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Apple AirPods (1st generation) · Apple Newsroom — 111855_SP750-airpods.jpeg
Apple · AirPods
AirPods (1st generation)
Apple's first AirPods used a W1 chip for simple pairing and automatic ear detection, with a Lightning charging case and an open fit.
- Type
- Open-ear
- Noise cancelling
- No
- Battery
- 5 h
- With case
- –
- Best codec
- AAC
- Weight
- 4 g
What reviewers say
TechRadar and What Hi-Fi? praise easy pairing, reliable wireless operation and the compact charging case. Both find Siri slower than dedicated playback controls and note that the fixed shape cannot suit every ear. TechRadar enjoys the lively sound; What Hi-Fi? is less impressed by detail and subtle dynamics.
From techradar.com and whathifi.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specSound
- Type
- Open-ear
- Noise cancelling
- No
- Transparency mode
- No
- Spatial audio with head tracking
- No
- Bluetooth codecs
- AAC
- Lossless over USB-C
- No
- Chip
- W1
- 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)
- Up to 5 hours
- Wireless charging
- No
- Battery life detail
- More than 24 hours of listening including case recharges, according to Apple
- 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
- 15 minutes in the case provides up to 3 hours of listening
Design
- Weight (each earbud)
- 4 g
- Headphone cable
- No
- Controls
- Double-tap for Siri at launch; automatic pause when an earbud is removed
- Microphones
- Dual beamforming microphones and speech-detecting accelerometer in each earbud
- Fit and ear tips
- Fixed open-ear shape without interchangeable tips; each earbud measures 16.5 x 18.0 x 40.5 mm
- Case weight
- 38 g
- 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
- Colours
- White
- In the box
- AirPods, Charging Case, Lightning to USB cable and documentation
Pros and cons
Pros
- One-tap setup across compatible Apple devices
- 4 g per earbud
- Up to 5 hours of listening per charge
Cons
- No noise cancelling or sealed ear tips
- No physical volume buttons
- No published water resistance rating
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Noise cancelling | Battery | With case | Best codec | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-ear | No | 5 h | – | AAC | 4 g | Mar 2019 | |
| In-ear | No | 8 h | – | AAC | – | Feb 2017 | |
| In-ear | No | 12 h | – | AAC | – | Nov 2016 |
Newer model: AirPods (2nd generation).
Sources
- support.apple.com/en-gb/111855
- apple.com/newsroom/2016/12/apple-airpods-are-now-available
- support.apple.com/en-gb/118295
- apple.com/uk/newsroom/2019/03/airpods-the-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphon…
- apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-reinvents-the-wireless-headphones-with-airpods
Photo: Apple Newsroom — 111855_SP750-airpods.jpeg
- AirPods (1st generation), left and right earbuds: Apple Newsroom — apple-airpods/apple-airpods-1.jpg
- AirPods (1st generation) in use beside a window: Apple Newsroom — apple-airpods/apple-airpods-2.jpg
- AirPods (1st generation) in their charging case beside an iPhone showing pairing: Apple Newsroom — apple-iphone7-airpods/apple-airpods-connect_01.jpg
- AirPods (1st generation) earbuds resting on an iPhone, complete black studio scene: Apple Newsroom — apple-iphone7-airpods/apple-airpods-laydown.jpg
- AirPods (1st generation), angled open case and earbuds: Apple Newsroom — apple-iphone7-airpods/apple-airpods-open_01.jpg