much like LG’s skin but goes even further with its customization. You will not find settings and options where you normally would in Stock Android. Sometimes that’s for the better, sometimes not.
The notification shade is redesigned to have two panes, one for notification and one for shortcuts that you get to with a swipe to the right. The shortcuts are what you would expect to find nested in the Stock Android notification shade, WifI, Bluetooth, Auto-rotate and the rest. One of the coolest things that Huawei did here, and it does extend to some other places like the messaging app, is give your notifications more of a timeline feel with times and an order to how your notifications show up. It may not be any different in practice to how stock 6.0 shows notifications, but it does make you feel more on top of your day when looked at in this view.
The lack of the app drawer does mean that apps are everywhere and there are plenty preloaded onto the Honor 8. The Tools folder has 9 preloaded apps for everything from the Weather app to the Mirror app. We’re also greeted by a Top Apps folder that has such crapware as Facebook, Twitter, Shazam, Booking.com, News Republic, Lyft, and a few Huawei apps. I know adding these apps in are money-makers for Huawei and if that’s what keeps the cost down, I’m alright with adding these in as long as they can be uninstalled- which these can.
We’ll delve deeper into the software here in our full review, but suffice to say, if you’re looking for something different, EMUI certainly offers a different experience.
So far, I’m impressed. There have been a few little hiccups like some struggles scrolling through long lists but that might be chalked up to the phone breaking in. I’m trying to keep in mind that this is a $400 phone but it feels like it’s punching above its weight. The build quality feels like a device twice the price and will challenge the best from Samsung, LG, Sony, and HTC.
We’re going to spend a few weeks with the Huawei Honor 8 so we can bring you a thorough review. Let us know what you think about the Huawei Honor 8. Is it something you’d consider? Does the software disqualify it for you? Let us know down in the comments.
2017 Jaguar XE review – Roadshow
The Good The 2017 Jaguar XE’s aluminum construction makes for light and stiff handling, while the all-wheel-drive really digs into the corners. An attractive look and comfortable ride add to the allure of this British sport sedan.
The Bad Neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto feature in the infotainment system, and searching destinations in navigation requires drilling down through menus. Orange and green for head-up display colors look lurid.
The Bottom Line The 2017 Jaguar XE brings excellent driving dynamics to the compact sport sedan segment, making it a first generation hit, although its serviceable infotainment offerings lack the wow factor of some of the competition.
Next to the gorgeous F-Type, the new Jaguar XE looks conventional. It’s a small sedan that wouldn’t be out of place in the company parking lot next to the legions of BMW 3-Series and Audi A4s that tend to be the favorite of the up-and-coming executive class.
However, the XE is a far more important car to Jaguar than the F-Type, as its base price of $35,000 potentially brings far more buyers to the brand.
More importantly, it is a really good car, relying on advances in automotive engineering to keep it light while maintaining safety and handling. Jaguar calls the construction of the XE “aluminum intensive,” meaning aluminum makes up about 75 percent of its structure. Curb weight comes in at a paltry 3,670 pounds, a minimal amount by today’s standards.
The base model, the XE 25t, comes with a turbocharged direct injection 2-liter engine, good for 240 horsepower. Surprisingly for this class, and in light of difficulties experienced by Volkswagen, Jaguar also has a diesel XE on offer, this one known as the 20d, using a 2-liter turbo-diesel boasting average EPA fuel economy of 36 mpg, more than 10 better than the 25t.
As a completely new model, Jaguar designed and engineered the XE from the ground up, relying on aluminum to keep the car light and stiff.
Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
I, however, spent a week with the 35t AWD in R-Sport trim. This car comes with the XE’s top engine, a supercharged 3-liter V-6, good for 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque and, as the name suggests, all-wheel-drive. R-Sport is essentially a top trim, adding features such as blind spot monitoring and lane keep assist, along with a body kit showing off more aggressive air intakes.
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Direct power
When I put the eight-speed automatic transmission in Sport mode and switched Jaguar’s Configurable Dynamics setting to Dynamic, the connection between accelerator and power delivery felt direct and immediate. It was if my right foot had a direct line to the driveshaft, without all the intervening engine control electronics and plumbing. Flooring it made the little XE leap forward with no hesitation.
