Apple AirPods 2nd Gen
Although they came out a few years ago, Apple's second-generation AirPods are still a great option for those on the market for earbuds today. This model features the H1 chip and s hands-free “Hey Siri” commands for basic requests, like playing a song or making a call. They boast up to 24 hours of total listening time, thanks to the convenient charging case. The effortless setup is ideal, as they only take minutes to connect with your device the first time. They fit right into your existing Apple ecosystem, as you are able to easily switch connectivity between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Inside, they're packing dual beam forming microphones, dual optical sensors, a motion-detecting accelerometer, and a speech-detecting accelerometer.
Amazon is running discounts on three models of AirPods right now, including a deal that brings Apple’s second-generation AirPods down to only $99. Apple currently sells four models of AirPods: AirPods (gen 2), AirPods (gen 3), AirPods Pro (gen 2), and the over-ear AirPods Max. The earbuds range in price from about $130 to $250, while the beefy headphones cost a whopping $550.
At Amazon today, AirPods Pro (2nd generation), AirPods (3rd generation), and AirPods (2nd generation) are all on sale. AirPods (2nd generation) are going for $99, down from $129. Apple’s third-generation AirPods are $10 off, for a discounted price of $159. The deal on AirPods Pro (2nd generation) is a little better, at 8 percent off for a sale price of $229 compared to the retail price of $249.
AirPods Models Compared
Though the second-generation AirPods may be a few years old, they’re still a solid choice especially at the current price. AirPods (gen 2) are powered by Apple’s H1 headphones chip and “Hey Siri” commands for basic requests, like playing a song or making a call. They promise up to 5 hours of listening time, which can be extended as much as 3 hours by popping them into the charging case for 15 minutes.
Those who are looking for something a step up but aren’t concerned about features like noise cancelation should go for the AirPods (3rd generation). The third-generation earbuds introduced a shorter stem and IPX4 sweat- and water-resistance rating for the AirPods and the charging case. These too run on the H1 chip, but offer Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Gen 3 AirPods boast 6 hours of listening time, and up to 30 hours with the charging case.
Apple’s AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are the cream of the crop. This model uses Apple’s H2 headphone chip for more advanced performance. They’re IPX4 rated, offer Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking and feature active noise cancelation to take the listening experience to the next level. They also offer a Transparency mode for when wearers want to still hear what’s going on around them. AirPods Pro achieve up to 6 hours of listening time, and up to 30 with the case. Whatever your preference — or budget — there’s an AirPods option for everyone.