AirPods 2 vs. AirPods 1 Buyer's Guide

[MacRumors]

Apple in March debuted second-generation AirPods, featuring several updates over the original massively popular wireless earbuds of the same name.

So what's improved in the new AirPods compared to the older model, and what's stayed the same? Read on to find out.

Price of New AirPods vs. Old AirPods

Buying Apple's original AirPods was straightforward as they came with a single $159 price tag, but that's changed with the second-generation models.

The new AirPods still start at the same price, but customers now have the option to buy the earbuds with a Wireless Charging Case for $199.

Apple is also offering the Wireless Charging Case separately for $79, so if you already own first-generation AirPods you can buy the case and charge your earbuds using any Qi-compatible charging mat. The Wireless Charging Case still includes a Lightning port so you can charge your AirPods via cable if you prefer.

Apple's new AirPods can be ordered on Apple's website and will be available in Apple Stores and resellers from March 26, 2019. Apple no longer lists first-generation AirPods on its website, but you should be able to find them elsewhere online at a lower price now that the new AirPods are available.

Design of New AirPods vs. Old AirPods

Apple's new AirPods look identical to the first-generation models, save for a single LED on the front of the Wireless Charging Case. This light simply tells you the charging status of the AirPods when you place them on a Qi-compatible charging mat. On the standard charging case, which came with the original AirPods, the LED was inside the lid between where the two AirPods go.

Otherwise, both versions of AirPods have the same dimensions and weight, and both are only available in white.

Processor in New AirPods vs. Old AirPods

Apple's second-generation AirPods use a new proprietary chip called the H1, whereas the original AirPods run on the W1 chip.

Both chips are responsible for the earbuds' seamless one-tap pairing process, but Apple claims the H1 allows the new AirPods to connect to calls up to 1.5 times faster and generally provide a more stable wireless connection to devices like iPhones and iPads, while making them up to twice as fast when switching between active devices.

In addition, the H1 chip delivers up to 30 percent lower latency, which means you should experience fewer delays between onscreen events and their accompanying audio when playing games.

Using Siri With New AirPods vs. Old AirPods

One of the headline features of the new AirPods is the ability to invoke Siri handsfree when you're wearing them, thanks to Apple's new H1 chip.

With the first-generation AirPods you have to double tap the earbuds before you can talk to the personal assistant, but the new models allow you to say simply "Hey Siri" for it to register your spoken query or command. This is particularly neat if you wear them when your hands are busy or you want to exclusively control your music using Siri commands.

Battery life in New AirPods vs. Old AirPods

Apple's new AirPods offer the same overall battery life as the original AirPods, which is 5 hours on a single charge and over 24 hours of additional battery capacity in the charging case. According to Apple, the second-generation AirPods offer 50 percent more talk time due to the H1 chip.

In other words, the new AirPods get up to three hours of talk time per charge, compared to up to two hours with the previous generation. So that's something to think about if you'd be using them to take a lot of calls.

Bottom Line

Apple's second-generation AirPods aren't an earth-shattering upgrade over its original wireless earbuds, with the company seemingly holding rumored features like health monitoring, noise cancellation, and water resistance for the next generation, expected in 2020.

That said, new features like handsfree "Hey Siri" activation and wireless charging are still welcome improvements, and even if you're not convinced they present a worthwhile upgrade over your first-generation AirPods, you still have the option to buy the new wireless case to charge your existing earbuds using a Qi-compatible charging pad.

Whatever you decide, be sure to check out our complete guide to AirPods to learn a lot more about what AirPods can do and how you can make the most of them, and read our roundup for more details on the new second-generation AirPods.
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Article Link: AirPods 2 vs. AirPods 1 Buyer's Guide

 

[dannyyankou]

I think Macrumors’ own mock-up sums it up best

 

[Keniutek]

Airpods 1.5

 

[martyjmclean]

A disappointing update on paper, so I’m keen to test them in person. But for 319 dollarydoos, I might be waiting a while.

 

[iModFrenzy]

Any updates to the AirPods are welcomed.

However, I’m confused on where this H1 chip is? In the battery case or airpods themselves?

 

[noraa]

Any updates to the AirPods are welcomed.

However, I’m confused on where this H1 chip is? In the battery case or airpods themselves?

I would assume the airpods themselves as "Hey Siri" is a function of the buds and not the case.

 

[nortonandreev]

Any updates to the AirPods are welcomed.

However, I’m confused on where this H1 chip is? In the battery case or airpods themselves?

In the AirPods, it has replaced the previous W chip. Why would it be in the case?

 

[BuddyTronic]

Great product made better! Ordered some!

 

[iModFrenzy]

I would assume the airpods themselves as "Hey Siri" is a function of the buds and not the case.

I figured that, would make sense.

In the AirPods, it has replaced the previous W chip. Why would it be in the case?

Well being able to use your old airpods with the new case just confused me. Also the new 2nd gen airpods have no marking or identifier that they’re 2nd gen. So what exactly happens when W1 and H1 airpods are in the same case?

 

[anthony13]

I can’t believe I can’t find the answer to this, but my simple question is, do they sound better? Do they support Bluetooth 5?

