I warmly welcome everyone! The idea for this article, as usual, appeared almost out of nowhere - today I received an interesting letter in which I was puzzled with this question:
I want to buy AirPods, but I don’t know which ones to get? How are they different? Should you buy only Pro (professional ones!) or can you save money and buy “regular” ones? Help out!
I sat down to write the answer... and suddenly I realized something important. I myself don’t really know what the difference is between all these headphones - they were making up, you know, some generations (1st generation, 2nd generation, 3rd generation) and other incomprehensible abbreviations (Pro). My head was spinning!
That is why a fateful decision was made - to sort it out.
Which is, in fact, what I did.
It turned out - nothing complicated! Don't believe me? Now I'll tell you everything. Go!
Connection quality
AirPods 2 uses the H1 chip, which replaces the W1 in AirPods.
Apple promises that it will speed up the connection between headphones and iPhone by 1.5 times and reduce latency when playing music by 30%.
The first generation sometimes did not immediately connect to the smartphone. From time to time there were even problems with simultaneously connecting two headphones at once. Now everything should happen instantly and without failures.
Important : AirPods 2 only work with iOS 12.2, macOS 10.14.4, watchOS 5.2 and higher.
Working with Siri
The new chip allows you to communicate with the Siri voice assistant without touching the accessory. Previously, I had to tap the headphone body twice. The new generation of AirPods allows you to respond to the phrase “Hey Siri” spoken by voice. This is enough for the digital assistant to activate.
ON TOPIC: How to configure (change) gesture commands for AirPods headphones.
Autonomy
Apple says AirPods 2 last 50% longer than AirPods. True, it does not specify in what situations.
Probably, we are talking about the conversation mode. If previously the headphone charge was enough for 2 hours of voice calls, now the time has increased to 3 hours .
Otherwise, everything is the same: 5 hours when listening to music and an additional 24 hours from the charging case.
The difference between original AirPods and fakes.
Of course, after the release of interesting gadgets, the release of fakes begins. Manufacturers often create copies of popular devices, so how can you protect yourself and distinguish AirPods from fakes:
- Pay attention to the price, it should not be too low. The user pays for the brand, quality and wearing comfort.
- Packaging and equipment. The original box from Apple is made in white with “droplets”.
- Manufacturing materials. The box and the wireless headphones themselves should be pleasant to the touch; they are made of plastic. They have a glossy, shiny surface.
- The functions work well without any interference. The case opens and closes easily.
- The original device has a metal speaker grid.
- All inscriptions are correct and neat.
Buy gadgets in trusted stores with good reviews, do not skimp on original, high-quality products.
Charger
AirPods 2 comes with a wireless charging case that supports the Qi standard . This means you can charge these headphones on any compatible charger.
The first AirPods can only be charged via a Lightning cable. But starting today, Apple is offering to buy a separate case with wireless charging. It is compatible with these headphones.
How are AirPods convenient?
The difference between AirPods 1 and 2 is only in the box for wireless charging, the presence of a more powerful processor, and, accordingly, increased battery life. Why might you even need this device? They are wireless headphones that can work in conjunction with iPhone, Apple Watch, and MacBook. Thanks to this, you can switch between your Apple gadgets and always stay connected. You'll be able to easily call people, receive calls, use voice commands, and control other devices.
Appearance and weight
The design of AirPods 2 remains the same as the first generation.
The only detail that makes them stand out from the AirPods is that the charge indicator has been moved to the front side of the case. Whereas in old headphones it is located under the cover.
In the second generation, the charging case became 2 grams heavier.
In fact, the new AirPods are no different from the old ones . And it is still unclear how to distinguish the second generation from the first. Unless you try to set up “Hey Siri” - only AirPods 2 can do this.
How to distinguish between 1st and 2nd generation AirPods when purchasing?
If you want to purchase wireless headphones in an online store, how to distinguish them? Initially, pay attention to the product article:
- The 2nd generation AirPods with wireless charging case are designated MV7N2.
- The model with a case without wireless charging capability is designated MRXJ2.
- 1st generation wireless headphones - MMEF2.
