AirPods - Wikipedia 3/2/20, 09:08

AirPods
AirPods are wireless Bluetooth earbuds created by
AirPods
Apple. They were first released on December 13, 2016
and are sold alongside the premium AirPods Pro.

In addition to playing audio, AirPods feature a built-in

microphone that filters out background noise, which
allows taking phone calls and talking to Apple's digital
assistant, Siri. Additionally, built-in accelerometers and
optical sensors can detect taps (e.g. double-tap to pause
audio) and in-ear placement, which enables automatic
pausing when they are taken out of the ears.[3]

On March 20, 2019, Apple released the second

generation AirPods, which feature the H1 chip, longer Developer Apple Inc.
talk time, and hands-free "Hey Siri" support. An
Manufacturer Foxconn, Luxshare ICT,
optional wireless charging case was added in the
and GoerTek
offerings.
Product AirPods
family

Contents Type Wireless earbuds

Release date 1st generation:
1st generation December 13, 2016
2nd generation 2nd generation:
Compatibility March 20, 2019
Support Introductory US$159.00 (1st & 2nd
Reception and criticism price gen.)
Sales US$199.00 (2nd gen.
See also with Wireless Charging
Case)
References
Discontinued 1st generation: March
External links
20, 2019
System-on- 1st generation: Apple
1st generation chip used W1
2nd generation: Apple
AirPods were announced on September 7, 2016 at an
H1
Apple Special Event alongside the iPhone 7 and Apple
Watch Series 2. Apple originally planned to release them Input AirPods (each)

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in late October,[4] but delayed the release date.[5] On Dual beam-forming

December 13, 2016, Apple began taking orders online. microphones, dual
They were available at Apple Stores, Apple Authorized optical sensors,
Resellers, and select carriers on December 20.[6][7] accelerometer[1]
Connectivity AirPods (each)
AirPods contain a proprietary Apple W1 SoC which helps Bluetooth
optimize battery use and processes the Bluetooth 4.2 Charging Case
connection as well as audio. The additional connectivity Lightning port[1]
functions of the W1 requires devices running iOS 10, Qi (Wireless Charging
macOS Sierra, watchOS 3, or later.[1] They can also Case)
function as standard Bluetooth headphones when
Current 6.8.8 G1 (September,
connected to any device that supports Bluetooth 4.0 or
firmware 2019) 2C54 G2
higher, including Windows laptops Android
[8][9][10][11] (December, 2019)[2]
devices. There are two microphones in each
AirPod, one at ear level, facing outward, and another at Dimensions AirPods (each)
the bottom of the stem.[12][13] 0.65 x 0.71 x 1.59 in
(16.5 x 18.0 x 40.5 mm)
Each AirPod weighs 0.14 oz (4 g), and its charging case Charging Case
weighs 1.34 oz (38 g). AirPods holds a charge of around 1.74 x 0.84 x 2.11 in
five hours, while charging them for fifteen minutes in (44.3 x 21.3 x 53.5
the case gives three hours of listening time. The charging mm)[1]
case provides 24 hours of total usage.[14] During a Mass AirPods (each)
teardown, each AirPod was found to contain a 93 0.14 ounces (4 g)
milliwatt hour battery in its stem, while the charging Charging Case
case contains a 1.52 watt hour or 398 mAh at 3.81 V 1.34 ounces (38 g)[1]
battery.[15]
Website www.apple.com/airpods/
They were discontinued on March 20, 2019 after the (https://www.apple.com/
second generation was released.[16] airpods/)

2nd generation
Apple announced 2nd generation AirPods on March 20, 2019.[17][18] They include an H1
processor which supports hands-free "Hey Siri", Bluetooth 5 connectivity, and Apple claims
50% more talk time and faster device connection times.[19] “Announce Messages with Siri” was
added in iOS 13.2, which allows Siri to dictate and reply to text messages.[20]

