There's no denying the popularity[1] of the Apple AirPods, or their impact on the truly wireless earphones segment. This now-ubiquitous fit style was popularised by the original Apple AirPods, which were launched in late 2016, and they are a useful accessory for anyone who owns an Apple iPhone.
Last month, Apple announced the launch of the new second-generation Apple AirPods[2]. While largely similar to the first-generation variant in many ways, the new Rs. 14,900 AirPods do have a few subtle differences in terms of hardware and features. We had a chance to test the new truly wireless earphones from Apple, and we received the variant with the new wireless charging case for review, which is priced at Rs. 18,900. Here's our review of the new Apple AirPods.
Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) design and specifications
There isn't much to distinguish the old Apple AirPods[3] from the new ones. The earbuds look identical on both generations, but the wireless charging case (which can also be used with older AirPods) has some differences.
The charging indicator is now on the outside, while the pairing button at the back is placed slightly higher. The exposed metal hinge at the back now has a matte finish instead of a chrome coating, and this might be a pedantic observation, but it makes a slightly different ‘snap' sound when you close the lid. The non-wireless case that comes with the lower priced second-gen AirPods looks the same as that of the original set.
The Lightning port remains at the bottom of the charging case, and compatibility with the Qi wireless charging standard means that you can charge the case by simply placing it on a Qi wireless charger.
That...