The new Apple AirPods still reigns supreme, albeit in its own paradise

For Rs 14,900 (and Rs 18,900 with the wireless charging case), the new AirPods are a great gadget, writes Veer Arjun Singh

It’s not snobbery. Being a member of the Apple universe is primarily a relationship of convenience, a bit like going back to your favourite five-star for the exclusivity, familiarity, quality and consistency — irrespective of the cost. 

So if you have enjoyed your time here, there’s no doubt that you should own a pair of Apple AirPods. Let’s talk about whether or not you should invest in the upgrade.

Design (4.5/5)

I haven’t yet come across an Apple user who has had complaints about the design of the wired EarPods. The AirPods (both generations) are built on the same design. Each piece weighs four grams and hangs comfortably inside ears of almost all shapes and sizes without needing a hook.

I took the new pair out for a run in the night and it had me worried like its predecessor. I slowed down more than once to check if my ears still had it when I was not playing music. It’s quite spectacular how the pair clung to my ears through the rough terrain. 

The grip is not perfect and a bit of caution is necessary to support its weightless, minimally invasive and classy design.

Performance  (4/5)

The new AirPods with their improved hardware — the H1 chip — establish a Bluetooth connection faster than before. The sound of the new AirPods has the same classic feel. I started with Tom Sawyer by Rush, which rolled beautifully with clear vocals and minimum distortion. Each pod can be assigned a task with a double tap — but only limited to play/pause, next or previous track and summoning Siri. With a double tap on the right I moved to some classic jazz. The pair carried through the nuances of all the instruments competing with Chet Baker’s trumpet during one of his last live performances. The bass is deep but it lacks the thump that governs the new sounds of hip-hop.

The AirPods are now almost perfect. Given that their functionality is limited to two double-tap function, the addition of Siri support was absolutely necessary. She (in my case) responded to her name three out of five times in a noisy environment. 

The protruding semi-sticks with mics offer the best call quality in a pair of wireless earphones in India. The new AirPods deliver five hours of audio, the charging case carries another 24 hours of extra juice and the pods charge in them in less than 30 minutes. You won’t need to charge the case more than once a week on regular use.

Overall (4.5/5)

In terms of upgrade, the new case with wireless charging that you have to pay extra for is compatible with both the old and the new AirPods. The only other new feature that comes with the second-generation AirPods is Siri support. For Rs 14,900 (and Rs 18,900 with the wireless charging case), the new AirPods are a great gadget. But they’re not a compelling upgrade even for Apple users. Android users who are not hooked to the exceptional comfort of AirPods should choose between the Galaxy Buds (Rs 9,900) and a few options from Bose and Jabra for a more feature-rich experience.

Pros

• Near-perfect design
• Great audio quality

 
Cons

• Few new features
• No volume control gesture