In a number of ways the Apple AirPods are genuinely amazing. As a piece of engineering they're stunning, fitting the most advanced and user-friendly wireless technology into an incredibly compact design. Without a doubt, the W1 chip is ushering in a new dawn for wireless headphones.

Brilliant; transformative wireless tech; Very decent sound; Awesomely neat; battery-boosting carry case; Amazingly lightweight; compact and comfortable for those with average ears

Non-adjustable size and shape means they won't fit everyone; Attention-grabbing design; and generally not in a good way; Easily lost and expensive to replace; Siri isn't yet a good replacement for buttons

The AirPods are a vast improvement on previous audio products from Apple, but they're far from perfect

Sleek carry case; improved sound and fit compared to previous models

Features are lacking compared to rivals; fiddly to use

When Apple announced that its new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus , the single biggest feature (or lack thereof) was the removal of the headphone jack. The future, Apple claimed, was wireless, and to that end they announced the AirPods, a pair of fully wireless Bluetooth earbuds that should be what our...

If you're looking for truly wireless in ear headphone connectivity, nothing holds a flame to the AirPods – theses are the best you can buy. The total banishment of wires completely exposes the shackled experience of a wired connection, they are effortless to use and beautifully presented – something...

The AirPods look just like Apple's regular headphones but without any cables – not even a cable joining the two earpieces. And they come in a magnetic case that not only stores them but keeps them charged. You can hear your music, talk to Siri and also make and receive calls on the move.

Great design; excellent sound quality; charging case; decent battery life

Maximum volume and bass level might not be high enough for some

When they were first announced in September, it was obvious that AirPods were Apple's attempt to distract everyone from the iPhone's lack of a headphone jack . At $160, AirPods are Apple's version of truly wireless earphones, a gadget lots of companies have been trying to perfect with varying...

After Apple's big announcement of the iPhone 7 lineup on Wednesday, there's probably one major question that's lingering in the minds of Apple fans: How will my life change without the iPhone headphone jack?

If you're looking to just listen to music, the Airpods are a good choice since the connection never drops. Just don't expect to get a great sound experience and be prepared to lose at least one.

Great connection; Really portable

Not the best fit; Sound isn't great

With Apple kissing the standard headphone jack goodbye, it's hoping people will buy these completely wireless earbuds instead. They're elegant in some ways, with a simple pairing process and good voice-call quality.

Dead-simple to set up; Siri and calls work very well; Solid battery life

Controls aren't flexible enough; Mediocre audio quality; EarPods-inspired design isn't for everyone

The AirPods have good battery life and great sound, and the integration with iOS can't be beat, but if you listen to your music with third-party apps,...