Give credit to the supercharger, that engine-driven impeller shoving air into the cylinders, and direct injection engineering ensuring a full fuel burn. The automatic transmission did its part as well, its Sport mode hanging onto a gear even as the tach needle blurred past the 5,000 rpm mark.
When merely putting along in traffic, where this sort of power response would prove annoying, I dialed the Configurable Dynamics setting down to Normal, or even Eco, reducing the throttle and steering sensitivity. The change was immediate, the XE assuming the character of a content house cat, letting me relax into the the sort of mindless driving that characterizes most commutes.
You can select seat insert colors on higher trim XEs.
Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
The XE’s aluminum structure really comes through in the handling and ride quality. I could feel the car’s light weight at the steering wheel, and that’s a good thing. You might equate heavy with “planted” but the XE’s lightness gave a it quick and nimble character. It felt extremely maneuverable, responding precisely to my steering inputs both on the twisty mountain road and when diving into a traffic opening.
Beyond lightness, the XE’s body felt stiff, an essential quality for good handling. Going into a turn, I was impressed with the precise steering, while the rigid body kept the tires in contact with the pavement. At tire squealing speeds on hairpin mountain roads, the XE felt balanced and confident. Hitting some wet patches, the back-end shimmied out but a combination of traction control and steady steering input brought the car neatly back into line without destroying my fun.
Hitting that Goldilocks zone, the XE is stiff, but not too stiff for an everyday comfortable ride. In Dynamic mode, the adaptive suspension retains pliability, adding to the comfort while allowing some lean in hard cornering. It strikes an important balance between an elegant weekly commute car and a satisfying weekend backroads driver.
New maps, with satellite view
Cabin appointments in this model included lightly bolstered sport seats and a drive selector dial that rises up from the console when you hit the ignition button. Although the front row seats make the XE cabin feel roomy, the rear seats look like they belong in a coupe. Taller passengers won’t welcome the experience. 16 cubic feet of trunk space, the “boot” in British parlance, comes in about average for the segment.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2016) Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The new Fire HD 8 ships September 21.
Amazon
Amazon’s new Fire HD 8 looks a lot like last year’s Fire HD 8, but there are a few key differences, the biggest of which is the new lower price tag. Much lower, in fact: $90 or £90, which converts to about AU$115. By comparison the Apple iPad Mini 4 costs $400, £379 or AU$569.
The previous generation Fire HD 8 started at $150 (£130 or AU$215). That model came with only 8GB of storage while this new one includes 16GB, with an expansion slot for adding microSD memory cards up to 200GB in capacity.
While the quad-core processor is a new chip, Amazon says the real performance boost will come from a bump in RAM from 1GB to 1.5GB. And battery life life, thanks mostly to software enhancements, is up to 12 hours.
The other noteworthy feature addition isn’t available yet, but will be in the next few months: Alexa, the cloud-based voice service, makes her debut on Fire tablets. To activate Alexa, you’ll have to press a virtual button (with the Echo you simply have to say her name — so long as you’re connected to the Internet). You can use voice commands to tell Alexa to play music, launch games, read audiobooks, deliver weather reports and more.
It’s also worth mentioning that Alexa won’t be available only on the new Fire HD 8. She’s also coming to the Fire HD 10, Fire and last year’s Fire HD 8 tablets via a free over-the-air software update in the coming months.
Shipping September 21, here are the new Fire HD 8’s key specs and features:
- 8-inch widescreen (1280×800 pixels) HD display with over a million pixels (189 ppm).
- Quad-core 1.3 GHz processor and 1.5 GB of RAM. That’s 50% more RAM than the previous generation Fire HD 8 for faster performance when playing games or launching apps.
- Twice as much storage: 16 GB or 32 GB options with support for up to 200 GB of expandable storage via microSD.
- 4,750 mAh battery for up to 12 hours of mixed use battery life for a full day of power.
- Amazon says the Fire HD 8 is twice as durable as the iPad Mini 4, as measured in tumble tests.
- Front- and rear-facing cameras with free, unlimited cloud storage for all photos taken on Fire devices.
- Fire HD 8 stereo speakers are custom-tuned with Dolby Audio for immersive, high-quality sound.