You can also separately purchase a box for wireless charging or one Apple earphone in case you lost it. Also, if you can't find your AirPods, check out our blog article on this topic. Many expected noise reduction and moisture protection from the new model, but this did not happen. Most likely, such more global updates will be in the next model.
Based on the differences between different generations, you can decide what to buy: series 2 headphones or just a charging case with wireless charging function for 1st generation headphones, or headphones along with a new charging box. Decision is on you. If you want to use maximum functionality, then of course the 2nd generation AirPods with an updated case are suitable for you. In this case, you can use the charging pads for several Apple devices and simultaneously charge your smartphone, headset, and even smart watch. Good accessories for wireless charging are already available, if you only own a headset and an iPhone, then an accessory for wirelessly charging both devices at the same time will suit you.
Choose wireless charging
Hey Siri feature
Previously, to call the voice assistant Siri using AirPods 1st generation, you had to tap the headphones 2 times. This was not entirely convenient, because you could accidentally call up Siri while rewinding a track. To be honest, most users simply turned off the Siri feature on the 2016 AirPods to prevent it from triggering in unnecessary situations.
The new headphone chip, in turn, is also capable of providing free access to the personal assistant Siri. Unlike the first AirPods, you no longer need to press or tap on them, because now you can turn on the assistant using just a voice command.
Different AirPods don't work together
Together you can use headphones of either the first series or the second
If you install headphones from different series (A1523 and A2032 or A1722 and A2031) into the charging case, they will not work together. Then a warning will appear on the iPhone screen that you are using different AirPods models.
The fact is that the first and second AirPods operate on the basis of different chips: W1 and H1. The second increases connection stability, increases connection distance and battery life, and also improves sound quality.
You can use either two headphones from the first series or two headphones from the second series. At the same time, any charging case is suitable for any headphones.
By serial number
Next, let's go to the Apple website and check each of the models by serial number. Enter the serial number (we wrote where to find it in points 1 and 3), captcha and look.
We can see that the image of the first generation and the second with a regular case are the same, and the model with a wireless case is shown so that the right earphone is higher than the left.
The following names are written under the images:
- Airpods with Wireless Charging Case
- AirPods (2nd Generation)
- AirPods
Review of second generation Apple AirPods wireless headphones
This spring, Apple announced and released a number of new products. Not least among them are the new AirPods wireless headphones. The first version of this model went on sale more than two years ago and, despite the high price, became one of the most successful Apple gadgets. What new does the 2022 version promise?
Apple calls AirPods the most popular wireless headphones in the world. There is probably a reason for this, and indeed on the street you can often meet people with AirPods in their ears. But the main thing is that this is a really successful device in a number of ways: the case with the headphones is very convenient to carry (fits in any pocket), the headphones themselves are as comfortable as EarPods, they fit in their ears like a glove (although the author has met people who like the EarPods /AirPods didn’t fit at all), you don’t have to charge it often, but thanks to the battery built into the case, you can do this without interrupting listening to music. That is, while listening to music, we recharged the case, then, having stopped listening, we put the headphones in it, and after taking it out after a while, we received them already charged.
In addition, they have really good sound quality and work perfectly within the Apple ecosystem: you can, for example, use the headphones with the Apple Watch without a smartphone, or you can play music on the iPhone, but control playback through the watch. And, of course, you can connect other Apple devices with operating systems to AirPods.
What can be improved with such a model? The answer is simple: equip the case with wireless charging capabilities and further improve functioning within the Apple ecosystem. In particular, to speed up switching between devices and “teach” the headphones the “Hey Siri!” command. How did this happen? We decided to look into this in detail as soon as the second generation AirPods appeared in Russia.
Equipment
The packaging of the new AirPods is almost exactly the same as the previous generation box. It is compact, square, designed in a light, minimalist style.
The only difference is the Wireless Charging Case inscription under the device name. It’s clear why this is needed: to distinguish the option with a wireless charging case, since, let us remind you, AirPods can also be bought with the case of the previous generation.
Inside, everything is the same: a case, in it are the headphones themselves, in an envelope there is a set of leaflets, and under a cardboard tray there is a Lightning cable.
