Alongside the launch of the much anticipated iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Apple has also launched the Apple AirPods, a pair of wireless in-ear headphones designed especially for use with the new iPhone models. The AirPods will be priced at $159 (Rs. 15,400 in India), and will be available in India from late October onwards.
(Also see: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus Price in India and Launch Date Revealed)
The AirPods are powered by Apple's new W1 wireless chip, the company's first wireless chip, which enable quick pairing and connectivity with the iPhone. The earphones are completely wire-free, with separate ear buds that are not connected to each other physically. The headset also features dual optical sensors and accelerometers in each ear bud which work with the W1 chip which detect when the headphones are in your ears and only play when you're ready to listen. Double-tapping the AirPods enables Siri, and the microphone is designed to focus on voice and filter out external sound.
"AirPods are the first headphones to deliver a breakthrough wireless audio experience, and with the new Apple W1 chip they deliver innovative features including high quality sound, great battery life and automatic setup," said Philip Schiller, Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, in an emailed statement. "AirPods are simple and magical to use, with no switches or buttons, automatically connecting to all your Apple devices simply and seamlessly, and letting you access Siri with just a double tap. We can't wait for users to try them with iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2."
The AirPods are rated to deliver up to five hours of battery life on a single charge, and simply need to be inserted into the charging case to begin charging. The case can hold additional charge, letting you go for up to 24 hours of usage without access to a power outlet, according to claims by Apple. The case also ensures easy pairing. It's worth noting that the AirPods are not solely-Bluetooth powered, instead using a 'Bluetooth-like' technology developed by Apple.
Apple also announced the launch of its new EarPods with a Lightning connector, which will be bundled with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The EarPods will be priced at Rs. 2,500 separately, and the phone will also come bundled with a Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone jack adapter, which will let you use traditional 3.5mm-powered headphones with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
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