Overview

Apple AirPods are wireless earbuds made by the Apple technology company. While the subject of negative criticism by the general public upon its release, they grew in popularity over the following two years, receiving positive reviews from critics and users. The product has also been the subject in a variety of memes, referencing the perceived wealth of its userbase.

History

On September 7th, 2016, Apple introduced the iPhone 7. Among the features unveiled were the "AirPods," wireless earbuds that would pair with the new phone.^[1] AirPods differed from Apple's standard earbuds by being 100% wireless. They charge through a portable charging case and allow users to tap the side of AirPod to control either their device via Apple's virtual assistant Siri.

Reception

Headphone Jack Controversy

The AirPods were instantly met with backlash,^[2] as people figured the small size of the AirPods made them easy to lose, especially for having a price of $159. People on Twitter mocked the news using the hashtag "#courage", a reference to Apple's tendency to chalk up design decisions to their "courage."

Users sarcastically mourned the death of the headphone jack, while Android users teased iPhone users by calling the headphone jack an Android exclusive feature. Reddit user BTKSD posted an image of the head of an electric toothbrush in his ear to mock the AirPod's appearance in a comment that gained nearly 4,800 points in /r/funny.^[3] People also compared the AirPod's appearance to a hairdryer or simply old Apple EarBuds with the wires cut off.

Critical Response

Over the following two years, since the AirPods release, the product has grown in popularity among the critical community. In 2018, The Verge^[4] published an "audiophile" review of the product, who called the AirPods "Apple’s best first-gen product in years." They wrote:

"But when I look at the limits of what’s possible today -- in terms of miniaturization of audio and wireless components -- I can’t see a better combination of price, features, and performance than what’s offered by the AirPods. The price is fair and the compromises are acceptable. I make it my job to review (and enjoy) super heavy and expensive headphones that do amazing things with music, recreating and illuminating every minute detail of a recording. That makes me extremely picky about any products I listen to, and the thing the AirPods share with the giant cans built by the likes of Audeze and Focal is that they convey the sense and intent of the music. And the reason I now reach for the AirPods even when I’m at home, the unique thing that delights all their users, is their unrivaled ease of use.

Live Listen

On January 9th, 2019, Twitter^[5] user @arnoldcrndo tweeted about a feature called Live Listen, which allows users to use their iPhone as a microphone that feeds sound directly into the iPhone. They wrote, "If u have AirPods 🎧, u can press 'Live Listen' to “On” and leave your phone in the room with someone and u can hear what they saying, thank me later." The tweet received more than 50,000 retweets and 152,000 likes in four days (shown below).

While AirPods could be used for this purpose, Apple designed the feature for people with hearing disabilities.^[6] They wrote:

Made for iPhone hearing aids, sound processors, and now AirPods can help you have better conversations in loud places. Just turn on the Live Listen feature and move your iPhone toward the people you're talking with. Live Listen uses the microphone to pick up what they're saying more clearly.

Following the post, people made jokes about how the AirPods could be used for spying (examples below).

On January 10th, Redditor ^[7] kgbiyugik shared the original tweet on the /r/Apple subreddit. The post received more than 4,600 points (92% upvoted) and 490 comments in four days.

Related Memes

AirPod Flexing

AirPod Flexing refers to a series of jokes and memes that characterize users of Apple's AirPod earbuds as rich braggarts. AirPods have come to represent a type of humble brag about one's wealth.

Swallowing AirPods Challenge

On February 13th, 2019, the YouTube channel TGFbro posted the video "Swallowing Apple AirPods WHOLE!" In the video, two men, Jay Swingler and Romell Henry, swallow a pair of AirPods each. The video received more than 1 million views within two days (shown below).

The following day, Redditor^[8] Hans_Ploem posted a screenshot from the video juxtaposed against a Every day, we stray further from god reaction image. The post received more than 6,100 points (98% upvoted) and 60 comments in 24 horus.

The following day, both men in the video commented on their participation. Henry tweeted,^[9] "My bowel movements are in free flow it’s crazy in my body." The tweet received more than 65 retweets and 3,000 likes in 24 hours (shown below, center). Swigler tweeted,^[10] "you know that gut feeling when you have airpods in your stomach. haha lol gut feeling kill me now happy valentines." The tweet received more than 345 retweets and 8,500 likes in 24 hours (shown below, right).

That day, The Daily Dot ^[11] reported on the video.

Photoshop Challenge

On March 6th, 2019, marketing agency Article Group^[13] tweeted, "can someone start photoshopping air pods into famous works of art? that's my design challenge for you all." The tweet gained 71 comments, 215 retweets and 1,200 likes in a day (shown below, left). A few minutes later, they tweeted "okay, we're upping the stakes on this. we're sending a trophy to the person who creates the best example of air pods photoshopped onto famous works of art. show us what you got." The post gained 24 retweets and 289 likes in a day (shown below, right). Later in the day they replied again saying, "sooo we're going to be awarding five (5!) trophies to winners of this challenge AND donating $500 in their names to the @BKArtsCouncil. many of us live in brooklyn + want to give back to an org that provides free events + affordable art resources for artists in our home borough."

On March 7th, ArticleGroup announced the winners. Twitter user @pacificobob^[18], garnered 543 retweets and 1,900 likes with their edit of a Frida Kahlo painting and won first place(shown below).

The honorable mentions were made by StriderTB^[14], LucyFurTweets^[15], Deetledeetdeet^[16], yurivictor^[17] (shown below).

Search Interest

External References