Apple - Can AirPods be used “seamlessly” between Mac and iOS devices?
I'm an AirPods user and so far I have not found them to switch seamlessly between my 2016 MacBook Pro and iPhone 7 Plus.
The switching is manual: select AirPods on the MacBook Pro, or connect Bluetooth on the iPhone. If a call comes through on the iPhone whilst on a Skype call on the MacBook Pro, you will have to pick up on the phone.
The "simultaneous" promise, so far, is marketing BS. Maybe it will work in a future software/firmware release.
iOS 13 Update: Quickly connect to AirPods in control center by force touching Bluetooth and selecting AirPods.
“Seamless” switching
AirPods allow for "Seamless switching" because you can easily connect Device B without disconnecting the AirPods from Device A (unlike other Bluetooth headphones/speakers).
How to switch AirPods between devices signed into your Apple ID
- Airplay in apps that support it
- iPhone Control Center: Swipe up (or down from top right), force touch on the now playing widget in the top right (or wait for the airplay icon and click that)
- iPhone Bluetooth: Force Touch "Settings", select Bluetooth
- Mac Bluetooth in Menu Bar: System Preferences → Bluetooth → "Show Bluetooth in Menu Bar"
- Mac Sound in Menu Bar: System Preferences → Sound → "Show Volume in Menu Bar"
- Apple TV (inside apps that support it): Swipe down from top and select “Audio”
- Apple TV (alternative): Hold Play/Pause button (in “TV”/“menu” view)
- Apple TV Settings: Open Settings, remotes and devices, Bluetooth
- Apple Watch: Tap the AirPlay icon in the control center
It’s clearly not a perfect process, but Apple has to balance simplicity with functionality and I don’t think they foresee users constantly switching devices.
They will have seamless switching as of iOS 14, iPadOS 14 and macOS Big Sur.
When your other devices are signed in with the same Apple ID as your iPhone, AirPods automatically switch between your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. For example, if you’re listening to another device with your AirPods but you want to listen to your iPhone instead, start playing music, a podcast, or other audio on your iPhone. Your AirPods switch to iPhone automatically. Your AirPods also switch to iPhone when you make or answer a call on iPhone.
More details here: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/switch-airpods-automatically-iph08b253c17/ios