Unsurprisingly, AirPods Pro Are the Hottest Gift for 2019 (and Macy's Still Has ’em)

Tamagotchi. Furby. An air fryer. Nintendo Switch.

Every holiday, there’s one gift that trumps all the others. And if it’s not carefully wrapped in on-theme wrapping paper and tucked under the tree come the big day, you’ve basically failed as a gift giver. This year, Apple’s $249 AirPods Pro are the front-runner for most in-demand present of the moment.

Why’s that? Well, much like any Apple product, the most recently launched AirPods model has become a bit of a status symbol—and not just because it’s a major upgrade from the OG style. It’s all because of the earphones’ pristine noise-cancellation abilities…and the new super-comfy fit.

Not even Apple was prepared for the popularity, with CEO Tim Cook saying they produced "well over 50% growth" since their debut just a few weeks ago. AirPods Pro is already out of stock at Apple for pre-holiday delivery (they won’t arrive until January 6 at the earliest), speaks volumes about their popularity. Apple has even reportedly asked a manufacturing partner to double production to 2 million units per month because of it. Oh, and the fact that over 60 million have already been purchased in 2019, with a projected 85 to 90 million units on deck for 2020. But don’t worry—you can still snag them at Macy's in time to solidify your status as reigning gifting champion for yet another year.

A few lucky PureWow staffers already own these fancy earphones and they are—across the board—overwhelmingly obsessed with them.

First, there’s the noise-cancellation technology. One editor says this feature alone blows the original AirPods out of the water, while another calls it a game changer as a commuter. But do they actually work as well as the noise-cancelling power of over-ear headphones? Rachel Bowie, director of special projects, explains, “I could actually hear my coworkers’ voices dissipate as I worked at my desk—a quality that put me totally in the zone.” Another PureWow employee raved, “I use them while flying, and they successfully block every annoying machinery sound from takeoff to landing.”

Then there’s the other cool feature: Transparency mode allows you to oscillate between noise cancellation and the ability to hear your surrounding environment. Motion graphics designer Claire Chung explains, “You don’t even have to take the earbuds out of your ear when someone tries to talk to you while you’re in the middle of listening to your favorite song.” Simply switch to transparency mode and you’ll be able to hear both. Magic.

Finally, the fit. A common worry about AirPods in general is that they don’t stay in your ear. But Bowie notes, “The Pro version comes with a customizable silicone seal on the tip so you can be sure it will fit your ears. Bottom line: I’m a fan.” And we’re sure the cool cousins or globe-trotting aunt on your list will be impressed too.