Are you comparing to the gen 1 with the UPDATED Firmware? The update firmware for gen 1 changed its sound quality
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AirPods 2 impressions
- Thread starter Ralfi
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I can imagine Apple folks reading this and laughing. Absolutely no difference in hardware nor software now. IMO they had to address all the early buyers who's gen.1 AirPods were losing battery life. Its as simple as that. I'm hoping a true update is down the road. And the wireless charging case was geared towards the defunct AirPower.
Long calls is where the new ones shine. BTLE 5 has significantly lower energy requirements and I can tell. I am halfway through my day with mainly listening and a couple of calls and I am above 75%!
BTW based on your earlier question I would not expect pairing the different generations to work, since BTLE is different. Dual BTLE phones are tricky to begin with.
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I am on my third pair. The 2nd is fairly new. There is a CLEAR difference in battery life, connection performance, and Siri. Not sure how you come to the conclusion there is no difference in hardware and software. Even tear downs showed the difference.
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This is by design. I really like it for normal use, since I am not locked out of my environment. If I want to be sealed in I used the BeatX or my wired Klipsch, which have good enough passive ealing they often outdo my Bose Quiet Comfort.
I've never been interested in Airpods, and am very happy with my Jaybird X2's. However, being of open mind, I tried my Son's Gen1's that he got for xmas and thought these are "OK". Sound is "different" to my Jaybirds, due to the obvious difference in fit (comply tips on Jaybirds). I couldn't justify £200 for the Airpods with Wireless charging. Then I thought about the wireless charging and thought do I need it? I charge my XS Max on a wireless pad next to my bed, but everywhere else I charge with lightning (car, iPads etc) and for a "bit of a dabble nice to have" then £160 is more tolerable.
Went to local Apple store this weekend, picked up one of the 100's of AirPods display boxes only to be told "we don't have them in stock"... had a stomp about no stock but 100s of display boxes, the guy agreed and took all the boxes down!
Ordered from Amazon, arrived the following day... wow, these do sound better than my Son's. Don't know if it's earwax, age, software version, no idea, but my Gen 2's sound better. Better bass is for certain. Pleasant surprise.
As for the "inconvenience" of wired charging, I just re-employed this little thing that was sat in a drawer. (the pic is my Son's AirPods, mine aren't marked lol)
EDIT: Just for reference, mine are production week 10, 2019 (March)
Went to local Apple store this weekend, picked up one of the 100's of AirPods display boxes only to be told "we don't have them in stock"... had a stomp about no stock but 100s of display boxes, the guy agreed and took all the boxes down!
Ordered from Amazon, arrived the following day... wow, these do sound better than my Son's. Don't know if it's earwax, age, software version, no idea, but my Gen 2's sound better. Better bass is for certain. Pleasant surprise.
As for the "inconvenience" of wired charging, I just re-employed this little thing that was sat in a drawer. (the pic is my Son's AirPods, mine aren't marked lol)
EDIT: Just for reference, mine are production week 10, 2019 (March)
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Right AirPod is Charging slooooow. Over 3 hours and only gotten to 69%. The charge connection keeps dropping if i look on the battery widget on iphone. Guess i got a doa unit 
And if i check through the pop up i have a red ! On the right airpod.
Edit. I also cannot reset theese. Tried every advice ive found on internet but resetting is just not happening.
And if i check through the pop up i have a red ! On the right airpod.Edit. I also cannot reset theese. Tried every advice ive found on internet but resetting is just not happening.
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Is there any visual damage/debris on the metal ring around the right pod’s microphone or on the contact inside the charge case?Right AirPod is Charging slooooow. Over 3 hours and only gotten to 69%. The charge connection keeps dropping if i look on the battery widget on iphone. Guess i got a doa unit
Edit. I also cannot reset theese. Tried every advice ive found on internet but resetting is just not happening.
Nope, got them 2 days ago. The started acting up upon putting them in the case for the second time of use/ownage. I suspect the case is faulty as if i take out 1 the red ! moves to the other when droppin in and takkng out the other the ! moves to the other and so on. The charge symbol is constant on left but 3s long on the right one. Tried to blow and clean but there is something else wrong now. Had the gen 1 and never had any of theese issues.
