Apple AirPods (2nd generation) vs Apple EarPods (Lightning Connector)

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

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AirPods (2nd generation) compared with EarPods (Lightning Connector)

	AppleAirPods (2nd generation)	AppleEarPods (Lightning Connector)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2019	September 2016
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	SBC and AAC	None (wired)
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	No	–
Chip
Chip	H1	–
Audio features
Audio features	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	No battery (wired)
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	Yes	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	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 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	–
Design
Weight (each earbud)
Weight (each earbud)	4 g	–
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.0	–
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	No	No
Controls
Controls	Double-tap to play, skip forwards or answer a call; hands-free Hey Siri; double-tap actions can be assigned separately to each earbud	Inline remote for volume, music and video playback, and answering or ending calls
Microphones
Microphones	Dual beamforming microphones and speech-detecting accelerometer	Inline microphone
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Fixed open-ear shape without interchangeable tips; each earbud measures 40.5 x 16.5 x 18.0 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	38.2 g for either case, according to Apple's specifications	–
Works with
Works with	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	Devices with a Lightning connector and iOS 10 or later, including compatible iPod touch, iPad and iPhone models
Colours
Colours	White	White
In the box
In the box	AirPods, chosen charging case, Lightning to USB-A cable and documentation	EarPods with Lightning Connector