Over the past two years, Apple has gone from one AirPod model to four. Currently, you can purchase three models of listeners (AirPods 2nd Generation, AirPods 3rd Generation, and AirPods Pro 2nd Generation) or headphones on the ear AirPods Max.
Let’s put the latter aside for a moment. If you’re willing to spend $600 / MXN$13,000 or more for a pair of headphones, that’s going to be a whole different buying decision than wanting a pair of headphones. true wireless headphones.
This leaves us with the choice between three relatively similar headphones. Which are best for you?
specifications
Perhaps the best way to make a purchasing decision is to see how the three current AirPods compare side-by-side:
| AirPods (2nd generation) |
AirPods (3rd generation) |
AirPods Pro (2nd generation) |
|
| Price | $159 / MXN3,299 | $219 / MXN$4,499 | $299 / MXN5,999 |
| Peso (headphones) | 4 grams | 4.3 grams | 5.3 grams |
| Weight (box) | 38 grams | 38 grams | 50.8 grams |
| Drums | 5 hours (+ 19 hours with case) | 6 hours (+ 24 hours with case) | 6 hours (+ 24 hours with case) |
| wireless charging | Nope | Open (MagSafe) | Open (MagSafe) |
| Noise cancellation | Nope | Nope | Yes |
| spatialized audio | Solo on Apple Music No dynamic head tracking |
music and video With dynamic head tracking |
music and video With dynamic head tracking |
| controls | tap on the listeners | rod force sensor | rod force sensor Slip on the rods |
| Endurance | Nope | Yes (IPX4) | Yes (IPX4) |
Design
The most obvious difference between the three models is their design. The 2nd generation AirPods retain the design you’ve known from 2016, with long white stems and earbuds reminiscent of the wired headphones that came with iPhones, but without the wire.
The new 3rd generation AirPods have shorter stems and a more bulbous, rounded earpiece. Although they are shorter, their weight is very similar to that of the old AirPods. The charging case is very similar to that of the AirPods Pro: shorter and wider.
AirPods Pro adopt the short stem design and add rubber tips to the earbuds to create a stronger seal that blocks noise and improves sound quality.
Whichever AirPods you choose, you will only be able to get them in glossy white.
Noise cancellation
This is where the AirPods Pro particularly stand out, and it’s the one feature that’s likely to make you choose them over the 3rd gen AirPods.
Rubber tips help block out more outside noise, but active noise cancellation also gives you a real feeling of a more private listening space.
While we’re at it, we should mention that only the AirPods Pro support the Conversation Boost accessibility feature.
Spatial audio and sound quality
All AirPods support Dolby Atmos spatial audio in Apple Music. In fact, you can force it on any pair of headphones.
But spatial audio for video in TV app and other compatible apps, with head tracking, is not supported on 2nd generation AirPods. You need 3rd generation or AirPods Pro to get it.
The 3rd Gen AirPods also sound better than the 2nd Gen in other ways. Apple has redesigned a low-distortion driver that it says provides better sound quality and supports adaptive equalizer like the AirPods Pro.
AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) sound significantly better than standard AirPods, even without active noise cancellation. The 2nd generation version, released in September 2022, offers a huge improvement in sound quality over the original AirPods Pro.
Features and commands
2nd Gen AirPods are tap-controlled, while 3rd Gen AirPods and AirPods Pro have a small cutout area on the pressure-sensitive stem. Press the stem (there is a false “click” feeling) to play/pause, fast forward or rewind, or activate Siri.
The AirPods Pro can also detect a swipe up or down along the stem to change the volume (this is new for the 2nd generation model). All AirPods models support “Hey Siri” hands-free control.
The AirPods Pro and AirPods 3rd Gen are both water and sweat resistant, and are probably best suited for working out, although you don’t want to get them wet in the pool. 2nd generation AirPods are not waterproof.
3rd generation AirPods support Find My to locate lost headphones and set separation alerts. The 2nd Gen AirPods Pro also have a speaker in the charging case that plays a loud tone when you use Find My, and they have the U1 chip so you can find them.
AirPods 3rd Generation and AirPods Pro also support announcement notifications, allowing Siri to dictate important messages and alerts as they arrive.
Battery life
2nd generation AirPods last 5 hours and can be charged approximately four times with the charging case for a total of 24 hours of listening time.
AirPods 3rd Generation and AirPods Pro extend listening time by 1 hour for 6 hours of listening time, and with four additional charges in the case, you get a total of 30 hours.
With AirPods Pro, if noise cancellation is off, the listening time will be around 1 hour.
wireless charging
Apple only sells 2nd generation AirPods with a wired charging case, but you can buy a wireless charging case for $89 separately.
The 3rd generation and AirPods Pro come with a wireless charging case that allows them to be charged via Lightning, any Qi wireless charger or MagSafe. You can also charge AirPods Pro with your Apple Watch charger.
conclusion
The three models of AirPods offered by Apple are very different. If wireless charging isn’t a must for you, the 2nd Gen AirPods for $159 / MXN$3,299 will be a decent buy. They don’t sound as good or last as long as the 3rd gen AirPods, but they’re a good affordable option.
If wireless charging is important to you, don’t hesitate to buy the 3rd Gen AirPods, because buying the charging case with the 2nd Gen AirPods will actually cost you $29 more than the 3rd Gen AirPods .
The AirPods Pro were updated in September 2022, and while they cost a lot more, they offer much better sound quality and unique features like Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Transparency, and Noise Boost. conversation.
We think the 3rd generation AirPods will be the best option for most. They’re technically cheaper than the 2nd-gen AirPods with wireless charging case and come with a ton of new features. They have longer battery life and better sound.
Since the release of the 2nd generation AirPods Pro, they’re clearly the better option in every way, but you’ll be paying over 40% more for them. If noise cancellation is important to you, it’s worth the extra expense.
AirPods (2nd generation)
AirPods (3rd generation)
AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
Original article published on igamesnews.com.
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