By the way, please note: the name of the product is the same as it was, there is no two in it.
Case and earphone design
The appearance of the headphones has not changed one iota. That is, if you put old and new AirPods next to each other, even with great effort you will not be able to distinguish them. This is a minus for those who like some kind of updates, but this is also a plus - compatibility is preserved. That is, you can buy a separate case with wireless charging function, and new headphones with the old case, using it as an additional battery.
Actually, the differences in the design of the new AirPods concern only the case with wireless charging function. The main thing is that the location of the indicator on the case has changed. Previously, it was under the cap, next to the headphone caps. Now it has been moved to the outer surface of the case.
This decision is understandable: when we put the case on wireless charging, we want to see if the process is going on. There is a well-known problem with wireless chargers: sometimes it is necessary to place the device on them in a certain way for everything to work, that is, the charge will not flow in all positions. Therefore, having an indicator is a very useful thing.
We tried the new case with two wireless chargers, and it worked fine in both cases, as long as we placed the case exactly in the center. If you put it closer to the edge of the surface, then nothing will work.
The second and final difference in the design of the case is the movement of the button on the back surface closer to the center. With its help, you can activate the indicator, but, really, in everyday life you have to use it extremely rarely, so we cannot call this solution a plus or minus - it is unlikely to affect the user experience and is rather caused by some design features.
As for the headphones themselves, as already mentioned, their design has remained unchanged. We described it in detail in the article about the first AirPods, so we won’t repeat it, but we note that based on the experience of two years of use, we can admit that it is very good. AirPods fit comfortably in the ears, do not fall out, do not cause discomfort, and their style deserves only praise.
Connection and use
The initial connection to iOS devices for AirPods occurs in exactly the same way as for the previous generation: open the case and a window immediately appears on the iPhone asking you to connect the headphones. We confirm, insert the headphones into our ears - and that’s it, the job is done.
It takes literally a few seconds. And here AirPods in conjunction with the iPhone are truly beyond competition. But it was like that before. What has changed? Apple claims that the speed of switching headphones between devices. Let's say you started watching a video on your iPhone, then you picked up your iPad and want to continue on it. With the first generation AirPods, this took a few seconds. Now, in theory, everything should be much faster.
In practice, we did not notice a significant difference. It was tested as follows: the headphones were connected to an iPhone XS Max, then to a MacBook Pro 13” running macOS High Sierra, then to a 2022 iPad mini. The time required to connect was a few seconds in all cases, and was approximately the same for both generations of AirPods.
On the other hand, if you first talk on the iPhone using the built-in speaker, and then switch to headphones, the process will actually happen almost instantly - in this scenario, the increase in connection speed is really noticeable.
Another innovation promised by Apple is improved sound quality during telephone calls. However, as our test showed, this only applies to external noise reduction. However, if you carefully read the description on the manufacturer’s website, this is how it should be. “When you're on a call or using Siri, an optional accelerometer for voice activity detection and variable-pattern microphones cancel out ambient noise and keep your voice clear,” Apple says in its description. Therefore, if you're in a relatively quiet place (like home or office), there won't be any difference at all between the first and second generation AirPods. At least, we were not able to notice it: neither from the person who received the call, nor from us.
We admit that in noisier conditions the difference may already be noticeable. However, the author also talked with the first AirPods wherever possible - both near a busy highway and in ground transport. And there were no significant complaints about the sound quality - on either side. Well, in quiet conditions everything was even better.
What's really new with the new AirPods is Siri voice activation. Previously, this required double-clicking on one of the headphones; now all you have to do is say “Hey Siri!” How significant an improvement is this? Depends on personal preference and how often you use Siri in general. But, again, we are only talking about use outside the home, because if you are in one place and the smartphone to which the headphones are connected is next to you, then it can already be activated by voice.