- Fire OS 5 includes a user interface that replicates the look and feel of a magazine, making browsing and searching for your content easier than ever–now with support for Comixology and Twitch.
- The Amazon Underground app store offers thousands of premium apps, games and even in-app items for free, including extra lives, unlocked levels, unlimited add-on packs and more.
- On Deck: For Prime members, On Deck automatically keeps your Fire tablet current with popular Prime movies and TV shows, as well as Amazon Original Series. If you aren’t a Prime member, On Deck downloads first episodes of Amazon Original Series.
- Amazon-exclusive features: ASAP, X-Ray, Second Screen, Family Library, Amazon FreeTime, Prime Video downloads, Blue Shade, Word Runner and more.
- Screen sharing: Let an Amazon expert guide you remotely through any feature on your screen.
- Available in four color options: Black, magenta, blue and tangerine.
NHL 17 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
EA’s NHL franchise continues to sharpen its edges in an attempt to deliver the most complete hockey experience on a console.
Last year’s effort was a commendable rebuilding, but for the 2016-17 season, EA’s hockey sim looks like it’s beginning to carve out a new identity — even if a few blemishes from its legacy continue to show.
New for 2017 are a set of gameplay modes that incorporate the sport’s real-life expansion like the World Cup of Hockey as well as a more fleshed out Be a GM experience, now called Franchise Mode. And for the fans who need even more fantasy hockey in their lives, there’s Draft Champions mode.
Your personal feelings or politics as a hockey fan towards the World Cup of Hockey aside, the game does do a solid job of importing the tournament’s brand to NHL 17. You can play in the eight-team international tournament, which feels a lot like a massive all-star team round-robin.
EA Sports
Be a Pro continues to be my favorite way to play NHL 17 when I’m not simulating a postseason run. There are a handful of new customization options in the player creation toolset, but for me, the best part is watching your player compete to get drafted and earn a spot on an NHL team’s roster.
In the game’s most popular mode, the online EA Sports Hockey League (or EASHL), a bevy of customizable options have been given to the player including, most notably, custom arenas. Along with Franchise Mode, EASHL players can build out their own team’s arena essentially from the ground up — right down to the scoreboard design, railings, paint and more.
The game’s overall packaging has had a facelift, too. The menus look totally different and are, for the most part, zippier. It’s a marked improvement over years past and much more painless experience navigating through the game’s various options and settings. If you’ve ever felt handcuffed by stuff like that, you’ll notice the bump right away.
So while all of these bullet points are great on paper, I’m much more concerned with how well NHL captures the game I love so much. If playing an NHL game doesn’t feel like a live hockey game, then what’s the point?
EA Sports
There’s not much to complain about in the presentation department as the likenesses to a real life NBC broadcast are spot-on. Not much has evolved since the game adopted the NHL on NBC branding a few years ago, but it’s still undeniably sound.
On the ice is more of a mixed bag. The most immediately noticeable improvement I was able to sniff out was puck pick-ups. Players don’t stall while getting the puck to their stick as much as they used to, and it definitely speeds up the overall pace of the game.
Player positioning has also received a solid refinement too. I’m not noticing nearly as many passes to unmanned points or cycles to empty corners of the ice. For the most part, I’m finding the AI is more aware of team aspects of the game, which really helps me personally because I like playing NHL games the way hockey is supposed to be played — and less like a video-game version of the sport, if that makes sense.
The on-ice trainer that debuted last year is back and deeper. It’s a graphical overlay that guides you through the various controls at your disposal and aims to encourage you to try out different maneuvers too. I still found this feature to level off at a certain point, leaving me wanting more from it. I also wished it cycled through some controls a second time instead of just assuming I’ll remember a certain button combination indefinitely. I still enjoy playing with the trainer turned on — in fact, I can’t imagine playing without it anymore, especially for passing assistance.
EA Sports
Every year I nitpick over puck physics and things that just don’t feel “right” about the way the game does hockey. A handful of details still irk me about puck behavior, most of them linger around from last year. But here’s the thing: NHL 17 is still a damn fine hockey game. It’s also the only hockey video game you can play.
If you’re like me — and I guess you are, because you’re reading a review of the only hockey game you can buy — you’re going to find a lot to like in NHL 17. Sure, perhaps the series isn’t where it was five years ago, but it’s encouraging to see it evolve, if only at an incremental year-over-year pace.
