In the last couple of years, the Apple AirPods have taken off as one of the most popular headphone options around. After facing initial skepticism, the wireless options turned into a huge success story for Apple. As great as the first generation was, people were anxiously waiting for an updated version to be released.
Very few are surprised that Apple did not really change much with the second generation option. With so many people falling in love with the simplicity of the design and the overall look of the earbuds, it would have been silly to try to change up things too much. That is why they decided to stick with exactly what works, with a few improvements under the hood that should make the user experience a bit better.
The short version of this review is that if you were thinking about the Apple AirPods in the first place, the second generation is probably going to be an even better version to go with. There are several subtle upgrades that might make some consider whether or not they need to upgrade.
Read on to learn about all the different changes Apple made, and if they are worth the upgrade for those who already own a pair of Apple AirPods.
Design
Out of the box, the first thing that people will realize with their pair of 2nd Generation AirPods is the design feature. If this is a person’s first truly wireless option, they are still going to be pretty amazed by how they look. The earbuds are meant to be worn easily throughout the day, causing little fatigue because they are so light weight and are able to fit right inside the ear.
For better or worse, white is still the only color available for AirPods. Some people were hoping that one of the major features would be new colors added, but Apple seems to be focused on offering just a single color at this point.
Compared to the first generation models, the new AirPods look exactly the same from a design perspective. The only difference in the entire package is going to be a single LED on the front of the wireless charging case, instead of being inside the lid.
Upgrade in Processing Speed
The new Apple AirPods run on a propriety chip called the H1. The original iPods were running on a W1 chip, but what does this actually mean to a person who does not know much about technology?
To put it simply, the chips are going to be responsible for helping with the pairing process. Apple continues to try to strive for a truly seamless process, and the new chip is noticeably faster. Not only does it connect faster, but there is a more stable wireless connection between different devices and the AirPods as well. This just makes for a more streamlined process in general for people to enjoy when using these headphones.
When the company first released their AirPods with the W1 chip, it was considered to be revolutionary. Pairing became so much easier, and the seamless transition is still a major selling point. Think of the H1 chip as a much more refined version of that chip. Going from the first generation AirPods to the second generation AirPods, this is the most noticeable difference in real world usage.
Hands-Free Siri
One of the major selling features for the new AirPods is the ability to use Siri hands-free. This is thanks in large part to the H1 chip, which just makes things a little bit more streamlined. All a person has to do is say “Hey Siri” and she is ready to provide assistance. Some people are going to use this feature more than others, but it is great to have a hands-free option just by using the headphones.
What I have found so far is that I use it a lot a change in between music and podcasts. Just being able to handle incoming calls as well is also very beneficial. With the old AirPods, I felt as though I was not really 100% sure about operating them properly with boys. Siri seems to be much more responsive, and it can all be done without pressing any buttons.
Siri is responsive, but the good news is that she is not too responsive. There are some words and phrases that can sound like “Hey Siri,” but rarely is she confused or interrupts things by saying something. Understanding exactly what a person says, in their own accent and dialect, is pretty remarkable. It is way above my pay grade on how Apple gets this so right, but it’s a very refreshing thing for sure.
No Real Improvement In Battery Life
Those hoping for a little bit more overall battery life will be mostly disappointed with the new AirPods. People should expect about five hours on a single charge, and 24 additional hours using the charging case. There is one little bit of improvement, and that is more efficient talk time. Thanks to the H1 chip, a person should see about three hours of talk time per charge, compared to just two with the previous generation.
For the vast majority of people, the amount of battery life is not going to be a concern. Only those people who truly wear them throughout the day might seem to be a little bit frustrated with having to take a break once in a while. The good news is the charging case still works extremely well, so that really should not be too much of a problem. Also, considering there is wireless charging, it is another positive for those people in need of some quick juice throughout the day.Speaking of which…
The Wireless Charging Case Difference
The new AirPods are going to cost at the exact same as the old ones, if a person only wants the standard charging case. If a person wants to upgrade to the wireless charging case, it is going to be $40 more. Also, there is an option for those people who do not want to get new AirPods, but just want a wireless charging case for their old ones. That option is going to be $79.
Wireless charging is something that is very convenient for a lot of people, and it really makes a lot of sense when going with AirPods in general. Those one in the truly wireless experience at every stop should definitely consider paying the slight upgrade for them when purchasing the second generation AirPods.
The wireless charging case has worked extremely well so far. Not only is it very convenient, but it seems to be operating a little bit more quickly as well. That is, I don’t have to wait quite as long to get a full charge compared to the wired option.
Final Thoughts
This might not be the exact upgrade that many people were hoping for, but there is enough to be very intriguing for those people who have held out so far when investing in wireless headphones. Apple gets a lot of credit for not trying to do too much with the upgrade, and also keeping things priced relatively the same. The only increase in price is going to be for brand new technology, and $40 extra for a wireless charger is really not that much when looking at things typical of Apple.
For those who are more than content with their current AirPods from the first generation probably do not need to upgrade at this time. It might be worth looking into getting a wireless charger, but that is more of a personal preference.
For those who were waiting before finally buying some AirPods from Apple, this is the option to go with. It makes no sense to invest in The previous generation. You might be able to find some decent deals out there, but the price difference is not going to be that much right away. Therefore, it just makes sense to get the better chip and the newer generation features.
AirPods are still the standard for earbuds that can be worn throughout the day. They are not going to provide the best sound out there for music, and maybe there are better options for taking phone calls as well, but as far as all around earbuds under $200, the Apple AirPods still stand alone.
Shop the Apple AirPods 2nd Generation With Wireless Charging Case HERE ($199.99).
Shop the Apple AirPods 2nd Generation With The Regular Charging Case HERE ($159.99).
Find deals on the previous Apple AirPods HERE (147.99).
Born and raised in Chicago. Former high school teacher who became sick of getting summers off so I took on a 12-month a year job.