Apple AirPods (1st generation) vs AirPods (2nd generation)

Which Headphones Are Better?

Products

Apple AirPods (1st generation)
Apple AirPods (2nd generation)

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated May 05, 2025 07:19 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated Oct 28, 2025 05:21 PM

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Our Verdict

Apple AirPods (1st generation)

Apple AirPods (2nd generation)

The Apple AirPods (2nd generation) and the first model, the Apple AirPods (1st generation), are practically the same headphones. There are very few differences between the two models. The second-generation model now uses the H1 chip, has better wireless range, and should have less latency, although we measured the opposite. They pretty much have the same sound profile, but the biggest difference is that you can now buy them with a case that supports Qi wireless charging.

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Variants

  • AirPods (1st generation) (White)
  • AirPods (2nd generation) (With charging case)
  • AirPods (2nd generation) (With wireless charging case)

Check Price

White
AirPods (1st generation)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
With charging case
AirPods (2nd generation)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
AirPods (1st generation)
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
With wireless charging case
AirPods (2nd generation)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
AirPods (1st generation)
B&H
 
White
AirPods (1st generation)
BestBuy.com
 
White
AirPods (1st generation)
Apple.com
 
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 
 

0.0
N/A
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Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Design Picture 2  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Design Picture 2 Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Design Picture 2 Sample

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Type  

Locked
Locked

Enclosure  

Locked
Locked

Wireless  

Locked
Locked

Transducer  

Locked
Locked
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Comfort 
 

N/A
N/A

Comfort Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Comfort Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Comfort Picture Sample

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Weight  

Lock lbs
Lock lbs

Clamping Force 
 

Lock lbs
Lock lbs
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Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Controls Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Controls Picture Sample

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OS Compatibility 
 

N/A
Locked

Ease Of Use  

Locked
Locked

Feedback  

Locked
Locked

Call/Music Control  

Locked
Locked

Volume Control  

Locked
Locked

Microphone Control  

Locked
Locked

Channel Mixing 
 

N/A
Locked

Noise Cancelling Control  

N/A
Locked

Talk-Through 
 

N/A
Locked

Additional Controls  

Locked
Locked
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Breathability 
 

N/A
N/A

Breathability After Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Breathability After Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Breathability After Picture Sample

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Avg.Temp.Difference  

Lock °C
Lock °C
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Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Portability Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Portability Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Portability Picture Sample

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Lock"
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock"
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock"
Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume  

Lock in³
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Transmitter Required  

N/A
Locked
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Case 
 

N/A
N/A

Case Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Case Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Case Picture Sample

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Type  

Locked
Locked

 

Lock"
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock"
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock"
Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume  

Lock in³
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
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Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Picture  

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Stability 
 

N/A
N/A

Stability Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Stability Picture Sample

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Headshots 1  

Angled Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Angled Picture Sample

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Side Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Side Picture Sample

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Headshots 2  

Front Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Front Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Front Picture Sample

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Rear Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Rear Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Rear Picture Sample

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Top  

Top Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Top Picture Sample

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In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

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Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Frequency Response  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Frequency Response Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Frequency Response Sample

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Frequency Response  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Frequency Response Sample

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Bass Amount 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble Amount 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Frequency Response Consistency 
 

N/A
N/A

Consistency L  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Consistency L Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Consistency L Sample

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Consistency R  

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Avg. Std. Deviation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Raw FR L Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Raw FR L Sample

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Raw FR L  

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Raw FR R  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Raw FR R Sample

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Raw FR R  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Raw FR R Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Raw FR R Sample

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Bass Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Bass  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Bass Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Bass Sample

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Bass  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Bass Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Bass Sample

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Low-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Mid Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Mid  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Mid Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Mid Sample

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Mid  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Mid Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Mid Sample

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Treble Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Treble  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Treble Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Treble Sample

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Treble  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Treble Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Treble Sample

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Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High-Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Peaks/Dips 
 

N/A
N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Peaks/Dips Graph  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Peaks 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Dips 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Imaging 
 

N/A
N/A

Group Delay  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Group Delay Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Group Delay Sample

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Phase Response  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Phase Response Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Phase Response Sample

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Phase Response Mismatch  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Phase Response Mismatch Sample

