AirPods (2nd gen)

Take command without even a touch

$159.99 From Apple, apple.com Features Charging case with Lightning, or charging case with Lightning and Qi wireless; Bluetooth

When we reviewed the original AirPods, we said they were “the first Apple–branded headphones you’ll want to wear”, yet awarded them 3 stars out of 5. A software update remedied our complaint that you couldn’t assign different double–tap gestures to each wireless bud, which would have been enough to warrant a 4–star rating.

If you’re glancing at our score for the updated hardware, which delivers other meaningful improvements, you’re probably wondering why we still haven’t awarded full marks. After all, the new AirPods support hands–free control, deliver an hour’s worth of extra talk time, and there’s an optional wireless charging case if you pay $40 more than the regular version. The first

of those alone sounds great, right?

That the new AirPods listen for you saying “Hey Siri” is something we eagerly wanted from a new model. It enables you to make calls, dictate text messages, and request specific music and control its playback simply by speaking. You can still double–tap at times when you don’t want to speak, but using only your voice is a great convenience when your hands are full.

There’s an underlying weakness to this, though it’s really one of Siri itself, not either generation of AirPods: Apple’s voice–driven assistant becomes useless if your internet connection drops out. That’s disappointing given that Voice Control, Siri’s far less capable predecessor, is able to interpret basic playback commands even when your device is offline.

Siri could do with a similar degree of on–device intelligence, which in turn would make AirPods even better to use. However, our frustration at encountering it just a few times shows the usefulness of Hey Siri on AirPods. Whiteout conditions There are no audio or visual changes, not even new color options, bar the status light on the Qi–compatible wireless charging case’s front. That case adds $40 to the price, and can also be charged over a cable. Sadly AirPower, Apple’s simultaneous iPhone, AirPods and Watch charger, was announced as cancelled days after the new AirPods went on sale.

As before, the microphones have trouble hearing us against noisy traffic. Either Siri mishears or doesn’t respond until we raise our voice. It responds quickly and reliably when there’s less hubbub, though.

Apple’s claim that the buds connect more quickly to devices rang true for us. Waiting a little longer wasn’t a huge problem, yet hearing the confirmatory chime in a couple of seconds is another thing that’s a solid improvement.

the bottom line. Buying your first AirPods? You’ll be even more delighted than early adopters, largely due to the addition of Hey Siri. Alan Stonebridge