Airpods 2 with charging case review
|
Sorry, we just need to make sure you're not a robot. For best results, please make sure your browser is accepting cookies. Show Type the characters you see in this image:Try different image Conditions of Use Privacy Policy © 1996-2014, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates Update 11/26/2021: We have changed 'OS Compatibility' from 'iOS' to 'Not OS specific' as the call and music controls work on both Android and iOS devices. However, Android users can't use the voice assistant feature. As a result, we have updated our review to reflect this change. The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen have a limited control scheme. If you're using an iOS device, you can use the built-in settings interface to set what happens when you double-tap each earbud: skip track backward or forward, play/pause (and answer an incoming call), or activate Siri. Your audio will also automatically pause when you take the earbuds out of your ears. You can disable ear detection and the touch-sensitive surface if you prefer. Unfortunately, there's no option to change the volume with the onboard controls, although you can enable 'Hey Siri' on your iOS device to control everything with your voice. If you're not using an Apple device, double-tapping either earbud skips to the next track, but you can't change this. If you're using a Windows device, you also can't accept calls from online services like Microsoft Teams. That said, you're able to play and pause media as well as skip tracks on Windows. If you prefer physical buttons that offer good feedback, check out the Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless. Avg.Temp.Difference 0.8 °C The Apple AirPods 2nd Generation are very breathable headphones, like most in-ears. They have no tips and barely have any points of contact with your ear. Although they're a bit less stable than other truly wireless headphones like the Jaybird Run XT Truly Wireless or the Samsung Galaxy Buds Truly Wireless, they're also slightly more breathable, and you shouldn't notice a difference in temperature while wearing them. L 1.7" (4.3 cm) W 1.0" (2.5 cm) H 0.6" (1.5 cm) Volume 1.00 in³ (16.39 cm³) Transmitter Required No The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen are incredibly portable. The footprint of most truly wireless headphones is very small, and these are no exception. They're easy to carry around and easily fit in most pockets and bags, even inside their case. Type Hard case L 2.1" (5.3 cm) W 1.7" (4.3 cm) H 0.7" (1.8 cm) Volume 2.50 in³ (40.97 cm³) Update 11/26/2021: After testing the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless, we noticed that the scoring of the 2nd generation's case needed to be reevaluated. The case feels great, but there are similar cases that are as good, if not better than this one. While it's small, lightweight, and supports wireless charging, it doesn't support MagSafe charging, and the one indicator light doesn't do much to tell you the level of the case or buds. As a result, we have lowered the scoring of this test from 9.0 to 8.5. The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen have an excellent case. With the same sleek design as its predecessor, it protects the headphones well against minor falls and scratches but not against water damage. The case is the same size as the one that came with the Apple AirPods (1st generation) Truly Wireless, but it supports Qi wireless charging. However, if you don't need this feature, you can also get them with the same case as the previous generation, which only charges via Lightning instead. The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen have an impressive build quality. The plastic casing feels high-end and durable and should be solid enough to withstand a few drops without getting damaged. They're well-made, sturdy headphones and feel high-end, although they lack some of the more premium finishes of earbuds like the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless. They lack an IP rating for dust and water resistance, unlike the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless or the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless, which are both certified IPX4 for resistance against being splashed with water. The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen have okay stability. They have a one-size-fits-all design and don't come with different tip options, so your experience varies depending on the shape and size of your ears. If you plan to use these earbuds during a light activity like walking, they should stay put as long as you have a good fit. Their wireless design also means that you don't have to worry about snagging a cable on the kitchen corner and ripping the headphones from your ears. That said, take a look at the JBL Tune 225TWS True Wireless if you're looking for truly wireless earbuds with a more stable fit.
