Apple AirPods (2nd generation) · Apple Newsroom — Images-of-Apple-AirPods-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphones_2019/Apple-AirPods-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphones_03202019.jpg
Apple · AirPods
AirPods (2nd generation)
The second AirPods generation added an H1 chip, hands-free Hey Siri and the choice of a Lightning-only or Qi wireless charging case.
Model history · 2 models, 2016–2019
- 2016AirPods (1st generation)Compare
- 2019AirPods (2nd generation)
- 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 reliable Apple-device connectivity and hands-free Siri, while finding the fixed fit and limited controls unchanged. They differ on sound: What Hi-Fi? hears more detail than the original, while TechRadar finds little improvement. Both note harshness at higher volumes or frequencies and better-sounding alternatives.
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
- SBC and AAC
- Lossless over USB-C
- No
- Chip
- H1
- 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)
- Up to 5 hours
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- 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
- 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
- 15 minutes in the case provides up to 3 hours of listening
Design
- Weight (each earbud)
- 4 g
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- Headphone cable
- No
- 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
- Microphones
- Dual beamforming microphones and speech-detecting accelerometer
- Fit and ear tips
- Fixed open-ear shape without interchangeable tips; each earbud measures 40.5 x 16.5 x 18.0 mm
- Case weight
- 38.2 g for either case, according to Apple's specifications
- 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
- Colours
- White
- In the box
- AirPods, chosen charging case, Lightning to USB-A cable and documentation
Pros and cons
Pros
- Hands-free Hey Siri and simple Apple device pairing
- Choice of Qi wireless charging case
- 4 g per earbud
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 | 6 h | 30 h | AAC | 4.28 g | Oct 2021 | |
| Open-ear | No | 5 h | – | AAC | 4 g | Dec 2016 | |
| In-ear | No | 9 h | – | AAC | 11 g | May 2019 |
Previous model: AirPods (1st generation). Newer model: AirPods (3rd generation).
Sources
- support.apple.com/en-gb/111856
- apple.com/uk/newsroom/2019/03/airpods-the-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphon…
- support.apple.com/en-gb/118295
- whathifi.com/best-buys/best-airpods
- techradar.com/reviews/apple-airpods-2019-review
- AirPods (2nd generation) in their charging case beside an iPhone showing Hey Siri setup: Apple Newsroom — Images-of-Apple-AirPods-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphones_2019/Apple-AirPods-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphones_hey-siri_03202019.jpg
- Woman wearing AirPods (2nd generation) while using an iPhone: Apple Newsroom — Images-of-Apple-AirPods-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphones_2019/Apple-AirPods-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphones_woman-wearing-airpods_03202019.jpg