If you live in a city, you can't walk two blocks

如果你住在城市裡，每走兩條街

without spotting the iconic shape.

都可以看到這形狀的東西。

But their environmental impact has been called a "tragedy,"

但它們環保的影響力被稱為「悲劇」，

and their sound quality isn't much better

還有他們的音質也沒有

than the earbuds Apple includes for free.

比附贈的有線耳機還要好。

Why pay $159 when there are $30 earbuds

那為什麼要花 $159 美元去買跟 $30 美元

that claim to be just as good?

一樣音質的東西呢？

Just because they're the most ubiquitous

它們隨處可見，

doesn't mean they're the best.

並不代表它們是最好的。

Let's start with what they get right.

讓我們來一探究竟。

AirPods work with other Apple products really well.

AirPods 與蘋果其它產品非常相容。

The W1 or newer H1 chip pairs instantly

W1 與 H1 的晶片配對非常的迅速，

and has less interference

相較於它牌的無限耳機

compared to other wireless earbuds.

也比較不易受干擾。

And features like taking out an AirPod to pause your music

它有的功能像是，取下耳機，即暫停音樂

or audio sharing are really useful.

或影音分享也非常的實用。

But AirPods also have some huge flaws.

但是 AirPods 也有非嚴重的問題。

The biggest downside?

最大的缺點？

Their sound is just OK.

它的音質就普普通通。

AirPods produce a perfectly average sound

AirPods 產出完美的平均聲，

that's clear in the mid-tones

它的中音調很清晰，

and is good for podcasts

非常適合聽播客的人，

but doesn't pack much in the low end.

但沒有太多的重低音。

And because of their open design,

也因為它的開放式的設計，

sound isolation is terrible.

聲音隔絕的效果差了一點。

There's also no noise cancellation,

它也沒有雜音消除的功能，

so you'll be stuck hearing traffic or crowds around you.

所以你還是會感受的到周圍的交通與人群。

The Jabra Elite 65Ts produce much better sound

Jabra Elite 的 65Ts 耳機產出較好的音質

at about the same price.

價格卻是一樣。

Even budget alternatives

即便是比較便宜的無線耳機，

like the $80 Anker Soundcore earbuds

像是 $80元的 Anker Soundcore，

offer just-as-good sound for half the price.

也產出相同音質，價鉻卻只有一半。

You might think you can put up with the sound quality,

你或許可以忍受音質的部分，

but there's one issue you can't avoid:

但有個問題卻避免不了，

the battery life.

它的電池壽命。

Five hours on a single charge sounds great on paper.

充電一次可以用 5 小時聽起來還不錯。

But since their release three years ago,

但自從蘋果 3 年前開始販賣無線耳機

there have been numerous reports

到現在，已經有許多

of decreased battery capacity.

關於電池容量的客訴。

And often the battery capacity of one AirPod

經常都是單邊耳機的電池容量

will deteriorate faster than the other,

惡化得比另一邊還要快，

leaving you with an uneven charge.

使得你的耳機，兩邊電力不均

In March, AppleInsider compared AirPods from 2016

在三月，AppleInsider 拿了 2016 與 2018

to a new pair from 2018.

的 AirPods 來做比較。

It found that after one hour of listening, the older pair

它發現，聽了一小時的音樂，舊的耳機，

had 52% and 19% less battery in each bud

剩餘電量一邊是 52% 、一邊是 19%，

compared to the newer pair.

都比新的耳機還要少。

Apple seems to be aware of this issue.

蘋果似乎注意到這個問題。

It even offers a special battery-repair service.

便提出了電池維修服務。

But that costs $49 to $69 per AirPod.

但單支耳機卻要花費 $49 到 $69。

If your charging case is having battery issues,

如果你的耳機充電殼也有充電問題，

that's another $49 to $69.

又是另外 $49 到 $69 的費用。

Out of warranty, replacing each bud and the case

過保固又要更換兩支耳機加耳機殼，

costs $38 more than a brand-new pair.

要花上比新耳機多出 $38 的費用。

The short battery lifespan might force you

它短短的電池壽命可能會讓你

to buy new AirPods after two or three years.

使用個兩三年，就要淘汰換新。

Even if your battery still holds a charge,

即便你的電池還能充電，

you might have to replace your AirPods

但雨天不小心碰到水，

after getting caught in the rain,

你還是得要更換耳機。

because unlike competing earbuds,

不像是很競爭的耳機

AirPods have no water resistance.

