Okay, seriously this time: I’m not buying the new AirPods Pro.
At least not for the $250 dollar price the new Apple earphones command (I gave myself an out, didn’t I?) As someone who love and have waxed lyrical about the original AirPods, I’m just not seeing the value proposition in upgrading to the Pro, even though noise cancellation was on my wishlist of features to see in future AirPods. Well, Apple finally delivered that yesterday, and yet the hefty price-tag is giving me tremendous pause.
I already have a lovely - and expensive - pair of noise-cancelling headphones: the venerable Bose QC35, therefore yet another set of earbuds in addition to the two I have is very difficult to justify when the price is that high.
It’s not like we can trade in our first-generation AirPods for the new Pro, and barring that, what I am I suppose to do with them when the AirPods Pro arrive? In the Pro, you can turn off the noise-cancellation function, so it renders the original AirPods largely redundant. Maybe Apple should instate a trade-in program like the company does for iPhones. If I can get somewhere around $60 for my old AirPods towards the new Pro, I’d jump on that instantly. I refuse to treat electronics as disposable devices, and while the latest and greatest will always be enticing, I don’t have the wallet or the conscience (the lack thereof) to upgrade so cavalierly.
I also don’t want to play the game of selling old stuff on eBay (in my experience, the fees really kill the profit margin.) Besides, the only reason I wish the AirPods had noise-cancellation is because I want to use them on the typically loud bus. Now that I know how expensive the AirPods Pro are, there is no freaking way I am wearing them during my commute. Hate to say this, but some people are going to get robbed for their pair - especially in San Francisco.
So that’s about all the rationalizations I need to not buy the new AirPods Pro. I’ve no doubts I’m going to revisit this if and when my set of original AirPods die, though I have to say those things are quite robust indeed.
I’m not going to change my mind after a week. I swear!
It’s important to get enough fiber in your diet.