AirPods 2 vs. AirPods: what has changed on Apple’s new wireless earphones?
New and improved earphones get Siri support and upgraded battery life
Apple has released a second-generation version of its wireless AirPods earphones, promising an improved battery and easier access to Siri.
A new version, commonly referred to as AirPods 2, has been rumoured for well over six months, with many believing they would appear during the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR launch last September.
While the design of the new earphones is identical to that of the original AirPods, which launched at the end of 2016, Apple has made a number of tweaks to the hardware in a bid to improve connectivity and battery performance.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Here’s everything you need to know about Apple’s latest wireless earphones:
Pricing
Prices for the new AirPods start at £159, which includes the wireless earphones and a standard carry case. The case itself charges the earphones when they’re not in use, but it needs to be plugged in now and again to top up its battery.
The price matches the starting figure of the original AirPods, which have now been discontinued.
For an extra £40, buyers can swap the standard case for one that can be charged wirelessly. This allows users to place the case on a wireless charging pad, whereas the standard model can only be charged with one of Apple’s Lightning cables.
The wirelessly charged case can be purchased separately, but customers will have to fork out £79 to buy the container if they opt for the standard £159 bundle.
UK release date
Buyers can pick up the AirPods 2 from Apple’s UK online store today, with deliveries expected to get under way towards the end of next week.
What’s new on the new AirPods?
Apple is touting a 50% improvement in battery life for calls over the old AirPods, says Forbes. The previous version offered around two hours of battery life while on a call, so it should now be around three hours on the new model.
Accessing Siri, Apple’s virtual voice assistant, has also been improved, the news site says. Users no longer need to tap the side of the earphones to talk to Siri. Instead, they can simply say “Hey, Siri” before giving the assistant a voice command.
The new AirPods are equipped with the company’s new H1 processor, which boasts a “1.5x” increase in connectivity speed for phone calls, says tech news site Tom’s Guide. The chip also improves latency, the delay between a user input and the device responding, for video game audio by 30%.
Verdict
The changes on the new model are hardly “earth-shattering” and the absence of much-requested features, such as noise cancellation and water resistance, will disappoint some Apple fans, says MacRumors.
Nevertheless, the upgraded Siri connectivity and the option to wirelessly charge the device’s carry case “are still welcome improvements”, the tech site says.
Plus, with the new model carrying the same price tag as its predecessor, buyers are getting a noticeable bump in performance and features at no extra cost.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
American Airlines pilots are warning of a 'significant spike' in safety issues
In the Spotlight The pilot's union listed 'problematic trends' they say are affecting the airline's fleet
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
6 star-spangled presidential libraries to visit
The Week Recommends These institutions provide insight into American leaders
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
5 stellar TV series based on award-winning novels
The Week Recommends Max's 'The Sympathizer' is not the only successful adaptation of prestige fiction
By David Faris Published
-
Movies to watch in February, from 'Argylle' to 'Drive-Away Dolls'
The Week Recommends A spy thriller tied to a real-life mystery, a solo Coen brother feature and more
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
From 'thunks' to mixed reality, the future of books is interactive
The Explainer What is in store for literature in an increasingly digital world?
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Pros and cons of location sharing
Pros and Cons Safety benefits for parents and friends must be weighed against privacy concerns and malicious misuse
By The Week Staff Published
-
How Apple became the king of sci-fi
Under the Radar Apple TV+ has eclipsed other streamers' science fiction offerings
By David Faris Published
-
Is 'Ted Lasso' ending with season 3? Here's what we know.
feature We may or may not have just said goodbye to AFC Richmond
By Brendan Morrow Last updated
-
Five of the best flip smartphones
The Week Recommends The most compact and versatile flip phones available, with prices ranging from £819 to £1,649
By The Week Staff Published
-
Are streaming services helping or hurting musicians?
In Depth Streaming is on the up but MPs say most artists make ‘pitiful’ incomes from services
By Julia O'Driscoll Published