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Apple AirPods

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AirPods offers a cord-free wireless audio experience with up to 5 hours of battery life. They are rechargeable through the included case that get you up to 24 hours on a single charge. AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro support wireless (Qi) charging, Hey Siri, and include the H1 chip.

Apple’s truly wireless wireless and cord-free earbuds now with Qi support

AirPods 1 Features

AirPods are Apple’s wireless, cord-free in-ear headphones, and were unveiled alongside the iPhone 7 on September 7, 2016. Priced at $159 they were originally announced to be available in late October, 2016, but were delayed until December 13.

They have a very similar form-factor to the company’s wired EarPods, with the obvious omission of a cable and the addition of Bluetooth connectivity. Despite this, early reports suggest that they are better at staying in your ears.

They offer Apple’s latest wireless pairing system, based on the W1 chip. They pair instantly, and that pairing propagates across all your Apple devices via iCloud. The secret sauce behind the new pairing system turned out to be all in the W1 chip in the headphones themselves, so it works with Bluetooth LE devices all the way back to the iPhone 5.

AirPods 2 Features

In March of 2019, Apple released AirPods 2. The new version is available for $199 with the wireless charging case, or available with the standard case for $159. Existing version 1 owners can purchase the wireless charging case separately for $79.

Version 2 moved away from the W1 chip to the new H1 chip to deliver up to 50 percent more talk time compared to the first generation. The H1 should also speed up switching between devices, with Apple saying version 2 should now connect two times faster. Version 2 also includes ‘Hey Siri’ support as well.

AirPods Pro

In October 2019, Apple announced AirPods Pro. The Pro model features “Active Noise Cancellation and superior, immersive sound in an all-new lightweight, in-ear design.” The new in-ear design of the Pro model makes for better noise cancellation. Apple says that the Pro headphones are sweat and water-resistant rated for IPX4. The box includes three different sizes of ear tips, which should make them relatively versatile.

AirPods Pro vs. AirPods comparison

There are five major features that the Pro model has have that Version 2 don’t:

  • Active noise cancellation
  • Audio Transparency mode
  • IPX4 water/sweat resistance
  • Adaptive EQ
  • In-ear design with three sets of tips
How AirPods Pro and AirPods gen 2 compare

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Hands-on with AirPods 4: better in every way

AirPods 4

AirPods 4 are here, and they are awesome. As a pair of on-ear wireless earbuds, they are really hard to fault. I have used AirPods 2 for the past five years — skipping the third-generation model due to fit concerns — and AirPods 4 are what I have been waiting for.

The new AirPods are available in two models: $129, or $179 with Active Noise Cancellation. I have the ANC buds and I’m thrilled with them, but I predict even the base model is going to drive a lot of sales this holiday season.

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Buying AirPods for someone? Here’s how to pick the right version

Shopping for AirPods this holiday season? With Apple’s current lineup of wireless earbuds and headphones, choosing the right model can be confusing. However, this guide simplifies your options so you can find the perfect pair. Whether you’re gifting someone special or treating yourself, there’s an AirPods model to match every need and lifestyle.

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Meta thinks its Orion augmented reality glasses can be the AirPods of AR

Meta Orion augmented reality glasses can be the AirPods of AR | Prototype shown

It was back in September when Meta first revealed an early prototype of its Orion AR glasses, and while they are a long way from becoming an actual product you can buy, the company does believe it can achieve this.

Indeed, Meta’s wearables chief thinks that Orion can in time become the AirPods of augmented reality devices …

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AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro: Apple wireless earbuds compared

AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2

Update: AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation currently reduced to $169 on Amazon.

So, Apple just updated its base model AirPods for the first time in years. There’s now two new models, one with Active Noise Cancellation, and one without – starting at $129.

ANC was the hero exclusive feature of AirPods Pro … until today. So how do the new AirPods (not Pro) stack up? Here’s all the differences.

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Apple rolling out new firmware update for select AirPods models

AirPods SE

Update: Apple’s release notes confirm this new firmware simply includes “bug fixes and other improvements.”


Apple is rolling out a new firmware version for three of its AirPods models today: AirPods Pro 1, AirPods 2, AirPods Max (Lightning), and AirPods 3. There’s no word on what’s new in this update, but it likely focuses on bug fixes and other improvements.

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Tested: OneAdaptr OneGo and InfinaCore M3 Mini wireless battery packs for iPhone

OneAdaptr OneGo and InfinaCore M3 Mini

The iPhone 16 line-up offers an impressive boost to battery life, but there are still occasions when our iPhone needs some help to make it through a long day.

If you can’t rely on being in one place long enough to top-up by cable, a portable battery pack can save the day. I tested out two very different battery-powered wireless chargers …

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How Insta360 X4 integrates with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods

The Insta360 X4, the latest 360-degree action camera from Insta360, is a especially designed to work with Apple products. X4 seamlessly integrates with the Apple ecosystem, enhancing content creation, editing, and control. The Insta360 X4 leverages the capabilities of the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods to deliver a powerful and streamlined experience for creators.

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Apple patent describes using AirPods to detect heart disease, likely next year

Apple patent describes how it could use AirPods to detect heart disease | Airpods x-ray image with heart-shaped sparkler display

9to5Mac recently discovered evidence in iOS 18 that Apple is testing using future AirPods models to measure heartbeat, with our sources indicating that the feature will be implemented in both AirPods Pro 3 and the next generation of Powerbeats Pro.

An Apple patent application describes how the company can use a health sensor not just to measure heart-rate, but also to detect heart disease …

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AirPods 4 review: big deal, small package

I’ve been an AirPods user since 2016, and an AirPods Pro user since 2019. In-ear tips are a better fit for my ears, and Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes define the modern AirPods experience for me.

For some, however, in-ear tips are a non-starter. For others, the $249 retail price is a tall order for a pair of earbuds. Apple addresses both cost and design with the all-new AirPods 4.

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AirPods hearing aid feature is going to challenge social norms, and company policies

AirPods hearing aid feature is going to challenge social norms | AirPods 2 promo photo

Apple’s announcement about the upcoming AirPods hearing aid capability hasn’t just upset the share price of existing brands – it’s also likely to lead to some social norms being challenged.

In addition, the uncertainty of whether someone wearing a pair of AirPods means that they either can or can’t hear you is likely to create some comedic moments …

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Belkin launches new multi-use ‘AirPods Cleaning Kit’ alongside AirPods 4

Belkin's new AirPods Cleaning Kit

Today, Apple announced the latest generation in its popular earbuds line, the AirPods 4. While Apple’s game-changing earbuds are known for being easy to use, as any long-time user will tell you, keeping them in pristine, clean condition is a bit more challenging. With this in mind, Belkin has launched an updated version of its AirPods Cleaning Kit to help keep your wireless earbuds clean.

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