I’m curious about what devices MPU folks sometimes choose instead of Apple’s major hardware products they currently sell, and why you choose to use them instead.
Please do NOT include peripherals and accessories like keyboards, mice, device cases and sleeves, etc—I already know a lot of you use other brands of those.
Also, please ONLY include devices you yourself personally choose to buy and use, NOT devices your employer supplies to you or requires you to use.
I mean alternative devices in these categories:
laptop and desktop computers
tablets
smartphones
smart watches
earbuds and headphones
smart speakers similar to Homepods
AR headsets
I was hesitant to include monitors, but the Studio Display is a significant product, so go for it
Thanks in advance—I’m hoping this will be an interesting conversation!
I’ll start. I own the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds, which I’m very happy with. Here’s why I keep using them instead of AirPods:
very good, surprisingly detailed sound (some people might want more bass, but not me)
outstanding battery life from the earbuds and the charging case
effective adaptive ANC
very comfortable for extended wear, with five pairs of ear tips (more than are included with the AirPods Pro!) in different sizes to make it easy to get the right fit
case charges by USB-C or wireless Qi
easy to use app and controls
good microphone for voice and Zoom calls
multi-point auto-switching between two devices (usually my iPhone and MacBook), and easy to connect to other devices (like my AW) via the app
Both the buds and case have a premium look and feel, especially in black, which was my choice. I got them during Prime Day for $60 US ($100 MSR; I’ve recently seen them for $50) last year after reading great reviews in Wired, PC Mag, and Wirecutter, and I wouldn’t trade them for either of the latest standard AirPods (which lack some of the features I value) unless I could sell the AirPods and pocket the difference.
The AirPods Pro, the only Apple buds with a similar acoustic seal and fit, are probably better, but they cost five times more and I doubt I’d get five times more enjoyment out of them. That’s also a lot to spend on something that’s so easy to lose or break and that becomes e-waste as soon as the batteries stop holding enough charge.
So I’ll be sticking with my Space A40s for the foreseeable future.
My household is on Amazon Echo and Alexa simply because they were cheaper and I think, mainly due to them being first in the market. Homepods were not released back then and I already invested into Amazon devices. I don’t see a need to move out of this and in fact have been adding more devices into each room.
I use Amazon echo devices. They’re much less expensive and do the job… mostly listening to the radio/music. They’re very well supported in the UK by the BBC meaning you can catch up on any radio programme and third party apps like Radio Browser fill the gaps.
For reading I (sometimes) use a Kindle because e-ink, incredible battery life and a low enough price point that I wouldn’t be too upset if it broke while travelling.
I use a third party inexpensive monitor connected to my MacBook Air which has lasted years and works fine.
For multi-room audio, I use Sonos products, mixed in with the IKEA Sonos bookshelf type.
I have been using the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless earbuds for a long time, first the v2, now the v3 that are still going strong. I really like that sound signature and the ANC / HearThrough features are also very good IMO.
My watches are mechanical and analog, with varying levels of “smart”
I have a Samsung monitor instead of an Apple display.
Currently toying with the idea of getting a smartring but for the moment that won’t be from Apple as they don’t sell one. (Probably an Ultrahuman one as it includes 99% of the features of an Oura ring but without the nonsense monthly subscription that would keep me away from my own data. In a recent review the Ultrahuman can in second behind the Oura but that subscription is a non-starter for me.)
Sony XM5 over ear for working from home and the odd trip.
The AirPod Max’s look too heavy, come in a ridiculous case, and are about $200 too much for my taste.
I do have AirPods Pro 2 for exercise and walking the dog, but the over-the-ear nature of the XM5 makes them considerably better at noise cancelling and my preference when not mobile.
I owned the XM3s prior to the XM5 and was equally as happy with them.
I have been doing that also on my Mini, but I ordered the new kindle colorsoft to see if I can pull it off with an even smaller form factor. Will show test results at the end of the month.
I am traditionally extremely hard on headphones so I go for the mid range Ankers for my headphones.
I used to rock a Fossil hybrid for my watch and am so sad they discontinued their smartwatch lines.
My speaker system is a Crosley record player with CD/Tape/Radio and Bluetooth and thanks to a Raspberry Pi airplay as well.
I have a kindle and will be getting an onyx Boox Palma when that gives up the ghost.
When my iPhone kicks the bucket I plan on going Light Phone/Palma, Garmin Hybrid, and a Remarkable when my iPad kicks it. With my primary Apple products being a MacBook Pro and the Apple TV.
I never thought about Monitors. I have a relatively cheap 24” 2k Acer monitor which does a job with my Mac Mini. I’d love a Studio Display, but besides the cost, the space I have for my Mini is on the Snug side, so a Studio Display won’t fit.
I just bought myself a Lenovo Micro SFF PC to replace my M1 Mac Mini.
Primary reason is that I also upgraded my monitor to a 34” widescreen and macOS just will not play nicely with 1440p resolutions (I’ve tried Better Display and it helps) but Windows just works… which is usually the other way around.
However, I’ve also got that used to cross platform tools that I can generally use macOS or Windows to do what I need to do. And this was £500 in a sale, for a fraction of the price of upgrading a mini to 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM - and it has USB ports on the front.
I might regret with this proposed new Mac Mini design but we’ll see! I prefer the one big screen to two smaller ones - especially now I purchased a curved one.
I do have the Bose headphones mentioned above as well, though the non noise cancelling ones but also have the AirPods v2, as I find one I use on the move and the other when I’m at my desk.
