AirPods connecting to Multiple Devices?

That's just not true. I have several Plantronics Bluetooth devices & they do, in fact, connect "seamlessly" to multiple devices simultaneously. I connect to an iPhone as well as a Samsung Note 9 every single day with absolutely no issues & without the need to constantly reconnect every time one of my phones ring. Very disappointing that Apple Airpods can't do the same.

Obviously everyone should do that.

As is obvious (I hope) that we should not claim something is not possible because of BT limitations or something, just because we don't know better.

As mentioned previously in the thread, Bose and other manufacturers exploit the full BT capabilities and do that.

I have my Bose QC35 connected to both my iPad and iPhone while travelling. I watch Netflix on the iPad, and when I receive a call on the iPhone, the movie on the iPad automatically pauses and I receive the call on the phone. When the call is over, audio switches back to the iPad and the movie resumes.

It's amazingly convenient and I took it for granted that my AirPods would be able to do it as well, all being Apple devices and stuff. Sadly, that is not the case. Definitely something that has to be improved in the next version.

Sadly, I too spent the bucks only to find it will not "seamlessly" connect to multiple devices. Given that, my biggest problem is that if my iPad and iPhone are within spitting distance, the AirPods become psycho and start disconnecting/connecting back and forth. Big problem when I'm on a call with my Boss and the AirPods decide they'd rather connect to the iPad. What's with that???

Hmm. Just off the top of my head: Sennheiser PXC550 absolutely does it, as the the Panasonic ANC ones (even better then the SH's). .

Also, if memory serves my Bose QC35 do sort of, and I think my Beats Studio 3 wireless also does a fair approximation. The AirPods, regardless of what they say about working with any device signed into same iCloud account are a fail for me - but at least 3 days in my ears have stopped aching from the oversized ear inserts.

Lawrence Finch said not possible with any BT device to connect to multiple sources.

Sennheiser PXC550 absolutely do this and if I am listening to music on laptop and my phone rings it pauses and jumps to my call. Panasonic ANC headphones also do this, apparently allowing two different sources to play at same time. QC35's connect to multiple devices as well - not sure how the switching between devices is. My Beats Studio 3's seem to not cause me any problems being synced to both phone and laptop. Only my AirPods seem to get confused by being connected to "all my devices logged into same iCloud account" - total fail.

My AirPods switch seamlessly. I can have them paired to my iPad or Mac and if my phone rings, I can answer the call and it hands it off just fine. Sometimes I just wish I could assign one source to one pod and another to the other side, but it is so rare, that it is not a problem.

Hi Lawrence. I'm not sure why you think it cannot work with any Bluetooth device. It works great with my Bose headsets and my Plantronics V5200. They are connected to multiple devices at the same time. There indeed seems to be one "master" device. For example, my PLT V5200 was first paired with my laptop, and then to my iPhone. If I play music on the iPhone, and then play a Youtube video on my laptop, the laptop gets the channel. I'm not sure if incoming calls from the iPhone would get through with continuous audio already being played on the "master" device. But I have never had any issues not hearing sounds on my headsets.

My Jabra 65T will connect to my iPhone and to my Android device because of the device/bluetooth it has. Why cant the AirPods do that?

When I receive a phone call on which ever device I hear it ringing in my ear and I can pick up the call. Come on Apple... when will you implement this? It was for me the decision not to buy the Airpods.

This is too cool - but not a permanent solution

Works well till both devices are playing music but once you stop one, the other syncs up to the other.

Which means if you are planning to keep one pod connected to the iPhone for taking calls while listening to music on a Macbook on the other ear - that is not going to happen :)

Lawrence, This is incorrect. My Sennheiser headphones will connect up to 4 devices. I can take a phone call and have music playing on my computer. You select which one you want to hear or you can stream both and have the music at a reduced volume. You just have to spend the money. The technology isn't limited in a 1:1 fashion.

There is technology called Bluetooth Multi-Point and many manufacturers DO support it. I have another earphones myself that allow connecting to both Mac and phone at the same time and it will seamlessly switch based on priority. So if you are listening to music on Mac and you receive call on iPhone/Android, it will switch automatically on the phone.

Yes, Harsh_patel1 is correct.

Multi-point technology is the ability for a receiving device to be connected to multiple devices simultaneously. My QC35 headphones have this feature, allowing me to press "pause" on my phone, then "play" on my mac without messing around with connection settings. I know that the jabra truly wireless earbuds have this feature as well.

Unfortunately, for some reason muli-point is incredibly undermarketed, so instead of just adding the feature to the new airpods, apple bragged about increasing the speed at which they are able to switch between devices.

They do connect. Seamlessly is just based on your own opinion. All you have to do is open AirPlay on your device and click on the AirPods. 🙂

I have a plantronics headset at my desk that connects via Bluetooth to my desk phone and iPhone at the same time. I’d like to replace it, but it sounds like the air pods won’t do it.

Yes this is very possible. Jabra 65T do this very well. You just press stop on one device and play on the other.