Earbuds · Model guide · Maker specs
AirPods (2nd generation)
Buy AirPods (2nd generation) only at a bargain: these 2019 open-ear buds have H1 and hands-free Hey Siri, but no noise cancelling and no water rating.
Product images
AirPods (2nd generation), from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Buy AirPods (2nd generation) only at a bargain: these 2019 open-ear buds have H1 and hands-free Hey Siri, but no noise cancelling and no water rating. Apple rates them for up to 5 hours, or more than 24 with the case, which came with Lightning ($159) or Qi wireless charging ($199). For noise cancelling or silicone tips you need an AirPods Pro; Apple now sells AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2.
Who it is for
- iPhone owners on a small budget who want basic AirPods for calls, podcasts and music. H1 handles Hey Siri hands-free, and dual beamforming microphones pick up your voice.
- People who can't get on with silicone tips. The buds rest in the ear without sealing it, in one size, at 4 grams each.
- AirPods (1st generation) owners replacing a worn-out pair. The size and battery ratings are the same, and the Wireless Charging Case (A1938) works with either generation.
- Anyone who charges on a Qi pad, if the pair comes with the Wireless Charging Case: it takes any Qi-certified charger as well as a Lightning cable.
Who should skip it
- Commuters and flyers who want quiet. There's no noise cancelling, no Transparency mode and no silicone tips to seal your ears; that's what AirPods Pro is for.
- Runners and gym-goers who want a sweat rating. AirPods (3rd generation) is rated IPX4 and adds Personalized Spatial Audio.
- Android users. The buds pair over Bluetooth, but Apple says functionality is limited on non-Apple devices, and Hey Siri and the settings live on iPhone.
- Anyone who needs Hearing Aid, Hearing Test or Hearing Protection. Apple's hearing features start with AirPods Pro 2.
What sets it apart
- The H1 chip and hands-free Hey Siri. AirPods (1st generation) runs on W1 and needs a double-tap to wake Siri.
- Up to 5 hours of listening and more than 24 hours with either case; 15 minutes in the case buys up to 3 hours.
- A choice of case: $159 with the Lightning Charging Case or $199 with the Wireless Charging Case, which also charges on Qi-certified pads.
- Bluetooth 5.0 and automatic switching between your Apple devices on the same Apple Account.
Caveats
- Both cases charge over Lightning, and the cable in the box is Lightning to USB-A.
- One size and no tips, so if the shape doesn't suit your ears there's nothing to adjust.
- Apple no longer sells them, so any pair now comes from another seller.
Key specs
In the same order on every earbuds page, so you can compare pairs.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Open-ear, long stem; no silicone tips | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Fit and tips | One size; no ear tips in the box | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Chip | H1 headphone chip | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Active noise cancellation | No | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Transparency mode | No | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Hearing features | None; Hearing Aid, Hearing Test and Hearing Protection start with AirPods Pro 2 | Apple AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro 2 tech specs |
| Battery, buds | Up to 5 hours of listening per charge | Apple AirPods 2 tech specsApple tested in February 2019 with 256 kbps AAC tracks at 50% volume on an iPhone Xs Max. |
| Battery, with case | More than 24 hours of listening with either case | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Charging | Lightning on both cases; 15 minutes in the case gives up to 3 hours of listening; Lightning to USB-A cable in the box | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Wireless charging | Wireless Charging Case only: Qi-certified chargers or Lightning. The Lightning Charging Case has no wireless charging. | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Microphones | Dual beamforming microphones | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Controls | Double-tap to play, skip forward or answer a call; Hey Siri by voice | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Device switching | Automatic switching between Apple devices on the same Apple Account; not Android-style two-device multipoint | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Sensors | Dual beamforming microphones; dual optical sensors; motion-detecting accelerometer; speech-detecting accelerometer | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Weight, one bud | 4 g (0.14 oz) | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Weight, case | 38.2 g (1.35 oz), Lightning or Wireless Charging Case | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Size, one bud | 40.5 × 16.5 × 18.0 mm (H × W × D) | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Size, case | 53.5 × 44.3 × 21.3 mm (H × W × D) | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Finishes | White | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Phone and OS compatibility | Full features with the latest iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS and tvOS; works as Bluetooth headphones with earlier Apple software and non-Apple devices, with limited features | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Find My and UWB | Not listed: Find My, a U1 chip, a case speaker or a lanyard loop | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| App and firmware | iOS Settings, no separate app; H1 firmware arrives with Apple software updates | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| US price at launch | $159 with Lightning Charging Case; $199 with Wireless Charging Case (US, 2019) | Apple Newsroom, 2019-03-20Apple Newsroom, 20 March 2019. |
| Price band | Midrange true-wireless ($150–$200 at US launch) | Based on Apple's $159 and $199 launch prices |
| Announced | 20 March 2019 | Apple Newsroom; Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Availability | Discontinued; as of 19 September 2026 Apple sells AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2, and its compare page still lists AirPods (2nd generation) | Apple AirPods compare; Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
AirPods (2nd generation) extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning vs Wireless Charging Case | Lightning Charging Case: Lightning only. Wireless Charging Case: Qi-certified chargers or Lightning. Apple gives one size and weight for both (38.2 g). | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Model numbers | AirPods (2nd generation), introduced 2019: buds A2032 and A2031; Lightning Charging Case A1602 (introduced 2016 with the 1st generation); Wireless Charging Case A1938 (2019), which also works with AirPods (1st generation) | Apple, Identify your AirPods |
| In the box | AirPods (2nd generation); Lightning Charging Case or Wireless Charging Case; Lightning to USB-A cable; documentation. No ear tips. | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
| Hey Siri | Hands-free Hey Siri; AirPods (1st generation) needs a double-tap to activate Siri | Apple AirPods 2 and AirPods (1st generation) tech specs |
| Accessibility | Live Listen, Headphone levels, Headphone Accommodations | Apple AirPods 2 tech specs |
Apple announced AirPods (2nd generation) on 20 March 2019 as an update to the first AirPods rather than a redesign. The long stem, the one-size, tip-free fit and the battery ratings stayed. The W1 chip gave way to H1, which brought hands-free Hey Siri, and a Wireless Charging Case joined the Lightning one.
