The AirPods are the most popular wireless headphone in the world. They can be used during your off time or during breaks and hold a long charge. But are they right for you?

First Impression

I bought my first set of AirPods (the one’s pictured in this review) in December of 2018, about 2 years after their initial release. I knew I wanted to make the jump to wireless earbuds and being a huge fan of Apple products in the past, I had already made up my mind that I would be purchasing the AirPods. Upon initially opening the box, I loved the design of the case, which also doubles as the charger. The top easily flipped open and the magnetic locking mechanism felt great when closing the case. Another similarly satisfying feeling with the AirPods is the magnetic “click” that secures each AirPod into its designated hole. The magnets securely hold the AirPods in place, so there is never a worry that they will somehow pop out of the case. The Lightning Port on the bottom plugged in just like my iPhone. The earbuds fit nicely into my ear and felt almost indistinguishable from my old, corded Apple EarPods.

Battery Life

One huge concern with wireless earbuds is battery life and the need to charge yet another device. I was initially turned off by this idea that I would have to remember to charge another electronic device, with my iPhone and Apple Watch already being annoying enough to charge. But to my surprise, the battery life on the AirPods is pretty fantastic. One full charge provides about 5 hours of listening time, more than I would ever use in one day. But one aspect that I didn’t originally take into account was the fact that the case itself doubles as a charger! So even if I forgot to charge my AirPods overnight, if the case still had battery left, then it would also charge my AirPods. I can honestly say that after owning these for multiple years, I have never had an instance where I couldn’t use my AirPods due to the battery being empty. The quick charging time combined with the fact that the case is also a charger meant that I always had battery life when I needed it. With even a short 15 minute charge, my AirPods would provide an hour of listening time. So even if you end up heading to the gym or about to take your lunch break at work, you can quickly charge them and use them for a fairly substantial amount of time.

Durability

As you can tell from these pictures, the Apple AirPods age VERY well. I am not too careful with my electronics, and have never put a case on my AirPod charging case, yet it still looks nearly brand new. I only clean them when I see visible marks on them or if the inside lip of the case looks dirty, and they always come out looking almost brand new. The sound quality has never wavered and I use them for everything from making quick phone calls during my lunch break, to listening to podcasts during my lunch break.

Good for Nurses?

I think the Apple AirPods are the best headphones/earbuds for nurses for all of the positive attributes I listed above. The portability and ease of use means you never have to worry about if they’ll be charged or if you will have room for them. Toss them in your scrub pocket, your backpack, or fanny pack and they will always be within reach. Nurses are increasingly embracing a lifestyle that reflects what they learn in school, meaning that nurses love to workout and be active on their days off. Using AirPods to workout has been such an enjoyable experience and really just makes things easier without having to deal with an annoying cord getting in the way. I also love AirPods for nurses because you can always pop them in when you have a free minute in your day and immediately be able to listen to medical/nursing podcasts or Youtube videos that can help you learn to be a better nurse. The uses for AirPods are endless and I am only scratching the surface, but suffice it to say that you will not regret purchasing these earbuds if you are a nurse.

Gen 1 vs Gen 2 vs AirPods Pro

Since first releasing the AirPods, Apple has provided newer version with more features. Since this isn’t really a tech blog and I don’t want to bore you, I won’t go into all the details of the upgrades between the models. I have owned the First Gen model for 2 years and have never felt the need to upgrade. I do like the idea of having an in-ear style that the AirPods Pro offers, but it didn’t seem like enough of an upgrade for me to shell out more money. I would suggest watching some Youtube videos where they compare the models in order to make the best decision for you.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the Apple AirPods are the best wireless headphones or earbuds on the market for nurses and simply cannot be beat. Once you get over the difference in price between wired and wireless, I think you too will feel the way I do. My AirPods have allowed me to learn more about nursing and medicine (via podcasts and Youtube) in a way that is seamless and enjoyable to do.

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