Apple AirPods (1st generation) vs Apple EarPods (3.5mm Headphone Plug)

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AirPods (1st generation) compared with EarPods (3.5mm Headphone Plug)

	AppleAirPods (1st generation)	AppleEarPods (3.5mm Headphone Plug)
Overview
Released
Released	December 2016	September 2012
Sound
Type
Type	Open-ear	Open-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	No	No
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	No	–
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	No	–
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	AAC	None (wired)
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	No	–
Chip
Chip	W1	–
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	–
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 5 hours	No battery (wired)
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	No	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	More than 24 hours of listening including case recharges, according to Apple	–
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	–
Fast charging
Fast charging	15 minutes in the case provides up to 3 hours of listening	–
Design
Weight (each earbud)
Weight (each earbud)	4 g	–
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	No	Yes
Controls
Controls	Double-tap for Siri at launch; automatic pause when an earbud is removed	Inline remote for volume, music and video playback, and answering or ending calls; not all older iPod models support volume controls
Microphones
Microphones	Dual beamforming microphones and speech-detecting accelerometer in each earbud	Inline microphone
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	Non-sealing earbuds with a fixed shape and no ear tips
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	–	Apple states protection from sweat and water but does not publish an IP rating
Case weight
Case weight	38 g	–
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	Audio through a 3.5mm headphone socket; Apple lists remote and microphone support for iPod, iPhone and iPad, with model-dependent volume control support
Colours
Colours	White	White
In the box
In the box	AirPods, Charging Case, Lightning to USB cable and documentation	EarPods with 3.5mm Headphone Plug