AirPods 它不防水

Apple doesn't even advertise sweat resistance.

蘋果甚至也沒有說它可以防汗水

It's a real bummer to worry if your $159 earbuds

更失望的是還要擔心你的 $159 的耳機，

will survive some light rain.

它是否可以在小雨中度過。

But the broader impact of all of this

所有缺點中更大的影響是

is much more serious.

非常嚴重的。

AirPods are a waste nightmare.

AirPods 是個 3C 產品噩夢

iFixit gives AirPods

iFixit 在 AirPods 維修這一部份

a 0/10 repairability score.

給了零分。

That means if something breaks

意味著，有東西壞了

or your battery isn't holding a charge,

或是電池無法再次充電，

your only option is to replace it with a new unit.

你唯一的選擇只有換一個新的。

Apple's repair is really just a replacement.

蘋果的維修就只是幫您更換一個新的。

All electronics create waste,

所有電子產品製造廢物，

but the short lifespan of AirPods means waste is created

但這 AirPods 短短的壽命意味著

much faster than it is with something like a laptop.

它所淘汰所累積的廢棄物快過於筆電。

And this will likely get worse as AirPods

更糟糕的情況是， AirPods 與其它品牌的耳機

and other wireless earbuds become more popular.

越來越多人在使用。

But doesn't Apple put a lot of focus on recycling?

但蘋果不是有在注重環保嗎？

Yes, and they do offer a program

是的，他們有提供回收計畫

where you can send in your AirPods to get them recycled.

你可以將 AirPods 寄會去給他們回收。

Which is great.

這概念的確很好。

More companies should do this.

更多的公司也該這麼做。

But most people don't know that this exists

但大部分的人都不知道它的存在

or won't bother to do it.

或是嫌麻煩不去做。

Those dead AirPods will sit for years in your drawer

那些壞掉的 AirPods 就會在你的抽屜或是掩埋場

or a landfill.

沉睡好幾年。

Now, you might be thinking

現在，你或許會想

that some water protection or noise cancellation

防水或是噪音隔絕功能

would increase the price.

會提高價格。

It might. But one thing Apple could have included for free?

有可能會，但有個功能蘋果是不額外收費的？

More customization.

更多的客製化。

AirPods have several double-tap functions

AirPods 有幾個雙擊功能

that you can set for each individual bud,

你可以幫每支耳機做設定，

like play/pause or next track.

例如，撥放/暫停或是下一首。

But other functions require you to use "Hey Siri."

其他的功能就需要呼叫 Siri 來幫你。

So if you want to adjust your volume

如果你想要不拿出手機

without taking out your phone,

就可以調整音量，

you have to assign one of two double-tap options to Siri

你得要指派其中一個雙擊功能來呼叫 Siri ，

and then ask the voice assistant to lower the volume.

請語音助理幫你調低音量。

But depending on where you are,

但這需要看你當下的場合

this isn't always possible or convenient.

它不是每次都很好用或是很方便。

AirPods would be a lot more useful

AirPods 如過能添加單擊功能在每支耳機上的話，

if they added single-tap functions to each ear.

就會好用許多。

If you're a diehard AirPods fan,

如果你是位 AirPods 的鐵粉

you might be typing a comment about how AirPods

你會留言說不是只有 AirPods

aren't the only wireless earbuds that have these issues.

才有這樣的問題。

You're right.

沒錯。

But with AirPods, you're paying a premium

但使用 AirPods，你付的是頂級的價格

for mediocre features and quality

卻用的是很一般的功能與品質

just to be part of the Apple ecosystem.

就只是為了成為蘋果的一份子。

AirPods integrate seamlessly with other Apple devices

AirPods 與其它的蘋果產品能夠無縫接軌的

and are well built.

整合在一起。

But that doesn't automatically make them worth the price.

但並沒有因此就有這個價值。

Removing the headphone jack

拿掉音源線，

forces consumers towards expensive options

迫使消費者走向更貴的選擇，

that have to be replaced more frequently

它汰舊換新的頻率，

than wired headphones.

又比有線耳機來得快。

A lot of consumers would be better off

便宜的選擇

with a cheaper alternative.

對許多消費者比較好

And the environment would be better off

永續環保的耳機

with a more sustainable one.

對環境比較好。