Both AirPods do not have to be in your ear. You can use just one Apple AirPod at a time. It’s one of the great features of the AirPods that they work independently of each other.
Let me explain how it works. When you are wearing both AirPods and remove one from your ear, the audio playback will automatically pause. This is a handy feature because it allows you to quickly pause your music or podcast without having to reach for your phone or use any buttons on the AirPods themselves.
To use just one AirPod, simply remove both AirPods from your ear and then put one back in. The audio playback will automatically resume, and you can enjoy your music or podcast with just one earbud in.
This feature is particularly useful in situations where you may need to be aware of your surroundings or have a conversation while still listening to your audio content. For example, if you’re at work and someone comes up to talk to you, you can quickly remove one AirPod to pause the audio and engage in conversation. Once you’re done, you can easily resume your audio by putting the AirPod back in.
I personally find this feature very convenient. There have been numerous occasions where I’ve needed to quickly pause my audio to have a conversation or listen to an announcement, and being able to do so by simply removing one AirPod has been incredibly helpful.
Additionally, using just one AirPod can also help conserve battery life. Since the AirPods work independently, using only one at a time means the other AirPod can remain in the charging case, prolonging its battery life until you’re ready to use it.
You can definitely use just one Apple AirPod at a time. The AirPods are designed to work independently, allowing you to easily pause and resume audio playback by removing and reinserting one AirPod. It’s a great feature for convenience, situational awareness, and battery conservation.