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Weighted Group Delay 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch 
 

Lock
Lock
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Passive Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) PRTF Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) PRTF Sample

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PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.) 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF Distance 
 

N/A
N/A

Openness 
 

0.0
0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation 
 

0.0
0.0
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Virtual Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Virtual Soundstage  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Virtual Soundstage Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Virtual Soundstage Sample

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Head Modeling 
 

Locked

Speaker Modeling 
 

Locked

Room Ambience 
 

Locked

Head Tracking 
 

Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked

Weighted Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

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WHD @ 90 
 

Lock
Lock

WHD @ 100 
 

Lock
Lock
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Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

Locked

Power 
 

Locked

Connection 
 

Locked

Codec 
 

Locked

EQ 
 

Locked

ANC 
 

Locked

Tip/Pad 
 

Locked

Microphone 
 

Locked
Show Text 
Isolation

Noise Isolation 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Noise Isolation Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Noise Isolation Sample

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Isolation Audio 
 

Overall Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Cancelling  

Locked
Locked

Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Leakage 
 

N/A
N/A

Leakage  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Leakage Sample

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Leakage Audio 
 

Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

Locked
Locked

In-Line 
 

Locked
Locked

Boom 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable Boom 
 

N/A
Locked

Mic  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Recording Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Microphone Frequency Response  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Microphone Frequency Response Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Microphone Frequency Response Sample

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Recorded Speech 
 

LFE 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

HFE 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Weighted THD 
 

Lock
Lock

Gain 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Noise Handling 
 

N/A
N/A

SpNR  

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SpNR 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Gate 
 

Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling 
 

0.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample  

Speech + Subway Noise Handling 
 

0.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample  

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Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Continuous Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Additional Charges 
 

Lock
Lock

Total Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature 
 

Locked
Locked

Audio While Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

Passive Playback 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

App Support 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) App Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) App Picture Sample

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App Name  

N/A
Locked

iOS  

Locked
Locked

Android  

Locked
Locked

macOS  

N/A
Locked

Windows  

N/A
Locked

Equalizer 
 

Locked
Locked

ANC Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Mic Control  

N/A
Locked

Room Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Playback Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Button Mapping  

Locked
Locked

Surround Sound  

N/A

Surround Support 
 

Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

NFC Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Line Of Sight Range 
 

Lock ft
Lock ft (Lock m)

PC Latency (SBC) 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX) 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (aptX HD) 
 

N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL) 
 

N/A
N/A

iOS Latency 
 

Lock ms

Android Latency 
 

Lock ms
Show Text 

Non-Bluetooth Wireless 
 

N/A
N/A

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Non-BT Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Wired 
 

N/A
N/A

Cable Picture  

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Cable Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Cable Picture Sample

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Analog Audio 
 

N/A
Locked

USB Audio 
 

N/A
Locked

Detachable  

N/A
Locked

Length  

N/A
N/A

Connection 
 

N/A
Locked

Wired Latency 
 

N/A

Analog/USB Audio Latency 
 

N/A
Show Text 

PC Compatibility 
 

Analog 
 

Locked

Wired USB 
 

Locked

Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Show Text 

PC / PS4 Compatibility 
 

PC / PS4 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PC / PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PC / PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PlayStation Compatibility 
 

PS4 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Analog 
 

Locked

PS5 Wired USB 
 

Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

Xbox Compatibility 
 

Xbox One Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog 
 

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB 
 

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked

Base/Dock 
 

N/A
N/A

Type 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Input 
 

Locked
Locked

Line In 
 

Locked
Locked

Line Out 
 

Locked
Locked

Optical Input 
 

Locked
Locked

RCA Input 
 

Locked
Locked

Dock Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

Power Supply 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Check Price

White
AirPods (1st generation)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
With charging case
AirPods (2nd generation)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
AirPods (1st generation)
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
With wireless charging case
AirPods (2nd generation)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
AirPods (1st generation)
B&H
 
White
AirPods (1st generation)
BestBuy.com
 
White
AirPods (1st generation)
Apple.com
 

Apple AirPods (1st generation)

Apple AirPods (2nd generation)

Comments

  1. Comparison

Apple AirPods (1st generation) vs Apple AirPods (2nd generation): Main Discussion

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