AirPods Gen 2: Worth It in 2024? Review

Are AirPods Gen 2 still worth it | integraudio.com

The Apple AirPods have a plethora of generations, and with each generation, Apple tends to improve various aspects. We have seen better sounds, bass, quality, and design. But what if you don’t want to invest a huge sum of money and stick to a headphone that will still provide you with a great sound experience? That’s where the Apple AirPods Gen 2 come in.

AirPods Gen 2 are still worth buying, even if Gen 3 is generally better. AirPods Gen 2 was released in 2019, but it still has awesome battery life, connectivity, sound quality, bass, and design. Moreover, after the release of AirPods Gen 3, we can find Gen 2 at a much more affordable price.

What makes AirPods Gen 2 worth buying is their price-to-value ratio. The sound quality is great for casual listeners, and it is still a convenient Bluetooth headphone even in 2024. Like other AirPods models, the Gen 2 supports hands-free Siri support and other small features like automatic connectivity to any Apple device. 

Moreover, the H1 processing chip is still ahead of the time and provides crisp sounds with good bass. The thing about AirPods Gen 2 is the price tag. Most good noise-cancellation headphones are 300-500$, but you can get AirPods Gen 2 for as low as $129, making them such good earphones. 

Setting aside the basics, let’s dive deep into the top 5 reasons why AirPods Gen 2 is still a worthy pick. 

AirPods Gen 2: Worth It in 2024? Review - 2024 Update

Apple AirPods 2 vs. AirPods 3 – Which One Is Better?

The second and third generations of AirPods have more in common than differences. They both have the same H1 chip and beamforming microphones, excellent sound quality, and a great battery time that will last a long time. But which one is better in terms of the price-to-value ratio?

Regarding their differences, the AirPods 3 have a design much like AirPods Pro, even without the silicone tip. Hence, they fit better in the ear, making them feel pleasing and look good, thanks to the shorter design. 

The AirPods 2 always had an issue of not fitting perfectly in your ears. With AirPods 3, that was fixed and for the most part, it fits perfectly. But comparing it to the silicon insertions of AirPods Pro, these do not match. The AirPods Pro is superior in every aspect of comfort

The AirPods 3 are IPX4-rated for sweat and water resistance, and the package includes both earbuds and the Magsafe Charging Case, which is rare for Apple nowadays. The sound quality of AirPods 3 is also better than AirPods 2 since they are based on the AirPods Pro. 

AirPods 3 also have other subtle features that give it an edge over AirPods 2, but both justify their price tag with the balanced sound quality for the listeners

AirPods Gen 2: Worth It in 2024? Review - 2024 Update

How Long Does AirPods Gen 2 Last in Years?

The average lifespan of any pair of AirPods is around 2-3 years before people usually decide to upgrade or the battery starts decreasing. Time and again, the AirPods have been proven to be quite durable, high-quality, and a piece of tech that lasts a long time. 

However, lifespan is quite subjective because it depends on your usage. If you take care of your AirPods Gen 2, they can last as long as nothing tragic happens to them. However, the lithium-ion battery might deteriorate with time, which is irreversible. Ironically enough, with every charge, the battery life decreases but it’s so minimal that we can’t feel it. 

There are many ways to make your AirPods last longer like avoiding high or low temperatures, keeping it away from water, removing the case cover while charging, avoiding full AirPods discharge, using the official Apple accessories, and so on. 

On average, you can expect your AirPods Gen 2 to last for around 2-3 years

AirPods Gen 2: Worth It in 2024? Review - 2024 Update

6 Reasons Why Airpods Gen 2 Is Still a Worthy Pick

If you’re looking for an Apple earphone that will provide peak performance while not exceeding the budget, then AirPods Gen 2 will be the perfect pick. It might not have the latest sound technology, but we all know Apple’s processor technology is superior

The AirPods Gen 2 was released in 2019 with a few tweaks on top of the original AirPods Gen 1. So let’s talk about what makes them a worthy pick in 2024. 

AirPods Gen 2: Worth It in 2024? Review - 2024 Update

1. The Price Tag

Upon its release in 2019, the AirPods 2 had a good fanbase. That’s why Apple could sell the updated earphones for around $199 without a problem. However, since the release of AirPods 3, you can now get the second generation for $129 from the official Apple store.

If you hunt on Amazon or similar websites, you can buy it for even better value which is why AirPods Gen 2 is still an amazing product. The main perk of AirPods 2 is that it lets you charge the case wirelessly. But if you don’t want this perk, then AirPods Gen 2 is an ideal product for you that you can find on a budget without the wireless charger.

Moreover, talking about the $129 price tag, it’s hard to find a good competitor for the AirPods Gen 2. The OnePlus Buds Pro comes at around $130, but the  AirPods 2 feels more premium overall

The price tag which AirPods Gen 2 is at is almost unbeatable, and if you’re looking to buy it for as low as 80$, you can simply go to websites like eBay and Amazon to try your luck. 

2. Comfort

Many people judge apple too quickly for its non-silicone design with the regular AirPods. However, the product is designed in a way where it sits right in your ear canal, giving you more of a natural fit. It also feels like it’s not even present in your ear. 

However, it’s not like it’s an all-in-one solution for everyone. If you have smaller ears, silicone-tip earbuds might be better for you. But overall, from a comfort perspective, AirPods 2 get the job done quite well. 

