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Lead
AirPods are wireless Bluetooth earbuds created by Apple. They were first released on December 13, 2016, with a 2nd generation released in 2019 and the premium AirPods Pro released later that year. Within two years, they became Apple’s most popular accessory, turning into a critical success and viral sensation.

In addition to playing audio, AirPods feature a built-in microphone that filters out background noise, which allows 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.

On March 20, 2019, Apple released the 2nd generation AirPods, which feature the H1 chip, longer talk time, and hands-free "Hey Siri" support. An optional wireless charging case was added in the offerings.

1st generation
Apple announced the 1st generation AirPods on September 7, 2016 at an Apple Special Event alongside the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2. Apple originally planned to release the AirPods in late October, but delayed the release date. On December 13, 2016, Apple began taking online orders for AirPods. They became available at Apple Stores, Apple Authorized Resellers, and select carriers on December 20, 2016.

AirPods contain a proprietary Apple W1 SoC processor which helps optimize battery use and processes the Bluetooth 4.2 connection as well as audio connection. The advanced connectivity functions of the W1 chip require devices to run on iOS 10, macOS Sierra, watchOS 3, or later. AirPods can also function as standard Bluetooth headphones when connected to any device that supports Bluetooth 4.0 or higher, including Windows laptops Android devices.

There are two microphones in each AirPod, one at ear level, facing outward, and another at the bottom of the stem. Each AirPod weighs 0.14 oz (4 g), and its charging case weighs 1.34 oz (38 g). AirPods hold a charge of around five hours, and charging them for fifteen minutes in the case gives three hours of listening time. The charging case provides 24 hours of total usage. During a complete dismantling, each AirPod was found to contain a 93 milliwatt hour battery in its stem, while the charging case contains a 1.52 watt hour or 398 mAh at 3.81 V battery.

The 1st generation AirPods were discontinued on March 20, 2019 after the 2nd generation was released.

2nd generation
Apple announced 2nd generation AirPods on March 20, 2019. They are the same design as the first generation, but have updated features. 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.“ Announce Messages with Siri” was added in iOS 13.2, which allows Siri to dictate and reply to text messages.

The 2nd generation AirPods case supports wireless charging. This was achieved by moving the charging indicator LED to the exterior of the case. The Wireless Charging Case was initially announced in September 2017 alongside Apple’s AirPower charging mat, but was delayed by AirPower's protracted development and eventual cancellation. Because the 2nd generation AirPods are the same shape as the 1st generation, they can be purchased with the same charging case as the 1st generation, without wireless charging capabilities, for $159. Or, for an additional $40, 2nd generation AirPods can be purchased 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.

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.

The 1st AirPods have full functionality with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models with iOS 10 or later, Apple Watch models with watchOS 3 or later, and Mac models with macOS Sierra or later.

The 2nd AirPods are fully 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. The replacement of one or both AirPods or the charging case is $29 each with AppleCare+, and $89 each without AppleCare+. Apple offers free battery servicing with AppleCare+, or $49 each battery without AppleCare+, however this is just a replacement service as AirPods batteries cannot be removed.

AirPods contain upgradeable firmware. Its original firmware was 3.3.1.In February 2017, Apple released 3.5.1, 3.7.2 in May 2017 , and then 6.3.2 on March 26, 2019. 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.

Sales
Analysts estimate Apple sold between 14 million and 16 million AirPods in 2017. In 2018 AirPods were Apple's most popular accessory product, with 35 million units sold. 60 million units were sold in 2019. Analysts estimate AirPods make up 60% of the global wireless headphone market and that Apple’s entire Wearables products (Apple Watch, AirPods, and AirPods Pro) “is now bigger than 60% of the companies in the Fortune 500”. An estimated 5-7% of Apple's revenue from AirPods comes from replacement earbuds and cases.

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." Initially mocked by many for their unfamiliar design (including CNN asking "Would people actually wear these?" in 2016), their popularity grew rapidly over the years and they were voted the most popular "hearable" brand of 2019.

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 at $200 and Bragi Dash at $299) and remain competitively priced with similar products from other major brands.

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. In response, Apple upgraded the AirPods' firmware to version 3.5.1, which addressed connectivity and battery drain problems.

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. As mentioned previously, Apple offers "battery service" to combat this, but this is actually a replacement program as batteries in AirPods cannot be removed.

Out of over 60,000 reviews on Amazon, Apple’s AirPods received an average rating of 4.6/5. The highest rated features include the sound quality (4.7/5) and battery life (4.6/5), while the lowest rated features include durability (4.3/5), noise cancellation (4.2/5), and value for money (4.2/5).

As for sound quality, SoundGuys gives the AirPods a rating of 7.3/10 (with users giving 6.3/10), but they admit that consumers likely would not buy AirPods if they were looking for the best sound quality earphones.

Cultural Phenomenon
At an Apple earnings call, Tim Cook, current CEO of Apple, called AirPods “nothing less than a cultural phenomenon.” AirPods had become a viral sensation with memes circulating across the internet about its appearance and its relation to the removal of the headphone jack in iPhones. However, as time wore on, AirPods became known as a “flex”, or a status symbol.

Because AirPods can easily be kept in for long periods of time, AirPods have also had an effect on how people interact with each other. Having earphones in is generally perceived as a “do not disturb” signal, and some AirPod users use this fact to strategically avoid awkward small talk. But in the collaborative workplace, constant use of AirPods has sometimes been interpreted as a sign of disrespect to fellow co-workers, causing conflict in the office. A college professor has also lamented that AirPods have decreased students’ daily social interactions.

Competition
New AirPods from Apple can cost from $159.00 to $199.00. Many music listeners suggest that there are better options for wireless earphones based on quality and cost. One of Apple's biggest competitors is Samsung. Samsung has wireless earbuds that are very similar to AirPods. Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus are a little heavier than AirPods, weighing 0.22 oz, but have the capacity to hold up to a 22 hour battery life with its charging case. The cost of Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is slightly cheaper than AirPods at $149.99.

Another highly acclaimed brand of headphones is Beats by Dre. The Powerbeats Pro wireless earbuds are “high-performance workout earphones” that have qualities such as autoplay and a feature to decline phone calls on the earphones themselves. Powerbeats Pro are water resistant with a charge of up to nine hours. Their design is specifically created for sweat and water resistance. These earbuds are $249.95, which is higher than AirPods but similar in price to AirPods Pro ($249).

An inexpensive alternative to AirPods are the Andore White Bluetooth Earbuds. They can be found on Amazon for as low as $30 with a charging case included. They are advertised as having a long battery life, however users claim they run large and fit loosely and therefore are not intended for exercise use. Furthermore there are more problems including the earbuds falling out, low sound quality and often bluetooth connectivity issues.