Our quick take
Apple AirPods 2 - 4.0 / 5
AirPods 2: Same design, new case
- AirPods design says the same Case now offers wireless charging Can be used as a single or stereo pair
Wireless buds
Charging case
AirPods 2: H1 connection and battery
- Longer battery life: 5hrs listening, 3hrs talking New Apple H1 processor
‘H for headphones’?
Battery life
AirPods 2: Hey Siri
- No need to tap to talk to Siri
AirPods 2: Sound Quality
Struggles in noisy environments Good all-round performance Great for phone calls or podcasts
Best wireless earbuds: Top wire-free earphones including Bose, B&O, Sennheiser and more
To recap
While the headline announcement is a wireless charging case, the real winner for the second-generation AirPods is the better managed battery that delivers a noticeable improvement in talk time between charges. Otherwise the divisive design remains the same - but there’s now something equally iconic about that.
