AirPods 1 vs AirPods 2: What is the difference (and should you upgrade)?

The differences between the first- and second-generation AirPods are small and, in some respects, not different at all (price, for example). Due to the minor upgrade, it becomes even more difficult to choose which version to buy. Do you have to go from Generation 1? If you get the case of wireless charging? Let's decompose everything.

AirPods 1 vs AirPods 2: Specifications

	AirPods 1	AirPods 2
Battery life (discussion)	2 hours	3 hours
battery life (music)	5 hours	5 hours
Chipset	W1	H1
Bluetooth version	5.0	5.0
Siri connection	double tap to activate	Voice activation or double strike
Wireless charging	with purchase of additional wireless charging box	with wireless charging case
IOS requirements	iOS 10 or later	iOS 12.2 or later
WatchOS system configuration	watchOS 3 or later	watchOS 5.2 or later
System requirements for macOS	macOS High Sierra or later	macOS 10.14.4 or later
Apple TV support	Yes	Yes

Do you need to upgrade from AirPods 1?

The short answer is no. Keep reading if you want to know how I feel.

The most important AirPod updates from the first to the second generation are the H1 chipset (which has some advantages), longer talk time, and voice-activated Siri support. The changes are not so important. Not enough, at least, for me to recommend upgrading your first-generation AirPods.

In addition, Apple has not changed the look of AirPods at all from the first generation to the second. They have the same location for the speakers, which does not necessarily work with all ears and is only available in white. If you hope to show how cooler you are, then, with all the latest AirPods, no one will be able to tell the difference.

That said, here are some things to consider before making your final decision.

The H1 chip is a big improvement over the W1

The "W" chipset series focuses on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections and is used in various wireless headsets, such as Beats, as well as in the Apple Watch range.

The all-new "H" series is that of Apple headphones chipset targeted. It is designed to provide faster connectivity, superior audio quality and reduced latency for gaming.

The H1 chip improves the W1 chip in the following ways

• Up to 50% more talk time
• 2x faster switching between devices
• Faster connection to phone calls
• Enhanced connectivity
• 30% reduced latency for games
• Voice-activated Siri support

If the scourge of your existence is that it can take too much time to switch your AirPod from your iPhone to your Mac, or if you accidentally curse your boss because you are furious because your AirPods did not go through fast enough Listening to them To listen to music or answer the phone, the upgrade starts to look a lot more appealing.

If you tried to play Quinz on your iPhone with AirPods and threw them in the trash because the latency was horrible, you should consider switching from the first generation AirPod to the second generation.

A better phone experience

Thanks to the H1 chip, AirPods 2 supports talk time longer than its predecessor. Apple notes up to 50% more, although the talk time is three hours (the AirPods 1 have two hours of talk time).

The H1 chip also improves the speed with which you connect to an incoming phone call by listening to another form of audio, such as music or videos. Up to 1.5 times faster. This may seem like a slight improvement, but if you generally find yourself saying, "Hello? Hello? Hello?" every time you answer the phone, you can eliminate half of these pleasures with the AirPods 2.

Apple has also improved the audio and voice quality of the second-generation AirPods. Not only will you hear your phone conversations better, but you will hear better people with whom you are on the phone.

Siri voice activation vs double strike activation

To activate Siri on first-generation AirPods, you must press the left or right button twice. The activation takes a few seconds, but when this happens, you can ask Siri for help in a variety of ways, including adjusting the volume and controlling playback.

Unfortunately, it is very easy to accidentally tap the headset twice just as you adjust the positioning. Moreover, it is difficult to remember which bud you have assigned to Siri (if you have assigned the other to something else, like Play / Pause).

I ended up turning off Siri's double-click on my AirPods because the experience had seemed too painful to me.

With AirPod 2, you can activate Siri with your voice. Just as you would with your iPhone, Apple Watch and HomePod, saying, "Hey, Siri" will attract the attention of the virtual assistant.

This is more convenient for a number of reasons, the least of which is that you can disable double-clicking to enable Siri while remaining usable.

Although I still do not think this feature is sufficient to upgrade from AirPods 1, it can be an important feature for some. People with disabilities, for example, could benefit greatly from being able to activate Siri without having to reach out and double-tap a button.

Do you need to buy AirPods 2 with wireless charging case?

If you have never bought a pair of AirPods and you are ready to take the plunge, it stands to reason that you should take the second generation model to the first one. They are exactly the same price.

The next question, though, is whether you should spend an extra $ 40 and switch to AirPods 2 with wireless charging.

Do you own a wireless charger? If that's the case, it could be an interesting upgrade. I like being able to install my iPhone on a charger as I do on an old table. I can take it and drop it as often as I want and it will always charge when it is on the pad. You can charge your AirPods in the same way with the wireless charging box. Put it on the pad when you come home from work and you'll find it when you train.

By purchasing AirPods 2 with the wireless charging box, you also save $ 40 if you decide later to choose a wireless charging box. As an upgrade to the existing AirPods 2, you pay $ 199, while you buy the standard AirPods 2 for $ 159, and then receive a separate wireless charging case, costing you $ 238 in the end.

If you buy just the wireless charging case for your AirPods 1?

Apple sells the wireless charging box separately, and is compatible with first- and second-generation AirPods. So you can join the new craze without having to use a new pair of AirPods. But you should?

At $ 79, you spend a dime for wireless charging, especially if you consider the fact that you can buy wireless charging cases, such as the PowerPod case for your charging case for a lot Less.

Also consider how often you load your load. In general, I only have to reload the file once a week (even less if I do not use AirPods every day). Since you do not have to charge your charging case everyday, do you really need the convenience of a wireless charging?

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