Have you ever looked at your AirPods and wondered exactly which generation you own? As an Apple user myself, I‘ve been there!
Determining your specific AirPods model can actually matter for understanding battery life, charging speeds, headphones controls and other key features.
In this comprehensive tech guide, I‘ll provide insider techniques to identify whether you have AirPods 1, 2, 3 or another model. You‘ll learn:
- Visual cues that distinguish AirPods generations
- How to decode tiny model number markings
- Methods for testing functionality by model
- The evolution behind Apple‘s various AirPods versions
Follow along step-by-step to become an expert on recognizing AirPods models instantly. Let‘s investigate!
Comparing Key Specs Among AirPods Generations
First, let‘s broadly compare the release timeline and vital statistics across different AirPods:
Source: TidBITS
As this illustrates, AirPods 1 and 2 deliver fairly comparable battery life, while upgrades focused more on connectivity and convenience.
Conversely, later generations like AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2 make bigger leaps in areas like audio quality and noise cancellation.
To call out key Intel, here‘s an at-a-glance view of technical specifications by model:
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| Specifications | AirPods Gen 1 |
AirPods Gen 2 |
AirPods Gen 3 |
AirPods Pro Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | 5 hours | 5 hours | 6 hours | 6 hours |
| Charging Case | Lightning | Lightning + Wireless | Lightning/Wireless/MagSafe | Lightning/Wireless/MagSafe |
| Noise Cancellation |
None | None | Active (ANC) | Improved ANC |
| Chip | Apple W1 | Apple H1 | Apple H1 | Apple H2 |
| Release Year | 2016 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 |
Now let‘s move onto surefire physical differences you can observe…
Method 1: Check Externally for the Charging Case Light
Your first visual cue is the external charging indicator light, which Apple added on AirPods gen 2.
I‘ve diagramed where to look below:
See the glowing LED? Present outside = gen 2 or later. Absent = gen 1. Elementary!
Method 2: Scan for Wireless Charging Support
Flipping over the case reveals more clues. AirPods gen 1 cases only featured Lightning charging:
AirPods gen 2 introduced optional wireless Qi charging models, denoted by the flat bottom:
So wireless = gen 2 or 3. Lightning port only = gen 1. Got it?
Method 3: Test Special Features Like "Hey Siri"
We can also attempt to activate software features exclusive to certain models:
Hands-free "Hey Siri" Voice Control: Only supported on AirPods gen 2, 3 and AirPods Pro. Lacking on gen 1.
Spatial Audio with Head Tracking: Only on AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro models. Creates a movie theater sound experience.
If I press my AirPods and say "Hey Siri", does she wake up? If so, then I must have a post-gen 1 version. Try it yourself!
Method 4: Understand the Model Numbers
For the truly savvy, Apple marks each AirPods model with unique A-number codes:
AirPods 1st Generation
- A1523
- A1722
AirPods 2nd Generation
- A2031
- A2032
You can find these model numbers:
- Engraved on each earbud
- Inside the charging case
- On original packaging
Not the most convenient, but 100% accurate!
History: Evolution of AirPods Over Time
Getting into the backstory, Apple‘s 1st generation AirPods debuted alongside the iPhone 7 in September 2016 as a new flagship headphones offering.
Priced at $159, AirPods 1 served as a breakthrough truly wireless earbud model with dead-simple Bluetooth pairing. But they also drew some criticism:
- Limited controls lacking volume adjustment
- Bulbous external design
- Only modest audio performance
- No water resistance rating
When 2nd generation AirPods launched in March 2019, upgrades focused mainly on convenience:
- Faster connection speeds with Apple devices thanks to an H1 chip
- Optional wireless charging cases
- 1 extra hour of talk time
- Hands-free "Hey Siri" activation
In true Apple fashion, the external design went unchanged. This allowed 2nd gen AirPods to cost just $40 more for wireless charging – keeping prices largely static.
The AirPods 3 in late 2021 then delivered much bigger improvements to audio fidelity, battery life, water resistance and convenience – albeit for $179.
Meanwhile the AirPods Pro line caters specifically to noise cancellation, while AirPods Max enters over-ear headphone territory against Sony and Bose.
But wireless earbuds remain Apple‘s cash cow: according to Counterpoint Research, AirPods commanded a 35% market share of true wireless hearables globally as of Q4 2021.
Source: Creative Strategies/Counterpoint Research
As you can interpret, AirPods demand stays sky high even 5+ years post-launch – hence Apple releasing refined iterations annually.
Which AirPods Model Should You Buy in 2022?
Given constant innovation, which AirPods deliver the winning combo of features and value right now? Here‘s my tech analyst take:
- Overall: AirPods Pro 2nd Generation for best sound quality, comfort and noise canceling
- Android Users: AirPods 3rd Generation to enable spatial audio
- Budget Buy: AirPods 2nd Generation for longest support lifespan
AirPods Pro 2 earn my top recommendation based on upgraded audio drivers, 2x better noise canceling, and fun new touch controls.
For Android, I‘d suggest AirPods 3 to get the very latest Apple H1 chip and spatial audio support.
Finally, buying AirPods gen 2 in 2022 still makes sense purely for 3+ years of future software updates at just ~$120. Not bad!
FAQs
Let‘s answer some common questions about distinguishing AirPods:
Q: Why did Apple keep the same design for AirPods gen 2?
A: By retaining compatibility with existing cases and ear tips, Apple could minimize R&D costs. This allowed them to hit a $40 premium for wireless charging.
Q: Can you pair AirPods 1 with an Apple Watch?
A: Yes! All AirPods generations work seamlessly with Apple Watch just like iPhone or iPad.
Q: How do I reset my AirPods to fix connectivity issues?
A: To factory reset any AirPods, hold down the button on rear case for ~15 seconds until the light flashes amber. This will reboot to default settings.
And that‘s a wrap! Let me know down in the comments if this helped demystify your exact AirPods model once and for all!
