With Apple’s release of the second generation of AirPod Pro in late September, AirPods would seem to play a prominent role in Apple’s product line. Now, the product is updated and shows up in multiple different forms—Airpods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. The reign of the Apple AirPods is in full swing, and Apple is winning from its success. Although AirPods are not the original wireless earphones, they have become a widespread icon. Apple made over $12 billion off AirPods in 2020, and as they continue to improve them in new releases, they maintain dominance in the headphone market.

AirPods continue to grow in demand with the surging online workforce and the continued dominion that technology has over our lives. Each day we spend hours glued to our phones listening to music, consuming social media, calling, and texting. Nearly everyone at my high school has at least one set of AirPods. They are simple and easy to use, despite their steep price tag.

The Apple AirPods have to be one of the most genius products that Apple has ever had and will ever have—other than the iPhone. A well-overpriced product that went from an online joke to brilliant success, the Apple AirPod filled a hole in the Apple ecosystem so deep that it reached everyone’s pocket. The wired headphones that came with Apple products felt cheap and bothersome, but AirPods made the audio experience wireless and untangled. The product combines high-quality audio with a sleek, modern design.

Originally, AirPods were meant to replace a different hole—the headphone jack. AirPods were initially marketed as a companion to the iPhone 7, Apple’s first smartphone without a headphone jack. Apple’s reasoning for removing the headphone jack was that they were being “brave”, but really it was all a tactic to market their AirPods.

Apple never had wireless earphones at the time—outside of their subsidiary Beats—so iPhone users did not have a great earphone experience until the AirPods. With AirPods’ distinguished white hook look, the product reshaped our society, opening up this new style for consumers and the tech market as a whole. When the product first came out in 2016, the internet made it a joke, but people started buying AirPods like candy, even though the earphones cost two hundred dollars.

After the release of the AirPods, it became a social icon because of its hefty price and strange look. People saw the earphones as a representation of wealth, but after several iterations and Apple lowering its price for the older AirPods models, nearly everyone has bought these wireless earphones.

Why Are AirPods Awful, and Why Is That One Of Their Best Attributes?

AirPods are great for the customer because they are small, easy to use and transport, and work well with Apple technology. After all, their products are designed to work together like an ecosystem—hence the Apple Ecosystem. Apple wanted the AirPods experience to feel like magic, allowing for quick and consistent connection to your Apple devices.

However, AirPods are not a good product for the customer because they are slippery and easy to lose, cased in a smooth plastic charging unit. The AirPods case and earpieces are plastic and easy to break, especially the first two generations that have no silicone earpieces that keep the AirPods from falling out while you are working out. When my dog got a hold of my AirPods, they were pretty much decimated.

In addition to AirPods being easy to lose, they are expensive to buy and repair. If you were to lose one of your AirPod Pro earpieces, you would need to pay more than $90 for each one, and you would need to pay more than $100 if you lose your AirPod Pro case. AirPods are not the best wireless earphones for budget customers on the market because there are better cheaper options.

In conclusion, the AirPods product is one of the best products Apple ever made because of its positives and negatives. The product is easy to use, attractive to the consumers’ eyes, and easy to lose, which means that you may buy a new set. If Apple designed AirPods to make them more durable or traceable than they are now, they would not be able to sell as much volume. Nearly everyone I know has an AirPods set, and it seems they will continue to reign dominance over the headphone market for the foreseeable future.