Sound Bass Amount -8.65 dB Treble Amount 0.39 dB The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen's sound profile is similar to their predecessor's, the Apple AirPods (1st generation) Truly Wireless. While it's fairly well-balanced for non-bass-heavy content like classical music or podcasts, genres like EDM or hip-hop lack thump and rumble and sound lacking or hollow. Like the Nothing Ear (stick) Truly Wireless, the treble response is also overemphasized, so instruments and lead vocals seem a bit bright and harsh. These headphones also have inconsistent sound delivery, so you may hear a different sound depending on how they fit in your ears. Unfortunately, they don't have an app that includes sound customization features like an EQ or presets. Avg. Std. Deviation 1.13 dB The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen's frequency response consistency is disappointing. Because of their one-size-fits-all design, sound consistency depends on how well they fit inside your ears. If you don't get a good fit, you may not get a consistent response each time you listen to audio. Deviations in the low bass and between the high-mid and low treble are noticeable. Std. Err. 6.68 dB Low-Frequency Extension 70.25 Hz Low-Bass -13.78 dB Mid-Bass -1.58 dB High-Bass 2.09 dB The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen's bass accuracy is sub-par. Their open-back design means they struggle to reproduce a thumpy, rumbly low bass. That said, the rest of the range is quite well-balanced, so your audio sounds punchy, warm, and full. There's a bit of overemphasis in the high-bass that adds a bit of extra boom as well. Their bass delivery also varies noticeably from person to person and is sensitive to the earbuds' fit and positioning in your ears. The results here represent the average response, and your experience may vary. Std. Err. 2.17 dB Low-Mid 1.31 dB Mid-Mid 0.07 dB High-Mid 3.01 dB The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen's mid accuracy performance is impressive. The low-mid and mid-mid are very flat and well-balanced, resulting in an accurate representation of vocals and lead instruments. There's a bump in high-mid which increases the intensity and clarity of vocals and lead instruments, but it's minor enough that your music shouldn't sound overly honky or harsh. Std. Err. 3.89 dB Low-Treble 3.83 dB Mid-Treble 3.78 dB High-Treble -2.62 dB The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen have decent treble accuracy. Their response is fairly flat and well-balanced, but it's slightly overhyped. The low and mid-treble ranges are overemphasized, which adds harshness to lead instruments and vocals, while sibilants like cymbals sound bright and piercing. This represents the average treble response, and since fit and positioning can affect treble delivery, your experience may vary. Peaks 1.97 dB Dips 1.12 dB The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen have decent peaks and dips performance. The dip in the low-bass may result in a lack of rumble and thump, while a peak in the mid to high-bass adds body and boom to mixes. There's also a smaller dip in the mid-mid that nudges instruments and lead vocal towards the back of the mix. A peak between the high-mid and low-treble makes instruments sound honky and harsh. The high peak in the mid-treble can make some sibilants, like S and T sounds, seem harsh. Weighted Group Delay 0.28 Weighted Phase Mismatch 2.28 Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 1.37 Weighted Frequency Mismatch 1.28 The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen have an excellent imaging performance. The group delay is below the audibility threshold for the entire range, ensuring a tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. Also, the L/R drivers of our model are very well-matched in amplitude, frequency, and phase response. This is important for the accurate placement and localization of objects (like voices or footsteps) in the stereo image. These results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently. PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.) N/A PRTF Size (Avg.) N/A PRTF Distance N/A Openness Acoustic Space Excitation The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen have an awful passive soundstage. Like most in-ear headphones, they don't interact with your outer ear, so sound seems to be coming from inside your head instead of from speakers in the room around you. However, thanks to their open-back design, the soundstage seems quite open and spacious compared with closed-back in-ears. Head Modeling No Speaker Modeling No Room Ambience No Head Tracking No Virtual Surround No WHD @ 90 0.358 WHD @ 100 0.104 The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen's weighted harmonic distortion performance is very good. Aside from a peak in the high-treble that shouldn't be audible, all frequencies fall within good limits at both normal and high listening volumes, resulting in a clear and pure audio reproduction. Firmware 1A673 Power On Connection Bluetooth 4.0 Codec SBC, 16-bit, 44.1kHz EQ No EQ ANC No ANC Tip/Pad Default Microphone Integrated These are the settings used to test the Apple AirPods 2nd Gen. Our results are only valid when using these settings. Isolation Overall