Well, replacements have arrived. Just synced them and am currently charging. Then, the waiting game....

Did you have to return originals?

Pumpedd:

 

Did you have to return originals?

 

I haven't yet, but will have to. Still waiting to here from TNT about collecting them, meant to be the 11 Jan (I had requested the latest possible collection date as it was unclear how quickly the replacements would arrive).

Well,

It appears the replacement set is exhibiting the same problem, although possibly not quite as bad.

I've sent this to the Apple representative I've been dealing with:

Thanks for your help the other day.

I received the replacement set of AirPods, but unfortunately these also appear to be suffering a similar battery drain issue even when the not in use.

This problem has now been quite widely reported on the Internet.

Some users have had success in fixing the problem by simply resetting the AirPods (which points to a software issue), while others have found improvement by fully discharging and recharging the AirPods and case. I have tried both of these and, while it may have improved somewhat, the problem still persists.

Other users have noted that if you reset the AirPods and don’t resync them that they don’t lose any charge until they are repaired with a phone. I haven’t tried this myself, but this also points to a software issue.

Perhaps I have just been unlucky and received two effected sets in a row, but it seems pointless to try replacing them again until Apple makes an official statement about this issue as to whether it is a hardware problem or a software issue that can be resolved with an update.

However, since both sets I have received have exhibited this problem immediately (i.e. DOA), I would like to reserve the right to another replacement set (rather than repair) if, in the coming weeks, the cause of the problem is discovered to be hardware related.

I would hope that Apple have people looking at this since it has been widely reported, and that they will find the issue and make a statement in the not to distant future.

Do the guys who have them also have an Apple Watch? For some reason I'm having trouble finding the answer to this question, but with one of the common complaints being about having to use Siri to adjust the volume or take the phone out of your pocket to do it, if you're listening to music on your iPhone through the AirPods and have an Apple Watch can't you just use that to adjust the volume? In the same way you can use it now to adjust the volume of the music playing on the iPhone?

dafman:

 

 

Beats is Apple as well so a lot of the Apple gain was at a loss of Beats share.

I got mine as soon as they were available and have given them a good workout since then.

My first hesitation was the cost, but my Jaybirds (X2) had just died and I wanted something to replace them.

Now that I have them, I don't care about the cost. The sound is noticeably better than the wired version and I am very satisfied with that aspect. Unlike the Jaybirds, you can hear ambient noise. No problem for me - you may have a preference one way or the other.

Common jokes come about losing them and the 'dental floss' case.  Easy joke, but unfounded. Because of the case, they are always put back and I am mindful of where they are.

I've had a few strange looks from people noticing them. Not sure if they just don't know what they are - or they do and are curious about them.

The battery case is working just nicely for me - and the bluetooth glitches I had with the Jaybirds don't seem to be present with these.

Great for running - and I don't have the Apple Watch

Recommended.

I ordered mine six weeks ago and they were finally delivered today. I have only just had a quick play with them but at this stage I am really impressed. 

The setup took about 30 seconds and went without a hitch and the charging case is genius, but for me the real surprise is the sound quality. As I think I mentioned earlier in the thread I wasn't expecting them to be particularly suitable for music, but I am pleasantly surprised. I have just listened to Chris De Burgh's Lady in Red and was able to hear all the detail I would expect from a reasonably decent pair of headphones, and the bass was nice and punchy without being overblown.

I am now curious as to whether anyone has bought any of the new Beats headphones with the W1 chip. I know that historically Beats had a very poor reputation for sound quality, but I've heard that they may have improved since Apple took them over.

corksta:

 

Do the guys who have them also have an Apple Watch? For some reason I'm having trouble finding the answer to this question, but with one of the common complaints being about having to use Siri to adjust the volume or take the phone out of your pocket to do it, if you're listening to music on your iPhone through the AirPods and have an Apple Watch can't you just use that to adjust the volume? In the same way you can use it now to adjust the volume of the music playing on the iPhone?

 

Haven't really tried to use my watch to adjust the volume from the phone to the Airpods. Its a lot easier to just use the buttons on the side of the phone to do that, works even when the phone is in my pocket. 

Have turned off Siri and only use the double tap to start and stop whatever I am listening to, find that a lot more useful.

jarledb:

 

corksta:

 

Do the guys who have them also have an Apple Watch? For some reason I'm having trouble finding the answer to this question, but with one of the common complaints being about having to use Siri to adjust the volume or take the phone out of your pocket to do it, if you're listening to music on your iPhone through the AirPods and have an Apple Watch can't you just use that to adjust the volume? In the same way you can use it now to adjust the volume of the music playing on the iPhone?

 

 

Haven't really tried to use my watch to adjust the volume from the phone to the Airpods. Its a lot easier to just use the buttons on the side of the phone to do that, works even when the phone is in my pocket. 

 

I did a quick Google search on this a few days ago and the consensus seems to be that it is not currently possible to use an Apple Watch to remotely control the volume of an iPhone.

alasta:

jarledb:

corksta:

Do the guys who have them also have an Apple Watch? For some reason I'm having trouble finding the answer to this question, but with one of the common complaints being about having to use Siri to adjust the volume or take the phone out of your pocket to do it, if you're listening to music on your iPhone through the AirPods and have an Apple Watch can't you just use that to adjust the volume? In the same way you can use it now to adjust the volume of the music playing on the iPhone?

Haven't really tried to use my watch to adjust the volume from the phone to the Airpods. Its a lot easier to just use the buttons on the side of the phone to do that, works even when the phone is in my pocket. 

I did a quick Google search on this a few days ago and the consensus seems to be that it is not currently possible to use an Apple Watch to remotely control the volume of an iPhone.

I forgot to update this thread that the firmware update to 3.5.1 mostly fixed my battery drain issue - but only after I fully drained the case and AirPod batteries after the update.

I say "mostly fixed" because while it is working perfectly with iOS devices, I find that after they have been connected to Windows 10 they continue to drain the case an extra 2%-6% (give or take) after I have finished using them.

E.g. I might use them for only 30 seconds on Windows 10 then pop them back in the case, but lose 4% case charge over the next hour or so.

However this is a huge improvement over what I was previously experiencing, which was a case battery drain of 2%-6% from just opening and closing the case.

Out of interest, has anyone else noticed the same thing with Windows 10?