 

[meboy]

Basically no improvement at all..
Still no isolation/secure fit, silly looking, lacking sound quality, overpriced, really overpriced for wireless charging that should have been a free upgrade (especially compared to wired, the free AKG buds that come with Samsung's sound better and you can grab those for a few dollars on eBay)

But still you will buy them..

 

[nortonandreev]

I figured that, would make sense.



Well being able to use your old airpods with the new case just confused me. Also the new 2nd gen airpods have no marking or identifier that they’re 2nd gen. So what exactly happens when W1 and H1 airpods are in the same case?

Yes, you can use the new charging case to charge the previous model. The chip (W1 / H1) is in the AirPods, not into the case.

 

[meboy]

I can’t believe I can’t find the answer to this, but my simple question is, do they sound better? Do they support Bluetooth 5?

They have Bluetooth 5 but no info on sound improvement.
5 alone doesn't guarantee anything..

 

[BuddyTronic]

I figured that, would make sense.



Well being able to use your old airpods with the new case just confused me. Also the new 2nd gen airpods have no marking or identifier that they’re 2nd gen. So what exactly happens when W1 and H1 airpods are in the same case?

I think it’s a good question because I have two sets of AirPods and I lost the case on one of them and I have not charged these two AirPods in my airliner bag they’ve just been sitting there uncharged for about eight months. Now I see it’s possible to buy just a case for them. I guess you always could but I just figured I would wait for version two.

Anyways now I will probably get rid of my version one AirPods The set that I use for cycling and stuff like that I noticed only gets about 1.5 hours maybe a little bit more of battery life And the other almost virgin set that I lost the case for I don’t know what to do with them but I just hope I don’t end up mixing them up with version two. There must be someway to tell Version two from version one

 

[nortonandreev]

I can’t believe I can’t find the answer to this, but my simple question is, do they sound better? Do they support Bluetooth 5?

Most probably they support Bluetooth 5, however nobody knows for sure (yet). When it comes to sound quality, Apple says "The new Apple-designed H1 chip features custom audio architecture to create a revolutionary audio experience and improved synchronisation.". We don't know what "revolutionary audio experience" means, is it in terms of connectivity or sound quality, but I am almost sure there will be some improvement in the audio quality as well. We will know soon.

 

[meboy]

I think it’s a good question because I have two sets of AirPods and I lost the case on one of them and I have not charged these two AirPods in my airliner bag they’ve just been sitting there uncharged for about eight months. Now I see it’s possible to buy just a case for them. I guess you always could but I just figured I would wait for version two.

Anyways now I will probably get rid of my version one AirPods The set that I use for cycling and stuff like that I noticed only gets about 1.5 hours maybe a little bit more of battery life And the other almost virgin set that I lost the case for I don’t know what to do with them but I just hope I don’t end up mixing them up with version two. There must be someway to tell Version two from version one

Most people are saying these are down to about an hour of battery life in just a year.

So obviously the solution. Buy another pair...
Hmmm..

 

[sshambles]

No Matte Black. Apple lost out on a heap more sales because of this.

I can possibly see more people upgrading just the wireless charging case though.

 

[joueboy]

Here we go again typical tactics since Tim Cook took over. New product instead of new features and upgrade from previous generation. It becomes a new product for a much higher price. I used to remember when a new product comes meaning with new features and the same price as previous. Making the older product discontinued but supported for a couple more years. SMH!

 

[yuba]

That's some pretty noice cancellation bro

 

[travis64]

So where can i buy gen 1 cheaper?

 

[magicschoolbus]

I was waiting on the new pair but got tired of waiting and pulled the trigger a few months ago.

Don’t regret it. Siri is so painful anyway, if anything I saved myself some frustration.

Seems like Apple is applying the “tick tick tock” cycle to AirPods.

 

[noraa]

Here we go again typical tactics since Tim Cook took over. New product instead of new features and upgrade from previous generation. It becomes a new product for a much higher price. I used to remember when a new product comes meaning with new features and the same price as previous. Making the older product discontinued but supported for a couple more years. SMH!

It's the exact same price as the previous generation and it has new features. Just in the mood to complain?

 

[BuddyTronic]

Most people are saying these are down to about an hour of battery life in just a year.

So obviously the solution. Buy another pair...
Hmmm..

Yep for sure. That tiny lipo battery must be 15mAh capacity at best! It is completely awesome tech. If anyone complains that 2 years down the road they are getting 60% of maximum capacity, they should just be grateful these things exist and thank Apple for pushing so hard to do it! This product really pushes the boundaries of what is presently producible I’d say. They are basically hand made perogies - taped and glued by girls with small hands.

 

[peelage]

I can’t believe I can’t find the answer to this, but my simple question is, do they sound better? Do they support Bluetooth 5?

I am wondering the same thing! No mention of which Bluetooth technology it uses. I know the old ones were 4.2.

 

[twistedpixel8]

Ah, but when I say “hey Siri”, do all of my devices still attemp to fulfill the request at the same time, creating total confusion?

Maybe fix that issue, Tim Apple.