Zoomed-In: A closer look at Apple’s new EarPods

If there’s one new thing from Apple’s new products that we’re absolutely excited about, it’s got to be the new EarPods. For the simple fact that they obviously put a whole lot more thought into it (we’re still on the fence regarding the new Lightning port). In contrast, we really don’t have good memories of Apple’s last set of bundled earphones, since the cable gets damaged easily, and they tend to hurt after a while. After going through a few stock pairs from older iPods and iPhones, this writer has learned to keep them wrapped in the box (they can add to the resale value when it’s time to upgrade devices) and just use a pair of aftermarket earbuds that are simply more comfortable.

According to Apple, the EarPods are “designed to direct sound into the ear” using targeted vents, while sound quality is improved by splitting the sound into different ports. The port in the back tunes mid-range frequencies, while the port on the stem improves low frequency sound. The overall shape and design was also tested extensively to make sure that they stay in the ear, and remain comfortable for a wide range of ear types.

Again, we just love the fact that Apple seems to have put a whole lot of thought into this one. I’m still not sure if I’ll pick up the new iPhone 5 once it starts hitting the stores, though. I was never one to be an early adopter anyway. But the new EarPods? It’s definitely worth a try.

The EarPods with Remote and Mic is available now from Apple for $29. Apple says that it can “rival high-end earphones that cost hundreds of dollars more.” If this turns out to be true, then it’s either they sell a crapload of these buds, or they force everyone else to drop their earphone prices. In any case, we all come out on top.