2nd generation AirPods can be purchased with the same charging case as the 1st generation, or
for an additional $40 bundled with the Wireless Charging Case, which can be used with Qi
chargers. The Wireless Charging Case can be purchased separately for $79 and is compatible
with 1st generation AirPods. It moves the charging indicator LED to the exterior of the case.[21]
The Wireless Charging Case was initially announced in September 2017 alongside the AirPower
charging mat, but was delayed by AirPower's protracted development and eventual
cancellation.[22]

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Compatibility
AirPods are compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth 4.0 or higher, including
Android devices, although certain features such as automatic switching between devices are
only available on Apple devices using iCloud.[9] AirPods have full functionality with the
following devices:[23]

iPhone 5 or newer, running iOS 10 or later

iPod Touch 6th generation or newer, running iOS 10 or later
2013 iPads (Air, Mini 2) or newer, running iOS 10 or later
Macs running macOS Sierra or later
Apple TV 4th generation or newer
Apple Watch models running watchOS 3 or later
2nd generation AirPods are compatible with devices running iOS 12.2 or later, macOS Mojave
10.14.4 or later, and watchOS 5.2 or later.

Support
Apple has a program to service batteries and purchase replacement individual AirPods and
charging cases.[24]

AirPods contain upgradeable firmware. Its original firmware was 3.3.1. In February 2017, Apple
released 3.5.1,[25] 3.7.2 in May 2017,[26] and then 6.3.2 on March 26, 2019.[27] In July 2019,
6.7.8 was released and 6.8.8 followed in September 2019. The latest firmware is 2C54 (G2).
AirPods automatically sync through Apple's iCloud service, allowing users to switch audio
sources to other supported devices connected by the same Apple ID.[28]

Reception and criticism

On announcement day, AirPods were compared to Apple's previously existing EarPods (2012–
present), with The Verge noting "They look... just like the old EarPods, with the wires cut
off."[29] Initially mocked by many for their unfamiliar design (including CNN asking "Would
people actually wear these?" in 2016),[30] their popularity grew rapidly over the years and they
were voted the most popular "hearable" brand of 2019.[36]

One criticism of AirPods is their high price (about $150); however, at launch they were actually
priced less than most "true wireless" earbuds on the market (e.g. the Samsung Gear IconX and
Bragi Dash) and remain competitively priced with similar products from other major
brands.[37] Another criticism is the perceived tendency to fall out of one's ear; however, testing
by Business Insider has shown that it is quite unlikely for this to happen during normal use for
most ear types.[38]

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Another prominent criticism was a problem that caused the charging case battery to deplete at a
rapid rate despite the AirPods not being used. Users were reporting upwards of 30% idle
discharge per day.[39] In response, Apple upgraded the AirPods' firmware to version 3.5.1,
which addressed connectivity and battery drain problems.[40]

AirPods with the sound all the way up could cause ear damage or severe injuries that could lead
to deafness. It is very much known why these incidents take place, most resulted because they
weren’t properly thought of when developing. The human ear can handle around 85 decibels
and the Apple AirPods volume ranges from 96 to 110 decibels which is more likely to cause
severe ear damage when used for a long period of time[41]. Another issue would be that wireless
technology emits Radio emission which can worsen the human EMF(electromotive force)
exposure problem[42]. If the antioxidants aren’t being balanced with the free radicals in our
body, it could damage the DNA fragmentation which could start the process of cancer[43].

The lithium-ion batteries in AirPods can see significant degradation over time, with two-year-
old sets lasting for less than half of the advertised five hours.[44][45] Apple offers "battery
service" for $49 per AirPod or case, but this is actually a replacement program as batteries in
AirPods cannot be removed.[46]

Sales
Analysts estimate Apple sold between 14 million and 16 million AirPods in 2017.[47] In 2018
AirPods were Apple's most popular accessory product, with 35 million units sold.[48][31] 15.9
million units were sold in the first half of 2019.[49] Analysts estimate AirPods make up 60% of
the global wireless headphone market.[50] An estimated 5-7% of Apple's revenue from AirPods
comes from replacement earbuds and cases.[51]

See also
AirPods Pro
Apple earbuds
Google Pixel Buds

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External links
AirPods (https://www.apple.com/airpods) – official site

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AirPods&oldid=942666647"

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