Apple AirPods® with Wireless Charging Case (2nd Generation)

Back, and even better than before

I've been anxiously waiting for this one: the update to Apple's game-changing, 100% wire-free AirPods. A few years back, these best-sellers shook up the headphone world and basically created one of our most popular categories — true wireless earbuds. Apple loaded this latest version with some cutting-edge tech, stronger battery, and even more convenience features.  

Powered by Apple's new H1 wireless chip

It's all thanks to the new H1 chip, which Apple says performs much better than the previous generation's W1 chip. That statement speaks volumes. An engineer from another revered audio company told me that they still considered the W1 the most advanced wireless chip out there — just earlier this year. While the AirPods will play music wirelessly from any Bluetooth-enabled phone or music source, the H1 chip makes pairing up with Apple devices even more special.    

Steady, high-quality connection to your Apple gear

Easy and straightforward. That's the best way to describe the wireless pairing process between the AirPods and your Apple products. A one-tap connection syncs up the earbuds to your iPhone®, and then you're automatically paired to other devices on your iCloud account (like your Apple Watch®, iMac®, or iPad®).

The H1 chip ensures an even stronger wireless connection than the first-generation AirPods, along with higher-fidelity streaming. Apple claims this new version offers 30% lower latency, too. That's key when watching videos or playing games, when you need the audio and video to sync up correctly.

Clear phone calls and more talk time

AirPods have become an everyday essential for some, often as much for phone calls as music listening. When I visited New York City earlier this year for CanJam 2019, I noticed countless people wearing them. And why not? They make it so easy to hop on conference calls, order food, or carry on conversations as you move along the sidewalk. 

With the new H1 chip, phone calls connect to these headphones even quicker. And a super-powerful, voice-detecting microphone can filter out external sounds for clear calls in noisier environments. Plus they offer more talk time than the original model — you get up to three hours on a full charge. 

Smarter, hands-free Siri® voice control

This new chip makes Siri voice commands easier, too. Instead of having to double-tap the AirPods to activate Siri, you can just say "Hey Siri" and follow it up with a command or request. 

After a one-time setup through a connected device (like your iPhone), Siri will recognize your voice command. Just how smart are these earbuds? When you remove one — or both — music will stop playing, and it resumes as soon as you put them back in. 

A carrying case that's compatible with Qi wireless charging systems

Thanks to the H1 chip's battery management, the tiny AirPods offer five hours of music listening on a full charge, or three hours of phone calls. And this version includes the Apple Wireless Charging Case. Rather than plugging the case into the wall, you simply place it in on a compatible Qi charger (not included) to refresh the charge wirelessly. A green light will indicate the case is charging. 

The case is a little bigger than a matchbox, and can bank 24 hours of power to recharge your AirPods. When you need to refuel, just click the AirPods into the case. Just 15 minutes of charging gives your AirPods three hours of wireless music listening.