It took three years for the latest headphones from Apple to debut, and based on early reviews, the EarPods are a hit.
Free with the iPhone 5, the EarPods is the new evolution from the Earbuds that have been sold with every iPod and iPhone since 2001.
After 124 different prototypes and tests with over 600 people, the EarPods are on sale for $29. It has been designed, according to Apple, for deeper and richer bass tones, protection from sweat and water, and control music and video playback.
According to Wired's Nathan Olivarez-Giles, the EarPods not only look and sound better but have a "sleek, retro-futuristic cool that evokes Arne Jacobsen's Egg chairs."
Wired's gadget's reporter noted the level of "richness" and detail in the EarPods rival headphones that usually costs up to $100, such as from Beats and Shure.
For Gizmodo's Mario Aguilar, "Pretty soon millions-tens of millions!-of suckers will own a pair of Apple EarPods."
Aguilar reviewed that the sound on the new headphones are better than the previous EarBuds, but he does note one flaw: "Universal plastic buds will never fit properly."
The flaw is shared with Olivarez-Giles and fellow Wired reporter Christina Bonnington.
Charlie Sorrel of Cult of Mac reviewed, "With music, you get an absurd bass response, better in some ways to the custom-molded earbuds I usually use when training/traveling. Sounds are well separated and full without being tiring. And this is on day one: most speakers and headphones get better after a short running-in period."
But the negative about the EarPods is once again about fitting.
"They don't fall out, but they're far from a tight fit," Sorrel added.
"First things first: they're a solid improvement over the standard Apple earphones. That wouldn't take a huge amount, though, but it's a welcome change for those picking up one of today's new devices," said SlashGear's Vincent Nguyen.
Nguyen added that there was no problem in keeping the EarPods in his ear, and it feels "more secure" than the EarBuds, but it's not perfect due to the "sturdy rubber or foam tip."
To purchase the EarPods, click here.
The iPhone 5's official release date is Sept. 21 (which provides free EarPods), and prices range from $199 for 16GB. $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB when signing a contract with AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon.
For specs and definitions of what the iPhone 5 has to offer, click here to view.
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