Apple AirPods Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
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Up close with Apple’s wireless AirPods
Drag
When Apple launched the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, a lot people were expecting it to announce new wireless headphones from Beats, which it acquired last year, and a wireless version of its EarPods that rumor had it would be called AirPods.
The new Beats did indeed materialize in the form of next-gen versions of its current models — the Powerbeats3 ($200) and Solo3 Wireless ($300) — as well the all-new BeatsX ($150). But it’s the new $159 (£159, AU$229) AirPods, due to ship in late October, that have created the biggest stir.
Yeah, they happen to be a wireless version of the ubiquitous white Apple earbud, seemingly the most popular default headphones in the world. But more strikingly, they’re totally wireless earbuds, which makes them different from anything that Beats has. And they also use a new proprietary W1 chip that Apple has developed (the new Beats also use the W1 chip).
That chip is being described as custom hardware that uses ultralow-power Bluetooth and keeps the two earbuds in sync.
According to Apple, the W1 chip has dual optical sensors and accelerometers in each AirPod that work with the W1 chip to detect when the AirPods are in your ears, so they only play when you’re ready to listen. You access Siri with a double tap to the AirPods and select and control your music, adjust volumes and check your battery life with voice commands. “An additional accelerometer in each AirPod detects when you’re speaking, enabling a pair of beam-forming microphones to focus on the sound of your voice,” Apple adds, “filtering out external noise to make your voice sound clearer than ever before.”
Alas, AirPods only work with Apple devices running iOS 10, watchOS 3 or macOS Sierra. But at least they’re compatible with legacy iPhones, not just the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
James Martin/CNET
More from Apple’s event
- Apple’s iPhone 7 is a familiar phone for unfamiliar challenges
- Apple’s AirPods may look weird, but they’ll change the headphone market
- Full coverage of Apple’s event
I haven’t used the new AirPods yet, but CNET editor Scott Stein got a chance to spend a few minutes with them at the launch event and thought they sounded pretty good and were comfortable to wear. That’s not saying much, but I think it’s pretty safe to assume they share very similar design traits to the EarPods — they just don’t have any wires.
Apple isn’t the first to come out with totally wireless earbuds. In last year we’ve seen several companies — and a lot of Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns — hawking these types of wireless headphones. I’ve tried a few pairs and have liked the models I’m using now from Erato (the Apollo 7) and Earin. They work surprisingly well, though they’re expensive (around $280). And plenty more totally wireless headphones are on the way, including Bragi’s The Headphone, Doppler Labs’ Here One, Jabra’s Elite Sport and Samsung’s Gear IconX.
I’ve been skeptical of these types of totally wireless earphones. My early experiences them were marred by inconsistent connections and poor fit. But the Erato Apollo 7 in particular has changed my mind. It’s not perfect — there’s some lag when watching video or playing games — but it’s worked smoothly, with few hiccups (the two buds mostly remain synced), the sound quality is good, and they fit comfortably with a tight seal.
James Martin/CNET
I was worried about losing the little buds, but when I’m finished listening, I stick them in their charging case, and put the case in my pocket. Battery life is around four to five hours, but they charge quickly in their charging case.
Apple AirPods also come with a charging case and their battery life is rated at five hours. However, the charging case provides an extra 24 hours of battery life, according to Apple. Three to five hours is the current standard for totally wireless stereo earbuds so the AirPods battery life is in line with that or slightly better.
The AirPods won’t be perfect either. As with most in-ear headphones, they won’t necessarily fit everyone’s ears — or stay in them — and it’d be nice if you could run in them. (Apple isn’t positioning the AirPods as workout headphone, but it would be nice if they were.) I’m also curious how good they are for making calls — my hunch is they’re pretty good.
If they’re as easy to pair with your phone and have as rock-solid a connection as Apple is saying they have, they’re going to be game-changers. The fact is, once you go totally wireless, it’s hard to go back to wires, and with Apple’s backing behind this new type of headphone — and a $159 price tag that’s not too outrageous — you may soon be looking at a lot people wearing the same white earbuds but with no wires between them.
CNET’s Scott Stein contributed to this story.
Updated 7:03 p.m. PT with compatibility specifics.
AIVAnet 