Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Some of his replies are interesting. He says audio quality is improved as well as latency and range. This is now looking like a much more solid upgrade than many thought it was earlier in the day.

I am sure a few things are new with the new H1 chip. I mean it comes with the processing power of an iPhone 4. Considering how small they are, fitting such a small chip in a very compact AirPods, there’s more than it meets the eye.
 
Last edited:
It’s exact same price ..if you get the non charging case. However, they just hooked you on extra cost for wireless charging. That’s the big problem. It should not be extra. Technology improves and technology gets cheaper.

I’m keeping my iPhoneX for at least 3 years. I’m done with them putting something out and raising prices when reality should be about same cost.

Why? Why on earth should Apple feel obligated to release improved versions of products with new features but not charge more for those improvements? Where did that entitlement come from in consumers?

Do you think wireless charging costs nothing to add? Or do you think Apple should just be forced to eat the implementation costs because we would like that better? Don't blame a company for being a company. They've already offered updated features with no price bump. An optional $40 increase is already quite low by Apple's normal standards and is worth it to most of those who want wireless charging anyway.

Complaining that Apple isn't offering you more free stuff is, to be frank, childish and entitled.
 
Last edited:
The only reason I want to upgrade is because the battery life in my 1st gens aren’t good anymore. I can’t believe it’s been 2 and a half years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chfilm
On the standard charging case, which came with the original AirPods, the LED was inside the lid between where the two AirPods go.
The LED it’s still inside the lid between where the two AirPods go if you buy the new AirPods 2nd generation. Just look closely at the image that you posted since it comes from Apple’s website. Only the Wireless Charging Case has the LED in front of the Wireless Charging Case
[doublepost=1553154539][/doublepost]
I am wondering the same thing! No mention of which Bluetooth technology it uses. I know the old ones were 4.2.
This should answer everyone’s question and clear the confusion https://twitter.com/brianroemmele/status/1108450783865913344?s=21
 
Last edited:
Literally (like 2 hours ago) just bought some 1st gen ones as a gift (I've had some myself for a while). The gift is for tomorrow, so waiting til april = no go.

Not upset. S2 = More expensive, no deal breaker features.

Nice update, but its incremental only. But hey, upgrading every cycle is dumb anyway. Small incremental improvements add up, upgrade after a few of them.
[doublepost=1553155412][/doublepost]
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.

I want the ability to re-name siri.

So my phone can be siri or whatever, my partner's can be some other name, my homepod can be eric, etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: twistedpixel8
Ya and who wants to use siri to change the volume etc in public where people will most often use their AirPods. Don’t mind having the feature but better volume controls would be nice.
As a biker, I’m very happy with this new feature. Left doubletap pause, right doubletap skip, voice command for volume or new playlist. Perfect!
 
Why people so annoyed about the absence of noise cancellation?

Apple NEVER EVER offered noise cancellation.

I like to hear things around me when I’m out in public. If anything it’s dangerous not to.
 
well, S2 is the exact same price as version1, $159, with improved battery, better bluetooth, range, connection speed, etc.

If you want the wireless charging case then it would be $199
 
There are new features for this product... and it's the same price. You only pay extra if you want the wireless charging case... Did you even read the article?

I'm beyond needing to read the article.
I know the cost of the extremely minimal circuitry and copper coil to add wireless charging is many pennies..
It should have been included free.
 
The hey siri feature is HUGE upgrade for serious runners!

I question how well that will actually work, and I say that because it depends on the environment the runner is in. If it’s a noisy environment (I.e Cars/wind), I could see that interfering with the whole “Hey Siri” functionality. But again, I stress that it depends on the environment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chfilm
Why people so annoyed about the absence of noise cancellation?

Apple NEVER EVER offered noise cancellation.

I like to hear things around me when I’m out in public. If anything it’s dangerous not to.

I thinks it’s because over the last year there has been rumors about them exploring noise cancelling in their own headphone line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: decypher44
Surprised there aren't loads of comments on here from people disappointed that there's still no means of adjusting volume (and I don't include "Hey Siri..."). That's the biggest negative with the AirPods for me and I was all set to press the Buy button on these as it seemed such an obvious upgrade. Maybe next year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: decypher44
This is just disappointing. I tried the Galaxy Buds and they without a doubt sound better and fit better. I was really hoping Apple went with the secure fit bud style. Then there's the price difference between the two, unacceptable . Now I really wish I went with the preorder of the S10e and free Galaxy Buds. The next iPhone better offer more and be more premium looking than the new S10 models, or I'm most likely jumping. I'm sorry, but this guy's loyalty has damn near run out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: decypher44
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..