Finally, the last thing the manufacturer pays attention to is increased battery life during a telephone conversation. It is clear that this is a difficult thing to verify: it is unlikely that anyone will talk continuously for the 3 hours that Apple promises. And if you interrupt, then the purity of the experiment will already be violated. In addition, we still recognize that telephone conversations take up a smaller portion of the time spent using headphones for most users, compared to listening to music or other audio content. The reason is simple: it is unlikely that anyone will walk around all day with headphones in their ears, but calls come to us suddenly and just as suddenly there is a need to call someone. And it's even less likely that someone would put on headphones for a minute-long phone conversation. And pre-planned long conversations don’t happen very often.
Overall, while increasing battery life even in one mode is a plus, saying that it will have a big impact on how often you have to charge your AirPods is something to be cautious about.
conclusions
A very successful product has become even a little better - this is how you can describe the AirPods update. Those improvements that concern the headphones themselves are minimal, and in ordinary life you may not notice them. However, the wireless charging capability of the case is a very nice feature. Now it is enough to have one wireless charger that can be used with both iPhone and AirPods.
Is this magical case worth the 6,600 rubles they are asking for it today in the Apple online store? And do the new AirPods with this case cost 17 thousand rubles (4 thousand more than they asked for the first generation AirPods, and 3500 more than for the new AirPods with a case without wireless charging function)? The questions are rhetorical. The answers to them depend on how much the user is, in principle, willing to pay for convenience.
If we judge pragmatically, then this is something you can definitely save money on. It’s a very significant saving, no matter how you look at it. On the other hand, it is in such things, as well as in the level of their implementation, that the magic of Apple lies.
Because Apple AirPods continue to be unrivaled in looks, comfort, quality and features, we consider them worthy of our Original Design award.
Design
Let's start with the first indicator and look at the difference between AirPods 1 and 2 in appearance. Only one sign has changed - the battery status indicator has been moved to the outer front wall of the case.
In the old device, the indicator was located inside the case between the headphones. There is one more small parameter - the weight of the device has increased by two grams.
Otherwise, the equipment and appearance have not changed - at first glance it is difficult to distinguish the two gadgets.
Price
It is currently impossible to buy the first version of the device from official distributors. The prices of the second AirPods model are as follows:
- AirPods with a charging case can be bought for 5,000 UAH.
- A model with a case that supports the new charge format is available for purchase for 7,000 UAH.
- A separate case for wireless charging can be purchased for UAH 3,000.
If you buy a device with promotional offers, you can save a couple of thousand. If you decide to purchase a device on the secondary market, carefully check the labeling of the headphones and charging case. You should also test your headphones by connecting them to your smartphone.
Considering how the AirPods 1 headphones differ from the more modern AirPods 2, it is worth noting that the second generation of the device is definitely better. But not all the shortcomings of the previous model were eliminated. AirPods 2 is still missing three features:
- Moisture protection.
- Noise reduction capability.
- More comfortable fit in the ears.
The device copes well with daily tasks such as short listening to music and calls. If you are going to buy in-ear headphones, a model released in 2022 will be a better deal. If you are thinking about changing your device from the first version to a more modern one, there is no need to spend money and it is better to immediately buy the Pro model.
Worth knowing: How to set up AirPods Pro: 12 tips for use
How to charge
To restore the charge of headphones with model number MRXJ2, just place them in the charging case and wait 20 minutes. The battery of the case is enough for several charging cycles.
To prevent the battery from draining quickly, it's best to keep your headphones in a case when you're not using them.
The case itself is charged using the Lightning cable that comes in the package. One end of the cord is connected to the corresponding connector on the case, and the other to the charging unit or laptop with a USB port. The case charges both with and without headphones inside. To speed up the process, it is better to use original chargers from iPhone, iPad or connect to the Mac port.
The case is also charged via a Qi wireless module. To do this, you need to place the case on the platform in such a way that the indication element is located in the upper part and the lid is kept closed. The indicator will indicate the charge level for 8 seconds.
Performance
Inside the new device is a more powerful Apple H1 processor. This chip guarantees fast switching:
- Up to two times faster when switching between active devices;
- Up to one and a half times faster when switching between phone calls.
After reading our review, you can decide for yourself which is better – AirPods 1 or 2! Compare the old and new models, based on your preferences and capabilities, and choose the appropriate device. Head to the store for a cool purchase and enjoy great sound and comfortable control.
