Just how seamless is switching between devices with Apple's W1 headphones?

By Dalia, 17 March, 2017

Forum
Apple Hardware and Compatible Accessories

If Apple's claims are true, you should be able to seamlessly switch between your various devices when using one of their W1 headphones (AirPods, BeatsX and Powerbeats3)

So, if you are listening to music on your iPhone, pause playback, and start plain music on your MacBook, the headphones should automatically switch to the Mac. If you then receive a call on your iPhone, the headphones should switch back to that.

This all sounds great.

However, I am curious to know if things are just as seamless when VoiceOver output is likely to be the trigger that you have switched devices.

For instance, if I am using my headphones with my iPhone; and then switch to do something on my Mac; will the headphones switch automatically to the Mac? Or are people finding that they still need to go click or tap on a button to make the switch?

I would love to hear what people's experiences are, so that I don't drop some money on something which doesn't do what I think and hope it will.

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Comments

By Dalia on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 - 16:01

After some reading elsewhere, it seems that switching between devices is not as 'seamless' as it was made to sound by Tim Cook in the AirPod launch presentation.

If people are correct, it's also not as 'seamless' as some early reviews suggested, as apparently the early review units of the AirPods offered better switching than made it to the production models.

All of that to say that it looks like W1 headphones still require some input from the user to switch listening between iOS devices or between iOS and a Mac. Only between iOS and the Apple Watch is there something close to 'seamless' switching.

So, I guess this means that I will be sticking with my AfterShokz for the time being.