I've always disliked the free earbuds that have come with iphone because they sound trash and leak like a sieve so everyone around you has to suffer your music. They also don't stay in my ears and don't isolate the outside world so most people boost the volume to escape this. But then they are 'free' so I can understand people using them in this regard even though they've spent hundreds on the phone. Apparently good quality sound and hearing health has low value!

But spending this much money on airpods because they're 'good enough' and connect seamlessly is still alien to me. For this price you can buy better sounding wireless buds that can be customised to fit and still connect with minimum effort. For me airpods still don't stay in my ears, leak sound and do not isolate from the outside world.

Sure if they work for you then great but this is one Apple product that could and should be done better and yet it's been their most popular.
 
I use my AirPods 95% of the time for phone calls. So it doesn’t matter that much how good the sound quality is and I want them to put in quickly which is a problem for something like the Galaxy Buds. So I am happy that the did not change the design but I am not so sure what improvements the new ones will bring to phone users...
 
Why? Why on earth should Apple feel obligated to release improved versions of products with new features but not charge more for those improvements? Where did that entitlement come from in consumers?

Do you think wireless charging costs nothing to add? Or do you think Apple should just be forced to eat the implementation costs because we would like that better? Don't blame a company for being a company. They've already offered updated features with no price bump. An optional $40 increase is already quite low by Apple's normal standards and is worth it to most of those who want wireless charging anyway.

Complaining that Apple isn't offering you more free stuff is, to be frank, childish and entitled.
Isn't entitlement grand?
 
I question how well that will actually work, and I say that because it depends on the environment the runner is in. If it’s a noisy environment (I.e Cars/wind), I could see that interfering with the whole “Hey Siri” functionality. But again, I stress that it depends on the environment.
Yea it’s already ridiculous with the Apple Watch..
[doublepost=1553164555][/doublepost]
I use my AirPods 95% of the time for phone calls. So it doesn’t matter that much how good the sound quality is and I want them to put in quickly which is a problem for something like the Galaxy Buds. So I am happy that the did not change the design but I am not so sure what improvements the new ones will bring to phone users...
Twice as long call time. Isn’t that a huge improvement?
 



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.

airpods2-800x688.jpg

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.

airpods-options-2019-800x457.jpg

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.

airpods2heysiri-800x638.jpg

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.

Article Link: New AirPods vs. Old AirPods Comparison
Gee, my non-Apple ear-buds have done this, and more - for 1/3 the price, the sound quality's awesome, and, yes, I've only owned Apple (computers, that is) since before you were born.
[doublepost=1553166205][/doublepost]
I am wondering the same thing! No mention of which Bluetooth technology it uses. I know the old ones were 4.2.
As a 'wireless' device it should be obvious (about Bluetooth, that is).
 
"Just buy them and worry about what changed (or didn't) later on while I'm counting your $200"

Except, you coincidently left the part out the $200 is _just_ for the ‘wireless charging case with the AirPods’, the AirPods version 2 price have remained the same. So it’s not like someone is forced to purchase the $200 AirPods, when they can still have the second version for the same price as the first GEN AirPods. At Least Apple provided the option of offering the second GEN AirPods for the _same_ price without having to pay $40 more for the wireless charging case if they were not interested.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jdogg836 and JTBing
I used these most every day for about a year and a half. The batteries get weaker and weaker.
I now get an average of about 4 minutes playtime on the left Airpod!
4 Minutes! And only 30 minutes playtime on the right Airpod, and that just isn't good enough. I called Apple Support and they were irritatingly unconcerned about the problem - they were suggesting I buy another one. $160 seems like a decent price for these Airpods, but if you use it a lot, as I did, they're worthless in less than 2 years.

The worst part of talking to Apple Customer Support, is how they make you feel like they really really *really* don't care about your experience with their products.

Oh 4 minutes... okay

I’ve had my AirPods for over 2 years and use them 6+ hours everyday. Straight from the case my AirPods show 97% and still last several hours per charge.

I really really *really* don’t believe your story.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Coluch
Oh 4 minutes... okay

I’ve had my AirPods for over 2 years and use them 6+ hours everyday. Straight from the case my AirPods show 97% and still last several hours per charge.

I really really *really* don’t believe your story.
So this member couldn't possible have a failing battery or another hardware issue?
 
  • Like
Reactions: decypher44
Any updates to the AirPods are welcomed.

However, I’m confused on where this H1 chip is? In the battery case or airpods themselves?
It’s for connecting. Think logically. The pods!
[doublepost=1553167847][/doublepost]
I ordered a set of (non wireless) to replace my wore out gen 1. The hey siri feature is HUGE upgrade for serious runners!
Someone who has an actual point.
Personally I think saying Hey Siri is ridiculous. Just should have done it with Siri. Like Alexa.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.