Apple AirPods (1st generation) vs Apple AirPods (2nd generation)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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AirPods (1st generation) compared with AirPods (2nd generation)

	AppleAirPods (1st generation)	AppleAirPods (2nd generation)
Overview
Released
Released	December 2016	March 2019
Sound
Type
Type	Open-ear	Open-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	No	No
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	No	No
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	No	No
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	AAC	SBC and AAC
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	No	No
Chip
Chip	W1	H1
Audio features
Audio features	Automatic playback and pausing using dual optical sensors and a motion accelerometer; one or both earbuds can be used; AAC Bluetooth audio	Automatic ear detection with dual optical sensors and a motion accelerometer; AAC Bluetooth audio; SBC support listed by What Hi-Fi?
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 5 hours	Up to 5 hours
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	No	Yes
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	More than 24 hours of listening including case recharges, according to Apple	More than 24 hours of listening including case recharges, according to Apple; launch announcement claims up to 50% more talk time than first-generation AirPods
Charging case
Charging case	Lightning connector; original charging case measures 44.3 x 21.3 x 53.5 mm; a compatible Wireless Charging Case was sold separately from March 2019	Lightning Charging Case charges by cable; Wireless Charging Case supports Qi-certified chargers and Lightning, with a front status LED; both measure 53.5 x 44.3 x 21.3 mm
Fast charging
Fast charging	15 minutes in the case provides up to 3 hours of listening	15 minutes in the case provides up to 3 hours of listening
Design
Weight (each earbud)
Weight (each earbud)	4 g	4 g
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	–	5.0
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	No	No
Controls
Controls	Double-tap for Siri at launch; automatic pause when an earbud is removed	Double-tap to play, skip forwards or answer a call; hands-free Hey Siri; double-tap actions can be assigned separately to each earbud
Microphones
Microphones	Dual beamforming microphones and speech-detecting accelerometer in each earbud	Dual beamforming microphones and speech-detecting accelerometer
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Fixed open-ear shape without interchangeable tips; each earbud measures 16.5 x 18.0 x 40.5 mm	Fixed open-ear shape without interchangeable tips; each earbud measures 40.5 x 16.5 x 18.0 mm
Case weight
Case weight	38 g	38.2 g for either case, according to Apple's specifications
Works with
Works with	Apple integration requires iOS 10, watchOS 3 or macOS Sierra and an iCloud account; other Bluetooth devices support standard audio with fewer features; Live Listen added with iOS 12	Full Apple features with compatible iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, Mac and Apple TV software; standard Bluetooth audio with fewer features on non-Apple devices; Live Listen, headphone levels and Headphone Accommodations
Colours
Colours	White	White
In the box
In the box	AirPods, Charging Case, Lightning to USB cable and documentation	AirPods, chosen charging case, Lightning to USB-A cable and documentation