Airpods have become, since their launch, much more than headphones. Fashion icon, status symbol, everyone’s envy… In short, what always happens when Apple releases a new product. For this reason, today we review all the versions of Airpods that there are, the generations in which they are classified and some general recommendation about each one, in case you are thinking of getting on the bandwagon of the sound of the bitten apple.
Everything that Apple touches turns to gold and, above all, it becomes fashion and an object of desire.
It seems that this brand does nothing wrong, or rather, it has convinced us of it. So all the innovations and products that it puts out are usually huge sales successes. The times when it did not raise its head are long gone and a sample of that power of Apple is its Airpods .
Its line of wireless headphones has taken the world of sound by storm and is, once again, the product imitated a thousand times by other brands, especially in terms of design.
And so that you are an expert in Airpods , we will tell you what versions there are, in what generations they are classified and what you should know about each one.
The origin of the Airpods
It was in 2016 when Apple introduced its first generation of Airpods , in-ear style wireless headphones (that is, those that are inserted into the ear) with a very peculiar design.
Now we’ve gotten used to it, but it was quite a novelty to see those headphones with a stem hanging from it that looked like something white was dripping out of your ear.
However, Apple is an expert in turning everything it does into fashion, so not only did it stop seeming strange to us, but it was immediately imitated and, like everything from Apple, it became an easily recognizable status symbol for those around you. surround.
In fact, that is one of the main keys in the design of the brand.
That was the pioneering generation of Airpods , but over time the line has expanded and evolved with generations as well. Do not worry, we will explain these classifications well.
What versions and generations of Airpods exist
Airpods headphones are divided as follows:
- Traditional Airpods. In -ear model, portable and small.
- Airpods Pro . An evolution of previous earplug models, with a more comfortable design and more features, such as active noise cancellation .
- Airpods Max . Headband model, more traditional, large and (even more) expensive.
In turn, the Airpods are divided into generations, which represent the modernization of the headphones, with new features or improvements to them.
At the moment, we continue with a first generation of Airpods Max and Airpods Pro , but the traditional Airpods are already in their third generation.
Hopefully Apple will follow the same generation dynamic for those Max and Pro versions going forward.
Knowing this, let’s review those different generations and models.
All models and generations of Airpods out there
Let’s look at each option you have in detail.
first generation airpods
The pioneers, made by removing the cable from the Earpods and that came with that design of the stem that extended downwards and the typical advantages of Apple devices.
They integrate perfectly into your ecosystem, they are light, comfortable , you have Siri in your ears and, in addition, they can also be paired via Bluetooth with other devices, such as your Smart TV .
Without a doubt, this generation came with many features, especially if you had an iPhone, but in terms of sound… Let’s see, they weren’t bad, but for the price range (179 euros) there were much better options if what mattered to you was music.
However, they succeeded, of course . So Apple gave birth to a new generation that greatly improved these first.
Currently, you cannot buy them , except second hand. However, they are not worth it compared to the following generations, which you can buy at the official store.
second generation airpods
The design remained the same, but inside they changed with a necessary improvement in sound, better battery and the possibility of acquiring them with a new wireless charging case, using the Qi standard protocol.
They can continue to be purchased at the Apple store for a price of 149 euros .
We could go into whether they are the best in their price range (no joke) or what alternatives there are. But when it comes to the apple, you want an Apple, so all that comparing objective specs doesn’t matter.
third generation airpods
The newest generation of the basic line of Airpods , introduced in October 2021, comes with a design change (highlighting a shorter stem) and an improved battery , thanks to the use of new technology. While we’re still without noise cancellation , you do have what Apple calls spatial audio , plus adaptive equalization .
First seen on the Airpods Pro , these features modify the sound in real time depending on how the earbuds fit in your ear.
On top of that, you can share sound , so one Apple device can stream to two sets of Airpods , and also one of the most useful features, auto-pause when you take them off your ear.
They are the newest headphones right now, but they do not imply a processor improvement over the Pro model, since they use the same Apple H1 chip.
199 euros is its official price if you want to get hold of them.
The Airpods Pro
Introduced in October 2019, Airpods Pro introduce one of the most desired and anticipated features: Active Noise Cancellation .
In addition to that, the design is complemented by the typical silicone ear tips that allow the headset to fit better in the ear.
We also find the innovations that were later introduced in the basic third generation: adaptive equalization and spatial audio .
You can have all this for 279 euros in the official store.
The Airpods Max
In December 2020, Apple tried to raise the level and launch its commitment to headband headphones aimed at a music-loving, almost professional audience that does not care about money.
Whether they are worth it or not, or if for the 629 euros they are worth there are better alternatives, it is going to be an almost impossible debate to close.
The headphones do an excellent job of pumping out sound and canceling noise , to each their own. The design is also relatively comfortable.
Let’s see, they weigh 386 grams no less and they are noticeable over time. However, it is also true that Apple engineers have done a great job with the headband, which distributes weight very well and is much more comfortable than most headphones of this type.
The same with the side pads, very good. What we no longer know is what they were thinking when they designed that headphone case that, frankly, not even Apple is going to be able to make fashionable with such a design.
In short, excellent headphones, exceptional noise cancellation, very good transparency mode and minimalist Apple design. But you pay for all that, so you get top-of-the-range headphones (without going into professional headphones, of course), but they are not a bargain.
As you can see, the Apple Airpods form another line of products that have managed to place among the most desired by music lovers and private users who buy the eternal story that Apple sells: if you use ours, you will belong to the group of the popular ones in the institute .
Of course, you will never make a bad purchase if you decide on Airpods of any type. They are very good quality products, especially after the improvement of that first generation that did not measure up in sound, but you will pay for it. As always with Apple.
