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The W1 chip makes the AirPods and the new Beats headphones instantly pair with an iPhone. Does this work only with the iPhone 7 or would this work with all recent iPhone models as well?

i.e. Does the W1 need a specific client chip to work its pairing magic or would it work the same way with a recent Bluetooth (4?) chip in an iOS device?

(I know the AirPods also work with regular Bluetooth devices, but I'm particularly interested in the instant pairing feature)

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Yes, the iPhone 5 and newer running iOS 10 can be paired with headphones equipped with the W1 chip.

From Apple's website:

Beats Solo3 Wireless is ready to go when you are. They instantly set up – just power on and hold near your iPhone – and then simultaneously connect to your Apple Watch, iPad and Mac*.

*Requires iCloud account and macOS Sierra, iOS 10, or watchOS 3

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    We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
    – Tetsujin
    Oct 24, 2016 at 18:37
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    But will the pairing be via the classic Bluetooth settings screen (as well as the usual voodoo dance that comes with it) or will it be exactly like this: youtube.com/watch?v=vZKgJ02BtTw ?
    – martini-bonanza
    Oct 24, 2016 at 18:38
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    @martini-bonanza you will just need to hold it bear your device. No fumbling, manual pairing whatsoever. You need to be signed into iCloud, however. From Apple: "*Requires iCloud account and macOS Sierra, iOS 10, or watchOS 3"
    – oa-
    Oct 25, 2016 at 7:12

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