Attenuation -1.95 dB Noise Cancelling No Bass 0.32 dB Mid 0.98 dB Treble -6.94 dB The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen have bad noise isolation. This is due to their open-back design, which is just like the previous Apple AirPods (1st generation) Truly Wireless. They block virtually no sound from the bass and mid-ranges, so they don't isolate you from the rumble of engines or background conversations. They do somewhat better in the treble range, which includes noises like the hum of an AC unit, but you still may not notice any difference. However, if you like to run or do other outdoor activities while listening to music, you may appreciate that these allow you to hear your surroundings. On the other hand, if you don't like the open-back design, the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless, the Jaybird X4 Wireless, the Jaybird Tarah Wireless, or the Skullcandy Jib Wireless are all closed-back headphones with better noise isolation. Overall Leakage @ 1ft 38.25 dB The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen have a decent leakage performance. Βecause of their open-back design, they leak more audio than most closed-back earbuds we've tested, like the Microsoft Surface Earbuds Truly Wireless or the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless. The audio that escapes sounds thin, but if you listen to your music at high volumes in a moderately quiet environment like an office, people around you may be able to hear it. Microphone Integrated Yes In-Line No Boom No Detachable Boom No Mic Yes Update 11/26/2021: We have retested 'Recording Quality' and 'Noise Handling' to see if there's a difference in performance between Bluetooth AAC and SBC codecs. Our testing PC doesn't support AAC, which is the license-free standard for Apple devices. However, we conducted this microphone retest while the headphones were placed on our test head and connected to an iPhone 11, which supports AAC. To retest 'Recording Quality', we played the same 'Recorded Speech' audio clip through our test head. While Bluetooth codecs aren't the sole factor in microphone performance, using the AAC codec, the voice sounds clearer than when connected to our test PC and using SBC codec. You can hear our results here. For 'Noise Handling', we played the 'Speech + Pink Noise' and 'Speech + Subway Noise' audio clips. Using the AAC codec, the mic offers a slightly worse performance blocking out pink noise from speech than when connected to our test PC. That said, the mic can block out slightly more noise in the subway recording when connected to an iPhone versus a PC. However, it also cuts out some speech in the process. We have updated our review, but there hasn't been a change in the scoring of our microphone tests regarding AAC codec. To ensure comparability between different reviews, we test the mic of Bluetooth headphones using SBC codec as it's almost universally used by these devices. LFE 261.43 Hz FR Std. Dev. 3.34 dB HFE 3,319.91 Hz Weighted THD 27.169 Gain 38.23 dB The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen's microphone's recording quality is mediocre, similar to the previous model. While your voice should be understandable, it sounds thin and lacks presence and openness, as with many Bluetooth microphones. SpNR 13.93 dB Noise Gate Always On Speech + Pink Noise Handling Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample Speech + Subway Noise Handling Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample Update 11/26/2021: After user feedback, we have retested 'Noise Handling'. We originally scored this test at 8.5, which was too high. When facing a fan, the headphones do a good job blocking out this kind of noise. However, we have dropped the score for 'Speech + Pink Noise' from 8.5 to 7.5 to better reflect the quality we heard during a call. We have updated our review to reflect these changes. The microphone has alright noise handling capabilities. Your voice is brought in front of moderate noise, and you can easily hear what's being said. However, with loud sounds, your voice can be drowned out. Are AirPods 2 still worth buying?It's a hard sell when compared to current models, but the AirPods 2 are still a top performer at $99, as well as a high-quality backup for your AirPods Pro when they need to recharge. Is it worth getting AirPods with wireless charging case?Is it worth getting AirPods with a wireless charging case? This question is often asked, but when it comes to performance, there are very few major differences between the wired charger and the wireless charger. They both perform equally well, for the most part. What is the difference between AirPods 2 and AirPods with wireless charging case?wireless case. As mentioned, the charging cases for both the old and AirPods 2 are essentially identical, but if you opt for the wireless case — which will raise the price from $159 to $199, you'll notice that the LED has been moved from inside the case to the front. Do AirPods Gen 2 have a charging case?And they're made to keep up with you, thanks to a charging case that holds multiple charges for more than 24 hours of listening time. Need a quick charge? Just put AirPods back in the case for 15 minutes to get up to 3 hours of listening time 8 or up to 2 hours of talk time. |
