And eh, I realize that Apple almost never goes below MSRP/list, but don't act like the "after $50 off" is some special promotion. It's not a rebate, even an instant one, just 'cheaper than list'.
In reality, the only thing close costs markedly more, not at MSRP but at real selling price.
There's a reality distortion field, but it's inverted.
Not hilarious, just tedious.
Motorola VerveOnes - $150
SmartOmi Boots Mini - $75
Rowkin Bit Stereo - $110
Rowkin Mini Plus - $60
Sol Republic Amps Air - $150
Your lack of awareness of the market does not mean that it does not exist. It is not helpful to pretend that your unwillingness to do simple research on the matter makes you an expert.
I will now predict your next objections:
"I don't like these companies"
"These are not exactly the same product"
"The colors are off"
"The Apple Store doesn't carry them"
Even Reddit finds more plausible comps:
- Samsung Gear IconX ($200) 4GB of on-board storage+, fitness tracking+ -- 1.6 Hours
- Motorola VerveOnes ($200) Can look up last connected location if lost+ -- 2-3 Hours
- Bragi Dash ($300) Fitness tracking+, gesture control+, 4GB storage+, Audio passthrough+ -- 4 Hours
- Bragi Headphone ($150) Hardware buttons+, no case charging or BLE -- 6 Hours
- Earin M-1 ($200) claims good sound quality+, no mics- -- 3 Hours
- Jabra Elite Sport ($250) Fitness tracking+, waterproof+ -- 3 Hours
- Apple Airpods ($160) W1 Chip to quickly switch devices+, Can use either headphone independently+, 24 add hrs of charge in case, only comes in one size- -- 5 Hours
I'm not sure your list is made of nice things:
- "Sol Republic Amps Air Are Truly Wireless Earbuds That Kind of Suck" http://gizmodo.com/sol-republic-amps-air-are-truly-wireless-...
- "Review: Apple AirPods Are Pretty F--king Cool" http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/review-apple-airpods-are...
But it's irrelevant. You can say "apple's product is better." You can say "these other products are terrible." You can even say "I hate everything that is not from Cupertino." But the claim here is that these things are some kind of revolution. The claim we are trying to rebut is not "apple airpods suck and are not worth buying." I, and many others, are merely explaining that there is nothing magical or even particularly new about airpods. They are an iteration on an existing product segment.
You, so far, have done nothing to demonstrate otherwise.
https://www.amazon.com/Bragi-Truly-Wireless-Smart-Earphones/...