I get the same thing out-of-the-box. I get tap-to-pair, noise cancellation, spatial audio, transparency mode and a better microphone than the Airpods (can use a higher-quality codec than AAC). Settings stay on-device, too.

Airpods were a neat party trick maybe... 5 years ago? Wireless audio isn't complicated nowadays though, I've tried at least a dozen Bluetooth headsets that embarrass the Airpods Pro (often at a lower price point).

The last thing I want to do is stop people from buying overpriced headphones though. If Airpods make you happy, then by all means, buy them. You're mostly paying a premium for iCloud integration though, which I'd frankly pay extra to avoid.

Shit though, if you want proof that Airpods are a downgrade from regular headphones, just compare the audio quality: https://youtu.be/N6Y_Q7RYmmY?t=360

You can pair your headphones seamlessly to seven devices without unpairing? Yes I have a phone, tablet, watch, computer and two AppleTVs - one in the bedroom and one in my home gym.

Yep. Multipoint connection will tether to any availible devices, and then switch between whichever ones are actively playing. Works like a charm, don't even need an AppleTV to pair it with my display.

I only have to use a third party app to change the settings on the headset (like equalizer and noise canceling level). For my devices I have no need to change these more than a couple of times per year, at most. For my Bose QC35 I think I've never touched the app after first configuration. Those settings are stored in the headset, so once I've set them they stay the same regardless what device the audio streams from.

The vendor lock-in is by definition there if there are any special Apple features. If there is no vendor lock-in, there is neither any special Apple-exclusive magic features that justify the price premium?

I know my FIIL buds don't have active noise canceling. They are IEMs and give about 20 dB passive noise reduction which is more than enough. The microphone quality is decent, but for any longer calls I use my Jabra which has a proper mic.

> The vendor lock-in is by definition there if there are any special Apple features.

This is ridiculous. Then no manufacturer, weather it be cars, or clothing, or industrial equipment would offer anything different than their competitors, lest it be deemed "vendor lock in".