Fit and controls
Each bud is 40.5mm tall and weighs 4 grams, with no silicone tip, so it rests in your ear instead of sealing it, in one size for everyone. A double-tap plays, skips forward or answers a call, and Hey Siri handles the rest by voice.
AirPods (3rd generation), from 2021, shortened the bud to 30.79 × 18.26 × 19.21 mm, against 40.5 × 16.5 × 18.0 mm here, put on a little weight at 4.28 grams, and swapped the double-tap for a force sensor. If you’re deciding between an open fit and a sealed one, AirPods 2 vs AirPods Pro sets this pair against the first Pro.
Battery and charging cases
| Mode | AirPods (2nd generation) |
|---|---|
| Listening | Up to 5 hours |
| With either case | More than 24 hours |
| 15 minutes in the case | Up to 3 hours |
By our arithmetic, that quick charge runs at the same rate as AirPods (3rd generation), which Apple rates at about an hour from 5 minutes in the case.
The Wireless Charging Case adds Qi charging to the Lightning port, so it can sit on any Qi-certified pad. Apple lists both cases at 53.5 × 44.3 × 21.3 mm and 38.2 grams with AirPods 2, but gives 40 grams for the Wireless Charging Case when it’s sold on its own.
iPhone features, Bluetooth and calls
These are iPhone earbuds first. They switch automatically between devices signed in to the same Apple Account, their settings live in iOS rather than an app, and firmware arrives with Apple’s software updates. Bluetooth is version 5.0, and the only codec Apple mentions is the 256 kbps AAC its battery tests used.
Calls use dual beamforming microphones, and a speech-detecting accelerometer senses when you’re talking. In accessibility settings you get Live Listen, Headphone levels and Headphone Accommodations.
Model numbers
| Version | Bud models | Case model | Case charging |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Lightning Charging Case | A2032, A2031 | A1602 (the 2016 case design) | Lightning |
| With Wireless Charging Case | A2032, A2031 | A1938 (2019) | Qi or Lightning |
Price
AirPods (2nd generation) launched in the US at $159 with the Lightning Charging Case and $199 with the Wireless Charging Case. What a pair is worth now depends on its condition and the seller, so check before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Newsroom — Apple introduces the new AirPods — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — AirPods 2 tech specs (111856) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — Identify your AirPods (109525) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — AirPods (2 and earlier) Wireless Charging Case (111860) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — AirPods compare — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Do AirPods (2nd generation) have noise cancelling?
No. There's no Active Noise Cancellation and no Transparency mode, and without silicone tips the buds don't seal your ears. For any of that you need an AirPods Pro; Apple's current one is AirPods Pro 3.
Are AirPods (2nd generation) sweat resistant?
Not officially. Apple gives them no IP rating, for the buds or the case, so there's no sweat or water protection to count on. AirPods (3rd generation) is rated IPX4.
What changed from AirPods (1st generation)?
Mainly the chip. H1 replaces W1, so you can say Hey Siri instead of double-tapping, and Apple lists Bluetooth 5.0. The buds are the same size and weight with the same battery ratings, and the case is listed at 38.2 grams against the original's 38.
Should I get the Lightning case or the Wireless Charging Case?
Get the Wireless Charging Case if you already charge on a Qi pad; otherwise the Lightning case does the same job. At launch the pair cost $199 with the wireless case and $159 with the Lightning one. Both still charge over a Lightning cable, and both are rated for more than 24 hours of listening.
Do AirPods (2nd generation) work with Android phones?
Yes, as plain Bluetooth headphones. You lose Hey Siri, automatic switching between Apple devices and the iOS settings, which is what Apple means by limited functionality on other devices.
How do I know a used pair is AirPods (2nd generation)?
Look at the buds' model numbers: A2032 and A2031. The Lightning Charging Case, A1602, is the same model the first AirPods came with, so the case alone won't settle it; the Wireless Charging Case is A1938.
Official product page: AirPods (2nd generation). Tech specs: AirPods (2nd generation) specs.