Excellent

Apple seems to be doing this a lot lately: Taking an already excellent, hugely successful product like the iPhone ($899 at Amazon) -- or in this the case, the AirPods ($160 at Walmart) -- and offering little in the way of external alterations but updating its internals, enhancing the device but not fundamentally changing it.

The new AirPods are an incremental upgrade to an already excellent, fully wireless headphone, but sound quality, design and fit are basically the same.

The second-generation AirPods add a couple of small but key improvements to the original, including always-on voice recognition and a wireless charging case option. They're a top-notch headset for making calls, indoors and out. Apple's new H1 chip also allows for faster connections with all of your Apple devices, rock solid wireless connectivity, and an hour more talk time.

No design changes to help them fit more ears securely; their sound hasn't improved, and their open design allows for a lot of ambient noise to leak in.

Strong Bluetooth connection; Great battery life; W1 chip is the future of wireless headphones;

Sound quality not much better than average; Don't fit in all ear types; Design isn't for everyone;

Brilliant, transformative wireless tech; Very decent sound; Awesomely neat, battery-boosting carry case; Amazingly lightweight, compact and comfortable for those with average ears;

Non-adjustable size and shape means they won’t fit everyone; Attention-grabbing design, and generally not in a good way; Easily lost and expensive to replace; Siri isn’t yet a good replacement for buttons;

Clumsy cables are just not in fashion when it comes to earbuds. Apple’s ‘fully wireless’ AirPods were launched over 2 years ago, and its trademark white ‘ear-pegs’ are now often seen sticking out of many a commuter or gym-goer’s ears.

A wireless change option for those that want it, Rock solid wireless connectivity, Very easy to set up and use with Apple devices

Still on the pricy side

The second-gen AirPods are a great iterative upgrade, offering improved connection speed, talk time and Hey Siri support, although a lack of improvements in the audio department will leave audiophiles wanting more.

Smarts tailored to iOS users, Comfortable to wear, Incredible beamforming mic technology

Doesn’t fit all ears perfectly, No custom eartips, Mid-range audio quality

The Apple AirPods 2nd Gen are very good for sports. Their one-size-fits-all design is fairly comfortable, but it isn’t the most stable for everyone. How they fit greatly depends on the size and shape of your ear.

Great build quality., Fast charging time., Unique and distinguishable design., Very light and portable.

Poor noise isolation., Limited control scheme., Bass delivery varies significantly across users.

When it comes down to it, there's not a big difference between the first and second generation AirPods. Talk time, improved connection speed, and Hey Siri are the headlining features, and to some, they won't mean all that much.

Battery life, Long range, quick pairing, Wireless charging optional

Wireless charging is going to cost you

It’s raining cats and dogs here in New York, with even a few hamsters coming down in the mix. So I’m holed up in the MajorHiFi Review Headquarters, checking out the new Apple Airpods 2. Priced at $199, Apple’s newest wireless in-ear headphones won’t completely destroy your wallet.

I think the AirPods offer one of the most convenient and unobtrusive ways to listen to music with Bluetooth earbuds – they just work. Yes, there are many other cheaper truly wireless earbuds out there, but the AirPods have set a standard for the experience that truly wireless earbuds should offer.