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Apple‘s new EarPods certainly look like they’ll offer an improvement over the older earbuds, but just how much of an improvement is there? That’s what the folks at iFixit are determined to find out, putting the EarPods in the spotlight as the subject of its latest teardown. Using an exacto knife, a metal spudger, and an iFixit-branded guitar pick, the iFixit gang pried and pulled apart the redesigned EarPods to see if they really can boast significant improvements over Earbuds of the past.

Almost right off the bat, iFixit expresses doubt that the EarPods’ single-driver setup can offer quality to match other headphones that cost hundreds of dollars for just $29, like Apple claims. After running through the aesthetic changes Apple has made with this latest iteration, the iFixit crew gets to work pulling them apart, starting with the redesigned remote. On the inside, the remote isn’t too terribly different from the one found on the old earbuds – it still sports three buttons and a microphone – but iFixit points out that the sealing on this new remote is much better than the sealing on the old one, meaning that you don’t have to worry about water making your remote non-functional as often.

After the remote has been removed, it’s time to dig into the actual EarPods. Since they can’t be pulled apart, iFixit had to get in there with an exacto knife, something the team doesn’t suggest regular consumers do. Once inside, we’re greeted by a diaphragm, a voice coil, a magnet, and a cabinet, which make up the speakers. iFixit found that the diaphragm consists of “a paper cone and a polymer surround,” which is a first for Apple; normally, the diaphragm is all plastic. Despite the fact that these EarPods look quite different from the regular old earbuds on the outside, on the inside, they look pretty similar.

The image you see above is a shot comparing the new EarPods (bottom) to the first generation earbuds (middle) and the previous generation earbuds for iPhone (top), with iFixit stating that the biggest differences are the EarPods’ new design and the new paper cone. iFixit says that these do make some significant durability improvements over past versions, pointing once again to the better-protected remote and saying that the paper cones mean that you’re less likely to blow out your drivers. However, it’s important to keep in mind that repairing these guys is essentially out of the question, considering that they’re hard to get into and cheap enough that you’ll just want to buy a new pair if yours ever break.

iFixit’s full teardown is very fascinating, so if you have a few minutes, be sure to read through the whole thing. What do you think of Apple’s new EarPods?

Apple’s new EarPods get teardown treatment from iFixit is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Yes, finally — finally — Apple’s years-long headphone debacle may finally be at an end, with the introduction this morning of redesigned earbuds. Their new name: “EarPods.” Like so many things from today’s Apple press conference, the new earphones look an awful lot like a leak we saw earlier this month. Apple says the new earphones feature, “a breakthrough design for a more natural fit and increased durability, and an incredible acoustic quality typically reserved for higher-end earphones.” As seen above, they feature a main and secondary grill on each “pod,” and the iPhone version has an inline remote / microphone built-in along the wire. The set looks starkly different from past Apple earphone offerings — no rubber, distinctly less visible metal, and an all-plastic outer shell.

Rather than create a plugged-up seal as most in-ear headphones do, the pods rest at the edge of your ear canal with the main grill directed straight into it. A port on the back of each bud helps airflow to enhance the midrange, while dual ports on the bottom of each stem helps the bass response. Overall, the intention is to maximize airflow for optimal sound quality. Apple claims the design results in, “overall audio quality [that’s] so impressive, they rival high-end headphones that cost hundreds of dollars more.” They’re available today for purchase as a standalone, and will ship with the new iPod Touch, Nano, and iPhone 5. A standalone set with an inline remote / mic will cost you the same $29 price point of its predecessor — and they’re already available at the source link below.

Joe Pollicino contributed to this report.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Tablets, Mobile

Apple’s signature earbuds rebranded for iPhone 5 as ‘EarPods’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Apple unveils the iPhone 5 at that rumored September 12 event, it will apparently be doing so with a new set of earphones. A video showing off these new earphones has popped up on Vietnamese site Tinhte.vn, giving us a look at what may come packaged with the next generation iPhone. If this is the real deal, then it would appear that Apple’s earbuds have undergone a pretty big redesign.

The video you see below originally had sound, but a new version without any audio has since been uploaded in the original’s place. Luckily, MacRumors was able to translate the audio before that switch occurred. Apparently these new earphones are smaller than Apple’s traditional earbuds (though only slightly, judging by the comparison pictures), and it seems that they would fit the ear better than the older round shape. It isn’t exactly a secret that Apple’s earbuds weren’t the most comfortable things to wear, and indeed, Tinhte says that these new ones don’t hurt when put them in your ears.

Tinhte also says that each earpiece is made in such a way that it looks like it’s all one “fully integrated, single unit.” This means that these earphones might not come apart as easily, which should be welcomed change since the old earbuds could feel a little fragile at times. Have a look at the video below to get a first glimpse at what may just be the iPhone’s redesigned earphones:

If Apple is planning a new design for the next iPhone like some of the rumors claim, it wouldn’t surprise us at all to see the earbuds undergo a reboot as well. The last few weeks have brought a pretty steady stream of parts leaks, and in just 10 short days we should be finding out if any of them were legitimate. Keep it here at SlashGear for more information, and be sure to check out our timeline below for the latest iPhone 5 rumors.

iPhone 5 gets revamped earphones in new video is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Holy crap, say hello to the Sennheiser IE 800 in-ear headphones. We haven’t listened to them yet, but just reading about the crazy engineering behind these baby bits is making our pulse quicken. More »

Onanoff’s Magnum earbuds are equipped with a pair of 7mm Neodymium drivers, producing a frequency response of 20HZ – 20KHZ and a 32-Ohm of impedance. These earphones come with three different sizes of silicone buds, providing the best isolation for your ear so your can receive the amazing bass and crystal clear sound. The Magnum earbuds also provide a built-in in-line microphone and the Magneat cable management. Available in white, gunmetal, black and red, the Magnum earbuds retail for $39.95. [Product Page]