Apple is known as the king of build quality and design. That’s exactly the case with AirPods Gen 2. Even though the case is made of plastic, it still feels premium and lightweight. The build quality is very sturdy, and it can take a beating. 

Whilmanyof people prefer the in-ear silicone buds, the AirPods 2 can still fit many people’s ears. As far as the AirPods not staying in your ears is concerned, you can get additional silicone buds and simply attach them to your AirPods. Now you have the AirPods Pro level comfort on the regular AirPods

3. Battery Life

Even though the original AirPods had great battery life, the second generation took it to another level. You can spend hours listening to music with a single charge and recharge your AirPods using the charging case. The AirPods 2 only take around 30 minutes to charge fully.

Apple claims that your AirPods Gen 2 should at least last 5 hours on a single charge. However, most people on Reddit or Quora have claimed it to be false. Our experience with AirPods Gen 2 gave us a battery time of around 4 hours. The AirPods Gen 2 has an average playback time of around 4 hours which is still quite impressive

When we compare it to the AirPods Gen 1, it seems to be a big improvement thanks to Apple’s H1 chip. But if we compare the battery life to AirPods Pro, it seems to fall short. Overall, 4-4.5 hours of battery life is still impressive and will be enough for most people looking to listen to music or call. So if you’re looking for good battery performer earbuds, the AirPods 2 will serve your needs. 

4. Secret Water Proof Design

Even though there’s no IP rating on the AirPods Gen 2, hundreds of users on Reddit and YouTube have tested their AirPods by submerging them into water. The results were shocking as AirPods Gen 2 was revealed to withstand rain, water, and dust easily.

We don’t recommend you put your AirPods through the extreme condition, but it’s just durability that makes it such a clear winner here.

5. The H1 Chip

The H1 chip was the key feature of AirPods 2. Surprisingly enough, the AirPods 3 also has the same chip, making connectivity quicker and switching between devices seamless. The H1 chip has many smart features but mainly improves connectivity between devices.

This chip is responsible for connecting AirPods, controlling the Bluetooth connection, switching between devices, providing a digital signal processor, and delivering the necessary power to amplifiers and drivers

The first generation of AirPods had a W1 chip which was later upgraded with H1 in the second generation. The H1 chip has superior connectivity speed, lower latency, and massive Bluetooth 5.0 advantages, and it also made it possible for users to use Siri using the voice command. 

For example, if you have AirPods 2 connected to the iPhone, Macbook, and iPad, the headphones will automatically connect to your device in the smartest manner possible. 

6. Sound Quality

Apple Airpods Gen 2 have excellent sound quality. However, one thing is that the low end of the sound spectrum isn’t the greatest. This is mainly because of the lack of a seal which makes the song feel towards the low and mid-side rather than giving you an overpowered bass like the AirPods Pro. 

Moreover, the mids boost the AirPods Gen 2, and the vocals feel premium. The same goes for phone calls because you will hear the crispiest and cleanest calls from these earbuds. 

3 Reasons to Avoid AirPods Gen 2 in 2024

As cool as AirPods Gen 2 might be, many users also had the same problem that happened with iPhone’s release: the lack of innovative design. AirPods 2 looked similar to the AirPods 1, which didn’t make most people upgrade. Apple AirPods Gen 2 is an amazing piece of tech, but there are some shortcomings. 

AirPods Gen 2 aren’t the perfect pair of earbuds, and they have their cons. Many people didn’t even consider it a proper upgrade at its release. 

So, let’s talk about all five reasons why you should avoid AirPods Gen 2 in 2024. 

3 Reasons to Avoid AirPods Gen 2 in 2023

  • Not Ideal for Everyone’s Ears

The biggest con of AirPods Gen 2 is its non-silicone ear tip design. Apple decided to make one-for-all-size earbuds but needed to realize that everyone is different. We have people with various ear sizes, and many reported falling earphones, causing a lot of discomforts. 

While it delivers a new listening experience, most people can’t use it in sports or gym cases. If you’re running, it will most probably fall out. If you’re in the gym, you might drop it while you’re bench pressing, which is the most annoying feeling. 

  • No ambient listening mode

Ambient listening mode quickly gained popularity after noise cancellation. While the AirPods Gen 2 have a good noise-cancellation, they lack ambient listening mode, which acts oppositely to the noise-cancellation mechanism. You can’t listen to outside noise to a superior degree with AirPods Gen 2. 

The absence of ambient listening mode might only bother a few people, but those who are specifically looking for ambient mode will be disappointed with the AirPods Gen 2

  • Wireless Charging Case Costs Extra

AirPods Gen 2 comes in two models. One supports the QI wireless charging, and the other doesn’t. If you charge all your devices wirelessly, you will have to pay extra to get the model that supports wireless charging. Since the wireless charging mode costs extra, it’s quite disappointing. 

Contrary to the simple model, you can simply charge the wireless-supported model with any QI-certified charging mat, and you will see that the LED starts blinking as soon as you put it on the mat itself. 

Final Verdict 

AirPods 2nd Gen is available for just around $129 officially from Apple, which makes it one of the best products in its range. It has all the necessary features to become a top-tier Apple headphone choice and a new audio listening experience. But is it worth it? 

AirPods 2nd Gen has great build quality, good battery life, and exceptional sound quality for its budget. Most of all, if you’re an iPhone user, you can understand the importance of having another Apple device in your ecosystem. 

If you want a good music listening experience and a great battery life, then AirPods Gen 2 is just for you. All in all, AirPods Gen 2 are still worth it in 2024.

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