Apple AirPods 2 review – the best earbuds I’ve ever used just got EVEN better
They're a must-have for iPhone owners
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APPLE has revamped the AirPods with some new features – including boosted battery life, wireless charging and hands-free ‘Hey Siri’ commands.
I’ve been testing the AirPods for a week, so are they worth the money? Absolutely, and they’ll probably be the best pair of earbuds you’ve ever used. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows…
Apple AirPods 2 – what are they?
For the unaware, Apple AirPods were first launched in 2016 as a pair of wireless earbuds that connected to your iPhone over Bluetooth.
It made sense, given that Apple scrubbed the headphone jack off its handsets from the iPhone 7 onwards, pretty much making wireless buds a must-have.
And after the big reveal, they were lampooned by some – just like the iPad and iPhone before it.
One pal compared their design to electric toothbrush heads, and he wasn’t wrong.
But like its siblings, the AirPods has quickly become a stylish gadget icon, now coveted by teens and adults alike.
So it’s no surprise that Apple has refreshed the AirPods for 2019, adding some attractive new features.
Apple AirPods 2 – what’s new?
Probably the main upgrade is to battery life: you’ll get 50% more “talk time” per charge thanks to some improvements to Apple’s built-in H1 processor.
Battery life has never been a huge issue: I used the original AirPods on long-haul flights without ever running out of charge, even after a year of battery-degrading use.
But boosting battery in the first instance means that they’ll still be usable years down the line, which is probably the biggest advantage.
It means you’re not wasting your money on a two-year product, basically.
Apple has also added support for hands-free ‘Hey Siri’ commands.
This lets you quickly ask Siri for help when working.
I’ve tried it in noisy locations and it works fine, but I’m not entirely convinced by the idea of shouting commands at my headphones in public.
Where I found it most useful was wearing them around the house: I can quickly (and without public embarrassment) check up on the weather while listening to music, without having to physically touch anything.
The other big improvement is the optional Wireless Charging Case.
If you’ve already got AirPods, you can get the case for £79 (on top of your original £159 purchase).
Alternatively, you can buy the AirPods brand new with a Wireless Charging Case for £199.
We all have so many gadgets that plugging everything in can be stressful.
So if you’ve got a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad (and most are), then you can plonk the AirPods down on top and they’ll charge wirelessly.
It’s sci-fi cool and very handy, and made better by the fact that wireless charging pads can be bought relatively cheaply these days.
I’ve been using the Anker PowerWave 7.5, which costs £33.99 (), but you can get an even cheaper model for £14.99 ().
It’s likely that wireless chargers will be very common in the future (some Starbucks even have them built into tables), so it’s a neat addition.
Apple AirPods and the curious case of the missing AirPower
Of course, there’s a huge elephant in the room.
In September 2017, Apple announced a revolutionary gadget called AirPower.
It was a wireless charging mat that could power up three gadgets at once: your iPhone, your Apple Watch, and (eventually) your AirPods.
Now the AirPods have been upgraded with wireless charging – but AirPower has been officially killed off.
Despite listing support for AirPower on the outside of the new AirPods’ box, Apple announced the product was as dead as a dodo in late March.
It’s a massive shame that I’m extremely disappointed by, as – for all intents and purposes – the new AirPods were made for AirPower.
On the bright side, the AirPower was simply a bonus to an already good product, so I’ll get over it. Probably.
Apple AirPods – the best headphones I own
I’m constantly being asked by pals for my verdict on the best headphones you can buy, and I always say AirPods.
They’re usually aghast, and talk about how dinky earbuds can’t possibly sound as good as a premium pair of Sennehisier or AudioTechnica cans.
They’re right, of course: AirPods will never sound as good as quality over-ear headphones – but that’s not the point.
Sound quality is only part of the battle when it comes to a winning pair of headphones.
The AirPods’ main advantage is their unrivalled ease of use.
They take mere seconds to pair with your iPhone – a process that also automatically links them to all of your other Apple gadgets too.
If you’re listening to music and you take one earbud out while talking to someone, your music will automatically pause. And when you put the earbud back in, playback will resume.
And for the record, sound quality is just fine on the AirPods.
The audio is clean and volume is decent enough. Although like many earbuds, they’ll struggle in very noisy environments, and you won’t get heaps of bass from them, simply due to their small size.
Apple AirPods review verdict – should you buy them?
The AirPods are a masterclass in design: they look great, they work flawlessly and they make your life easier.
If you’re moving from regular cabled earbuds to AirPods, you’ll never want to go back.
I found the fit to be tight and secure even when running, and – despite my initial fears – I’ve never managed to lose one.
Battery life is better than ever, the new wireless charging is pretty handy (although the £40 upgrade won’t be for everyone), and hands-free Hey Siri is a useful feature if you’re brave enough to use it.
Other than the vanishing AirPower charging mat, I’ve got nothing to complain about.
The AirPods 2 are attainably priced, retain all the best bits from the beloved original buds, and offer some minor upgrades to boot.
They're probably not worth an upgrade from the original AirPods unless (1) your old ones have dead batteries, (2) you're a wireless charging fanatic, or (3) you're an Apple obsessive.
But for newcomers and gadget lovers, I can't recommend the new AirPods enough.
The Sun says: The ultimate earbuds for iPhone owners, these easy-to-love headphones are the simplest way to upgrade your audio game today. ★★★★★
- Apple AirPods 2019 at John Lewis for £159 –
- Apple AirPods 2019 with wireless charging case at John Lewis for £199 –
- Apple AirPods Wireless Charging Case at John Lewis for £79 –
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Are you tempted by the new Apple AirPods? Let us know in the comments!
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