New AirPods Launch With H1 Chip, Hey Siri, Up to 50% More Talk Time, and Optional Wireless Charging Case

[cardfan]

No design change. I was HOPING perhaps a slight design in the bud to fit ears better (I know they fit many fine, some of us have problems) . I am VERY shocked new colors haven't been released though. (Black, Fog, even a (Product) Red).

Maybe the only good thing about the lack of new design change, those silicone covers on Amazon, other sites will fit these also. For us that have that problem with the pods coming loose...or we're constantly fiddling around with them, these covers have been a Godsend!

**NO I do not work with them. I picked these up a few weeks ago and the Pods finally just stay in my goofy ears!

Apple can easily add colors and reignite more sales later. Say around the holidays? Could be likely based on rumors that they were working on black at least. Apple loves to get as much as possible out of initial demand. I'm still surprised this is a soft launch given that this is perhaps one of Apple's most loved products in recent years. They clearly had enough things releasing for its own event.

 

[JWiLL1988]

It’s annoyingly Apple have increased the price, the galaxy buds cost way less than this and they can charge on the back of the phone

So buy those.

 

[nortonandreev]

I don't see that on the product specs. I would think they would have listed that as an enhancement over the previous model?

They mention the new chip which might work with Bluetooth 5 as the previous was using Bluetooth 4.

 

[Baymowe335]

Considering they were introduced today and there was no choice before their introduction, I'd say the sales don't indicate anything.

I do agree about the confusion though. No one is going to be confused by anything. Get 2nd gen AirPods, wireless case, or 2nd gen AirPods + wireless case. Anyone confused by that has bigger problems.

I was talking about the general product confusion narrative here. No one is as confused as people make them out to be here.

 

[aforty]

I'm not buying these until I can get them in black.

 

[johnyslats]

Exactly. But yet, people on here will still argue with you stating they aren't Gen 2. People can't read.

Apple can call these whatever they like, they aren't the generational leap we're waiting for. Remember they were supposed to launch last year and have been held back by AirPower. See the tweet from Mark Gurman.

 

[ItsBob]

LOLOLOL what a ridiculous price jump for wireless changing. I can't wait till someone creates a knockoff charging case for $10.

 

[jmarttu24]

once again apple being stingy and not including the wireless case with their overpriced airpods

 

[amaze1499]

The keynote is about services not hardware.

Obviously. Unless the rumors are true. Haven’t you heard about the Apple TV theater? 8K 120” 512Gb.

 

[tkukoc]

It says AirPods (2nd generation) on the same page you order them, just at the very bottom. Has all the specifics as far as how they tested to get totals for battery life as well.

 

[recoil80]

I said the same thing until I tried the BeatsX and went back to my AirPods.

The BeatsX needs a little bit more adjusting to fit my ears properly and the Airpods do sound more spacious where I can hear individual instruments in their own location. The BeatsX also produces this annoying sound when the wires are brushing on my neck (or shirt collar) when I walk. The Airpods are also more convenient to put on and store.

Never going back to the BeatsX or any sound isolating earbuds for that matter.

I own a pair of BeatsX and AirPods and while I love the sound isolation and better quality of the BeatsX I use my AirPods most of the time. The cable is so annoying while I'm outdoors, so I only use them at office when I'm watching stuff like online courses to block external noises.
AirPods are way better for phone calls, people complained about my voice when I took calls with the BeatsX and are really happy I switched to AirPods.
I'd love an in ear version of AirPods, it would combine the freedom of having no wires with the sound isolation I love so much about my BeatsX.

 

[bluespark]

This drawn out soft launching of new products is very interesting. They really want Monday to be about the news and streaming services. In previous years they could have spent over an hour talking about the hardware. That said, these are mostly spec bumps. I wonder if we will see an Amber Lake MacBook after all. I wasn’t expecting it after the Air launched with a gimped Amber Lake Y chip that the i7 version would outperform, but now would not be surprised to see it.

I think Apple had started to run into a situation where people almost inevitably were disappointed by Apple keynotes because they hoped some product would be introduced that wasn't. With these pre-keynote phased product introductions, no one will be expecting new hardware at this keynote and Apple thus can focus on what it wants to without a corollary letdown effect.

 

[caskin8a]

Don’t think it’s bluetooth 5 could be wrong

Confirmed Bluetooth 5.0 team.

https://imgur.com/a/hNK7nWV

 

[GPDawes]

Wondering if there will now be a pro version of airpods. With the rumored non slip and health features.
Also non news on codecs the H1 chip supports. APTX HD? may be?

 

[gmarm]

I think the one feature everybody hoped for but they didn't implement is adjusting the volume.

And yeah, I'm aware you can do it with the Apple Watch, but not everyone has one.

 

[cardfan]

I agree with what you are saying above. However, everything they are releasing seems to be an iterative update. It would appear that they really want to save the next event to showcase services.

Perhaps. But an event is a way for Apple to market its products. They make money selling hardware. Even without radical new designs, there's more than enough to put something together.

 

[penajmz]

Just ordered mine with wireless charging case. Now AirPower anyone?

 

[DotCom2]

I'm going to wake up every day and expect a new Apple product launching.

Apple is going to be my new Alarm clock.
Can't wait to get up every morning to see what's NEW!

 

[69Mustang]

I was talking about the general product confusion narrative here. No one is as confused as people make them out to be here.

I know you were. But the commenter you replied to wasn't. They were specifically addressing the new paradigm of multiple AirPod choices. The general argument you were making made sense. There won't be any confusion. The supporting evidence (sales) didn't make sense on the comment you were addressing.

 

[Michal788]

I got March 26-28 in the UK

In NL too 26-28 March

 

[AppleorSamsung]

Apple today in a press release introduced new second-generation AirPods powered by an Apple-designed H1 chip that enables hands-free "Hey Siri" functionality and up to 50 percent more talk time compared to the original AirPods.

Apple says the H1 chip in the new AirPods makes switching between the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac up to two times faster, and enables up to a 1.5x faster connection time for phone calls and up to 30 percent lower gaming latency.

Hands-free Siri allows AirPods users to say "Hey Siri" to change songs, make phone calls, adjust the volume, get directions, and more.

The new AirPods get up to three hours of talk time per charge, compared to up to two hours with the previous generation. Other battery life figures remain the same, with up to five hours of listening time per charge and more than 24 hours of total battery life from extra charges stored in the case.

The new AirPods have the same outward design as the original and remain available in white only.

The new AirPods are available to order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app starting today with a wired charging case for $159, the same price as the original AirPods, and with a wireless charging case for $199. Both options will be available at Apple Stores and select resellers starting next week.

The wireless charging case is also available individually for $79 for use with both the first-generation and second-generation AirPods. An LED light indicator located on the front of the case shows the charge status at a glance.

Apple also announced that free engraving is now available on any AirPods charging case for orders placed on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app.

Article Link: New AirPods Launch With H1 Chip, Hey Siri, Up to 50% More Talk Time, and Optional Wireless Charging Case

Cringe worthy

 

[nickhutson]

All I care about is whether they've improved the sound quality. I couldn't care less about Hey Siri, Wireless Charging or whatever... just give me some bass and volume!

 

[cardfan]

Just ordered mine with wireless charging case. Now AirPower anyone?

I got enough charging mats and stands and absolutely no interest in airpower. I just don't see the point. The watch i have doesn't lay flat on a mat anyways.

 

[StellarVixen]

Thank you Apple for not switching to in ear design.

 

[AppleMad98004]

Is this officially the second gen or just a wireless charging upgrade?

2 gen due to the new H1 Chip.