Got a new pair of AirPods or AirPods Pro this Christmas? Congratulations! There’s a lot you need to know about your new AirPods or AirPods Pro to use them to their full capacity. The ease of use and the convenience that the AirPods offer make them the most popular wireless earbuds out there.
If you are heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem or even have any other Apple product other than an iPhone, you will realize just how beautifully and easily the AirPods integrate into that ecosystem. So, without further ado, below are the top 10 things that you must do with your new AirPods or AirPods Pro.
Top Things to Do with Your New AirPods or AirPods Pro
1. Understand the Status Light
It is important that you know what the status light on the charging case of your AirPods or AirPods Pro mean. Depending on what color the light blinks, you can easily understand the status of your AirPods and the charging case itself.
No light: Your AirPods are dead and need to be charged.
Amber light with AirPods in case: AirPods are charging.
Amber light without AirPods in case: There’s less than a full recharge remaining in the AirPods case.
Green light without AirPods in case: there’s more than one full recharge remaining in AirPods case.
White flashing light: AirPods have been reset and are ready to connect.
Amber flashing light: AirPods have a pairing error and might need to be reset.
2. Pair AirPods with Android or Windows
Got the AirPods or AirPods Pro as a gift for Christmas but don’t own an iPhone? Worry not as you can still use the wireless earbuds with your Android device. Since the AirPods support Bluetooth, they can be easily paired with an Android device. Simply hold the round button on the back of the AirPods charging case to start the pairing process. Then proceed to the Bluetooth section of your Android device to pair the wireless earbuds.
You can also connect your AirPods to a Windows PC by following this guide. You are obviously going to miss out on some iPhone-specific features like ‘Hey Siri’ access and gestures, but the wireless earbuds will at least work properly.
3. Hey Siri
Easily one of the most useful features of the AirPods is the always-on “Hey Siri” support. You can simply say “Hey Siri” to get Siri’s attention and then ask it to call someone from your contact book, play music, ask for directions, etc. All this without having to take out your iPhone from your pocket or even look at its display once.
4. Water-Resistance
Depending on whether you got the AirPods or the AirPods Pro this Christmas, you need to be careful in how you handle it. The regular AirPods do not carry an IP certification meaning they are not sweat or water-resistant. Your AirPods might survive a wash cycle in the washing machine but that does not mean you should not take precautions and avoid putting them in direct contact with any kind of liquid. This also means that you should avoid wearing your AirPods while working out.
The AirPods Pro carries an IPX4 rating meaning they are splash-resistant. This means they are good enough to wear while working out or when its raining. However, do not drop them in a swimming pool and expect them to survive the ordeal.
5. Track Lost AirPods
Sooner or later, you are bound to misplace your AirPods. The very thing that makes them convenient to use also makes the wireless earbuds easy to lose. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have misplaced your AirPods or just can’t find them, follow this guide on how to find your lost AirPods or the AirPods charging case.
6. Tips and Tricks
There are a lot of other new features that your new AirPods or AirPods Pro pack. Depending on which AirPods you have received, read the tips and tricks below to get the most out of it.
7. Customize the Gestures
The AirPods come with a double-tap gesture that can be used to trigger Siri, play/pause music, etc. The good thing is that you can customize the gestures to certain pre-specified actions. You can follow this guide to customize the double-tap gestures of your AirPods.
On the AirPods Pro, you can similarly customize the Force Sensor actions.
8. Ear Tip Fit Test
If you got the AirPods Pro, you can take the Ear Tip Fit test to find out which silicone ear tips fit your ears the best. In this test, a song is played back for around five seconds to help you find out the best ear tip size. The good thing about this test is that it will determine the right ear tip size for both ears individually. It is not necessary that the same ear tip size will fit you best in both ears.
You can find the Ear Tip Fit test option under Settings -> Bluetooth and tapping the ‘i’ button next to your AirPods Pro.
9. Get Siri to Announce Messages
You can get Siri to automatically announce all new messages while you are wearing your AirPods or AirPods Pro. This way you will not have to check your iPhone every time you receive a new message. And with Hey Siri detection, you can use Siri to reply to messages as well.
10. Spatial Audio
If you have the AirPods Pro, you need to experience Spatial Audio to know just how magical the AirPods Pro can sound. In Spatial Audio, Apple uses dynamic head tracking to bring a true surround sound experience. This ensures that one feels that the sound is coming from all around them, with the voice coming from the front. Once you experience Spatial Audio, you will realize just how magical it is. As of now, Apple TV+ offers content with Spatial Audio support. Make sure to enable Spatial Audio on your AirPods or AirPods Pro by going to Settings -> Bluetooth, tapping on the name of your AirPods Pro, and enabling the Spatial Audio toggle.
How are you liking your new AirPods or AirPods Pro? What are your first impressions of them? Drop a comment and share them with us!
