Apple's wireless headphones were introduced on September 7, 2016 and have been on sale since December 2016. The AirPods are still very popular today. You don't have AirPods yet and want to buy some? We will answer your most important questions in this article.
How many AirPods models are there and what are the differences?
The second generation of AirPods is currently available from Apple and other retailers. It was introduced on March 20, 2019. Of course, 1st generation AirPods can still be found at some retailers, but these are remaining stock. The new Bluetooth headphones are hardly different from their predecessors - the biggest innovation is the integrated chip. This is the H1 chip, which supports the popular "Hey Siri" function. Because the 1st generation of AirPods was delivered with a W1 chip, Siri could only be activated by double-tapping the plugs. The listening time has remained the same at 5 hours per charge. Only the talk time has increased from two to around three hours. Since the AirPods 2 have Bluetooth 5.0, the connection to iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc. can be established more quickly.
If you decide to buy the AirPods, you can currently choose between two versions. If you choose the 179 euro model, you will get a charging case that can only be charged using a lightning cable. The slightly more expensive version comes with a charging case that supports wireless charging - it is compatible with all commercially available Qi chargers. This package costs around 229 euros. Of course, the new wireless charging case can also be purchased separately, for 89 euros. Users of the AirPods 1 can also use this. Important: Both charging case versions give your AirPods up to 24 hours of battery life. According to Apple, the sound quality has remained the same, but some media outlets are reporting an improvement compared to their predecessors.
How to connect the Apple AirPods to your iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.
If you have decided on the AirPods, you can pair them directly and easily with one of your devices. In order to establish a connection to an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, Bluetooth must be activated on the respective iOS device. You can do this via the control center (swipe once from bottom to top across the display) or in the settings. To do this, open the "Settings" app and navigate to Bluetooth, now you can switch on the checkbox. Then open the case of your AirPods and the wireless headphones should appear directly on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch - here a confirmation is enough and you can start immediately. You only have to go through this step once. In the future, you can insert the AirPods directly and the connection will be established in the background in a flash - provided your Bluetooth is activated. If the connection does not work, you can remedy the situation using the button on the back of your charging case. The use of your AirPods is up to you - you can of course use both earbuds at the same time or just wear one at a time. In macOS, you activate Bluetooth via the system settings or in the menu bar. Then open the case and the AirPods should appear on your screen similar to iOS. If this is not the case, please remember the button on the back of the charging case. Of course, you can connect the white earbuds to your Apple Watch or Apple TV in a similar way. If you want to pair the AirPods with a third-party device, you have to activate the connection via the Bluetooth settings of the respective device.
How to configure your AirPods
If you want to personalize your AirPods, you have to open the Bluetooth menu via the iOS or macOS settings. Here you will see a list of your connections. A click on the small "i" next to the AirPods takes you directly to the configuration menu. Now you have the option to change the name of your little darlings and set the controls. On both plugs you can choose between the commands Siri, Start/Pause, Next Track, Previous Track and Disabled. The command you select is always activated by double-tapping the respective earpiece. If you switch on the "automatic ear detection" option, the AirPods use the integrated acceleration sensor to recognize whether you are currently using them or have put them aside. They then activate/deactivate themselves - a feature that saves battery life. Last but not least, the microphone can also be customized.
This allows you to determine which plug should be used as a microphone - alternatively, there is the option "automatic" - this allows the earphones to decide for themselves. By the way, if you want to use Siri, Apple's assistant must be activated for the lock screen. To do this, open the "Settings" and tap on the menu item "Siri & Search". Now you can activate the option "Allow Siri when locked" further down.
Help, I lost my AirPods – what now?
Apple has thought about this too. If you have lost your AirPods, you can locate them using "Find iPhone". They will be shown on the map - this is of course the last location. If they are nearby, you can play a sound to locate them more quickly. If you can no longer find Apple's wireless earphones, you will have to use Apple's service. You can replace them for an additional charge via the "Lost or Stolen AirPods" support section. If you lose them, you will have to pay a whopping 75 euros per earphone - the charging cases cost 65 euros or 85 euros - depending on the model. If the battery runs low, you will have to pay 55 euros each for the charging case and earphones - outside of the warranty, you will have to pay 75 euros per plug and 65 euros or 75 euros for the charging cases.
The AirPods provide a unique user experience - their popularity speaks for itself. Even though the price is a bit higher, very few people have regretted buying these little earbuds. If you are looking for an alternative to the AirPods, you might find it here.
