Wireless is the future. That is how Apple CEO Tim Cook justified removing the headphone jack from the newest line of iPhones. You won’t need a headphone jack in the future, Cook argued, because wires will be the thing of the past.

To back up that vision, Apple announced four pairs of wireless headphones at last year’s iPhone event. Three were Beats branded headphones. But it was the fourth that drew the most attention; truly wireless versions of Apple’s EarPods that cost $159, known as AirPods.

Now, after waiting so long due to delays, the final version is here. I finally have them in my hands, and got time to test them out.

One of the first criticisms lobbed at the AirPods was how they seemed too easy to lose. So we have to start with the way the AirPods fit, or don’t fit, in your ears.

The AirPods fit comfortably in my ear and stay there for long periods of time. The fit is secure and does not feel like they could fly out of my eat at any given time. However, for other consumer these earbuds do not stay secure. This is a side effect of Apple electing a one size fits all, somewhat open air design for EarPods, instead of designing earbuds that insert and form a full seal in your ear.

If you have had troubles with EarPods staying in your ears, there is a good chance that you will also struggle with AirPods. There are slight differences in the shapes of the two; EarPods are a bit more round and AirPods are slightly more contoured, which makes them more comfortable.

The next criticism lobbed at the AirPods was how they sound. Do they sound like the EarPods? Do they sound terrible? Or do they sound great?

The AirPods actually sound great, even better than EarPods. Apple claims the audio components are virtually the same between the two products, but there are noticeable differences in the output, especially the low end. AirPods reproduce music clearly for such tiny earbuds, though that’s provided users can get them to stay in your ear canal. Highs are sharp, mids are clear, and the low end is awesome.

Apple also deserves enormous amounts of credit for solving the two biggest problems with Bluetooth earbuds, and Bluetooth headphones in general; pairing, and providing a robust connection. This is all thanks to the W1 chip that Apple introduced with AirPods and the two other Beats headphones.

W1 makes the initial pairing process with AirPods a breeze. The moment the carrying case is flipped open, a screen pops up on the iPhone asking to connect. From that point, AirPods connect every time they are taken out of the case. Plus, they’re always visible and accessible in iOS’ Control Center. And maybe the best feature of the W1 chip, AirPods connect to all other Apple devices on the same AppleID.

Lastly, the carrying case itself. It may look like a dental floss case, but it provides shelter and charging for the AirPods. A single charge on the AirPods can provide up to 5 hours of listening, but with the case, that number jumps to 15 hours. Plus, a 15 minute charging session can provide up to 3 hours of battery life on the AirPods.

Overall, the AirPods fit very well in my ear, they sound great, the wireless connection is solid, and the battery life is good. To me, that sounds like a great pair of earbuds.