Edit. Yesterday the right pod also displayed 95% batt when theyd been in use for well over 2 hours. Left one showed 67% which was prolly the accurate battery level. Right pod also displayed as been in the case charging all the time albeit it was in my ear. I left them to drain over night and now this charging problem occured.
Edit2. This is what im seeing aswell when i open the lid to see batt info. I took the left pod out and got the red ! when i put it back, never took out the right pod even though it seems like it as the charging stops from time to time.
Edit. Yesterday the right pod also displayed 95% batt when theyd been in use for well over 2 hours. Left one showed 67% which was prolly the accurate battery level. Right pod also displayed as been in the case charging all the time albeit it was in my ear. I left them to drain over night and now this charging problem occured.
Edit2. This is what im seeing aswell when i open the lid to see batt info. I took the left pod out and got the red ! when i put it back, never took out the right pod even though it seems like it as the charging stops from time to time.
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I just got my pair and noticed that one side of the metal hinge stands slightly proud of the back case wall. It’s not a lot but enough that I can notice it, and it takes away from the otherwise smooth feel of the case back. Have others also noticed this or is this a MFG defect (it’s odd that it’s only on one side..)? I attached a picture for reference. Thanks.
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Mine is flush but the whole lid is to for back so i have an edge all the way. On a sidenote while trying to reset the pods and case for last time before i call Apple tomorrow. Now the left pod is giving the red ! All the time and showing that its in the charger even though its in my ear playing podcast atm. Feels to me that my case is the failing piece here.
Not sure what’s up with the QC on these things. Besides my hinge bulge, my L AirPod also has a misaligned seam whereas all four sets of EarPods in the house are more or less flush. Not sure if exchanging will do any good or if I would potentially end up worse off, though I haven’t heard of many others with hinge alignment issues.
mine looks pretty flush (if the raised bit from your hinge is what i'm seeing)...not sure if this is within "spec"/tolerance or not. i'd check out a few more units at the apple store if that's possible (demo units) so you can feel different cases in person.
The only thing they have in the stores are display boxes. I guess if you ask an employee, they may have a demo pair.
Bah, figures lol. I’m surprised I haven’t been able to find much online about hinge fit issues compared to the many others out there. Must be more rare - lucky me
I’ve seen a few complaints here and there. I guess because it’s not too serious an issue. The apple store I go to doesn’t have them in stock but there are plenty of empty display boxes along the wall.Bah, figures lol. I’m surprised I haven’t been able to find much online about hinge fit issues compared to the many others out there. Must be more rare - lucky me
Whats the charge time on the AirPods 2 case with wireless charging? I feel that its extremely slow compared with cable. and my QI charger have a LED that always is turned on when i charge my phone but it it goes on and off in waves with my Airpods.
Is this normal?
Is this normal?
I didn't think I would even use the "hey Siri" BUT it is very convenient and works great. I was in the grocery story and needed to call my wife so i thought I would try it and I will be using this feature often. Never had to get the phone out of my pocket.
This is what happened to me when I tried to buy from my local Apple Store. I complained and they took the boxes down. I then ordered from Amazon.
just sent mine back. two reasons
bought the wireless charging case version - airpower cancelled 2 days later.
hey siri is not fit for purpose. works fine indoors. outside with a bit of wind or when running, no chance. can literally be shouting at it and it won't work. stand still trying to get some music playing and start an outdoor run takes about 5 attempts each to get a response. And who wants to be standing on a quiet street at 6.30 in the morning shouting to themselves?
I'll stick with my gen 1 version for now.
bought the wireless charging case version - airpower cancelled 2 days later.
hey siri is not fit for purpose. works fine indoors. outside with a bit of wind or when running, no chance. can literally be shouting at it and it won't work. stand still trying to get some music playing and start an outdoor run takes about 5 attempts each to get a response. And who wants to be standing on a quiet street at 6.30 in the morning shouting to themselves?
I'll stick with my gen 1 version for now.
I picked up my AirPods yesterday and am using them for the first time. This is my favorite Apple purchase since my first iPhone. It is a really great product.
I went with non-wireless charging AirPods gen 2 from Amazon for $139, out of stock now. it looks like wireless charging is not ready for prime time anyway, and I don’t even have a charger, so saves me 70 bucks, plus not buying a charger.