The Apple AirPods and AirPods 2 are among the bestsellers among in-ear headphones. The snow-white ear plugs in their compact charging cradle are small, light and should therefore be particularly suitable for mobile use on the go. How do the AirPods perform in the test when traveling? What are your strengths and weaknesses? We have extensively tested the little plugs for you.

Advertising / Product test.

By now she feels like every second person in her ear - the AirPods from Apple. The small white in-ear headphones stand out. They are now in their second generation. The in-ears are particularly ideal for travelers and mobile people. A set consists of the two headphones for the right and left ears as well as the charging cradle, which contains a battery and recharges the plugs after use. First of all, good conditions to provide good service on vacation. The charging cradle fits easily and inconspicuously in your trouser pocket. But how do the AirPods perform in the test when traveling?

Product details – Apple AirPods 1st generation

A quick overview

• automatic switching on and connecting
• quick setup for everyone Apple-Equipment
• double tap allows access to Siri
• maximum possible battery life via 24 with charging case
• Case allows fast charging of the earphones
• high-quality audio sound
• Devices are easy to change
• Scope of delivery: AirPods, charging case, Lightning to USB cable

Video – the legendary AirPods of the 1st generation

By downloading the video you accept the privacy policy of YouTube.
Read more

Load video

Always unlock YouTube

Buy AirPods

AirPods test – so much power in two tiny plugs?

To date, our preferred over-ear headphones have been these alone Bose QC35 II. The high-end headphones come with noise reduction and rich, balanced sounds. A great headphone for all everyday situations and especially where it is loud, i.e. on planes, in crowds and also when Sport. The noise reduction provides strong protection from the outside world. Great headphones, we still wear them every day.

But then AirPods came along. And as soon as you pull the little white plugs out of their charging case, the magic begins. The AirPods virtually automatically connect to all devices such as iPhone, iPad Pro, MacBook and even that Apple Watch. It only takes a few seconds from the time you first unpack the in-ears until rich sound comes out of the headphones. The pairing process is very simple: the charging case is opened next to the iPhone and then you simply have to wait 3-5 seconds - the AirPods are then connected to the iPhone. The technology works really smoothly in my AirPods test.

The AirPods are visually reminiscent of the wired EarPods. But that's where the common ground ends. Because the small, white headphones are full of the latest technology and sensors. Especially the W1 chip from Apple, which is also available in some models Apple Watch ensures proper performance. It creates a trouble-free connection between the headphones and the iPhone, as well as optimal battery management that allows five hours of battery life.

Overall, battery life: Considering that each headset weighs only 6 grams and is tiny, 5 hours of runtime per charge are already enormous. All you have to do is put the AirPods into the charging case for 15 minutes to use them for three hours. In this way, the AirPods last up to 24 hours if you put them in the charger in between. Also very pleasant is the charge level indicator: On request, the charge level of the AirPods and the charging case is displayed directly on the iPhone or via Siri with the question "How much battery have the AirPods still?" Communicated.

From that, the AirPods are full of sensors. A voice accelerometer can detect when the user says something. This sensor can emphasize the voice with wave-bending microphones and filter background noise. In addition, there are optical sensors and an accelerometer, which together with the W1 chip ensure that the microphone is activated on request and recognize the headphones when one or both are removed from the ear. Admittedly, this is really amazing high-tech in tiny headphones, which has always worked smoothly in our test at any time. The charging case has a Lightning connector - which in turn charges it. In this respect, the Zwischenfaszit is clear: The AirPods are incredibly sophisticated in-ear headphones - what they can, they can do well.

AirPods test - product features

AirPods 2st generation	Features
noise cancellation	Active Noise Canceling (ANC)
Audio Properties	"High quality, rich sound" (according to the manufacturer)
Sensors	Two beamforming microphones, two optical sensors, accelerometer with motion detection, accelerometer with speech recognition
Processor	H1 headphone chip
water resistance	no special protection against water and sweat
Battery life	depends heavily on usage - up to 5 hours of playback on one charge - more than 24 hours of playback with intermediate charges in the charging case - five minutes of recharging in the charging case increases the playback time by up to an hour
Weight	4 grams per earbud, 38,2 grams for the charging case
charging Case	Charging via Lightning connector or with Qi certified chargers
send email now	Bluetooth 5.0
What's in the box	AirPods wireless charging case, Lightning to USB-A cable

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• TikTok

Follow me too Xing, TripAdvisor and Threads!

Follow me on Instagram now

stick with Travel Blog Just-Wanderlust.com and @strandkind_co always up to date and just follow me on Instagram!

That's how the AirPods test themselves when they travel

Basically, the first impression is confirmed even after prolonged use: the AirPods cut a great figure both when traveling and at home. We can now understand why so many buyers are so happy with the AirPods. The sound is just fantastic. Sure, the sound is of course not comparable to high-end over-ear headphones that also use noise canceling. However, keep in mind that the Apple Headphones are tiny in-ear headphones that are also trimmed to an attractive design, the AAC sound is simply fantastic.

However, when traveling, the small earplugs face a few difficulties - and one of them concerns noise canceling. On airplanes and at the airport, for example, they hardly dampen the background noise. The situation is similar in other public transport. If you give a plug to your seat partner during a flight so that you can watch a film together on the iPad Pro, you can hardly hear anything in one ear.

In addition, there is always the risk that the plugs will slip out of your ear or hand and fall under the airplane seat. Sounds banal, but it happens quite often. In addition, the first and second generation AirPods are not fans of moisture. Problems can arise when sweating or in a travel destination with a lot of precipitation or high humidity. But that's about it for the disadvantages. Otherwise, the AirPods perform just as well as at home and are a practical companion on every trip.

We always have the Bose QC35 II over-ears with us for the airport, flights and other means of transport. This ensures peace and noise reduction in the means of transport. At the holiday destination when jogging, at the beach and by the pool, the AirPods are simply unbeatable and clearly the first choice. That's why we always take the in-ears and over-ears with us when we travel.

AirPods test – strengths and weaknesses of the small in-ear headphones

In short, the advantages of AirPods outweigh the disadvantages. We have now been using the small white plugs every day for more than 1,5 years - when traveling and at home and are still completely satisfied with the product. Below we have listed the advantages and disadvantages of the earphones.

Benefits

• the design (is a matter of taste)
• small and light
• have strong sound
• are perfect for traveling
• have long battery life (with charge case)
• are always fast at hand
• can be connected quickly

Disadvantages

• the design (is a matter of taste)
• easily fall out of the ear
• do not like moisture
• do not have active noise canceling
• occasionally bluetooth connection problems

AirPods test while exercising: jogging causes problems?

Well, we will probably come to the most important point for many users: How do the AirPods beat themselves during sports? Okay, in recent months we have seen more and more users in our fitness center putting on the white plugs and found the sight quite funny. You have to get used to the sight. But the benefit of the small, lightweight headphones outweighs clearly here. Anyone wearing the AirPods during fitness training has really made the best choice. The powerful sound of training and the great freedom that the tiny pegs allow are perfect for device training.

Things are different with endurance sports like jogging. As soon as you move a lot or jump around, the AirPods are only too happy to quit their service by simply dropping it out of their ears. Actually a perfect combination: iPhone, Apple Watch with running apps and music with the Airpods. Minimalists need not read any further here. Because there is no satisfactory solution to the problem. Athletes who don't want to do without their AirPods while jogging can use little helpers to keep the AirPods in their ears. There is a band that can be used to connect the AirPods. If one falls out of your ear, it doesn't fall to the ground, but simply dangles over your shoulder. There are also special brackets for the AirPods that you can wear while jogging so that the expensive plugs don't fall out and possibly break.

AirPods test while calling

Also a really successful function of the AirPods is the telephone in combination with the Smartphone. If you are traveling a lot with a Bluetooth headset, when you are on the phone or in the car, the AirPods are really good for you. Two wave-bundling microphones filter out the background noise when speaking, so that the other party only hears the voice of the headphone wearer. This has proven itself with us at the airport or while driving a car.

Especially when driving this is very convenient, since many people are not particularly keen to hear driving noise when making calls. The current AirPods are so good here that they are even suitable as a pure hands-free device for telephony. After several telephone calls and a detailed survey of the interlocutors, the AirPods seem to establish themselves with perfect voice quality.

AirPods Alternative – Powerbeats Pro Wireless Headphones

As already mentioned, joggers and other endurance athletes should buy accessories for the AirPods so that the plugs don't keep falling out of their ears. There are endless running accessories and numerous running apps for the iPhone. The AirPods alternative, which has exactly the same properties as the ear hook, are the Powerbeats Pro Wireless headphones, which are also made by the company Apple come. They use the new H1 chip for sound optimization and last up to 9 hours - with the charging cradle up to 24 hours. These earphones are particularly beneficial for athletes. However, the Powerbeats Pro Wireless headphones have a completely different design.

AirPods test – scratches and wear take a toll on the in-ears

The AirPods are everyday items that you will want to use every day. Scratches and other signs of wear are not there. The AirPods as well as the cargo cases have many hard-to-reach corners where impurities quickly collect. If you want to keep your headphones and charging cradle relatively clean, they should be cleaned regularly.

In addition, the AirPods are struggling with scratches. If you put the bowl loose in the bag or just put the headphones on the table, after a few weeks, there are signs of wear on the products. Scratching is quite normal and does not last in normal use.

AirPods in combination with Apple Watch use

One of the most pleasant things about AirPods is that they are so easy to use Apple Watch let connect. Anyone who has previously listened to some music or an audio book on the Apple-Smartwatch can - at least when it comes to music, audio books and telephony - leave the smartphone in your pocket. The headphones are on the Apple Watch displayed automatically and can be easily selected and connected. A cumbersome connection via Bluetooth does not have to take place. That makes everyday mobile life much easier - on the way to the office, when jogging and on the plane, the smartphone can stay in the pocket much more often.

Related Articles

AirPods test when traveling – a hit on vacation?

After the extensive test, there isn't much left to say about the AirPods. They are clearly one of our essential holiday gadgets that are always with us, just like our Mavic Air drone, travel diary and three-axis stabilizer. The AirPods are an excellent product that creates an impressive user experience primarily due to their reliability. We tested the AirPods together with the iPhone X and were really impressed. At first we were very skeptical about the strange-looking headphones. But now we no longer want to listen to music without them - the earphones have proven to be a reliable companion both when traveling, at work and during sports.

Are you using the AirPods or are you considering what to buy? What experiences have you done? Let us know in the comments.

*Affiliate links (advertising) & Amazon advertisements with affiliate links / sales by Amazon or third-party providers on the Amazon marketplace. / As an Amazon partner, we receive a small commission - you don't pay anything extra. / Product data last updated on November 25.04.2024, XNUMX / Images from the Amazon Product Advertising API / Product images are served via a privacy proxy / Disclaimer: The price shown may have increased since the last update. The actual price of the product as stated on the seller's website on Amazon.de at the time of purchase is decisive for the sale. A real-time update of the prices stated above is not technically possible.