Headphones and earbuds · Apple
Owners keep their AirPods 2 for a fit their ears accept and sound they rate highly, often returning to them after newer AirPods hurt or slipped out, even as aging batteries shorten.
Fit is clear praise. Several owners say the AirPods 2 sit comfortably in their ears where the AirPods 3, the Pro models or the newer generations caused pain or would not stay in, and some went back to the AirPods 2 for that reason.
Battery life is a clear complaint. Owners of older pairs say they now last around an hour or under two hours, sometimes with one bud fading faster than the other, and one says theirs barely hold a charge at all.
AirPods 2 (AirPods 2nd generation) are Apple's wireless earbuds. They sit loosely in the ear and come in a small charging case. They suit people who want simple wireless earbuds for music and calls, especially with an iPhone.
| Type | Wireless earbuds with charging case |
|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | |
| Battery life | Up to 5 hours listening per charge; more than 24 hours with the case |
| Charging | Lightning Charging Case or Wireless Charging Case (works with Qi-certified chargers); 15 minutes in case gives up to 3 hours listening |
| Bluetooth and codecs | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Weight | 4 g (0.14 oz) each earbud; case 38.2 g (1.35 oz) |
| Water resistance | |
| Warranty |
From the maker's spec page, checked October 8, 2026. A blank row means the maker does not state it.
With 5 hours per charge, they last a long flight or a full morning of listening before they go back in the case. The case holds enough power to recharge them several times, which comes to more than a day of listening. If they run out, 15 minutes in the case gets you about 3 more hours. Apple gives no water rating for this model, so keep them away from water and heavy sweat.
Newer model
AirPods 5 replaces this one. AirPods 5 add active noise cancelling, which cuts down outside sound, and they use a USB-C case instead of Lightning. They are rated IP57 against dust, sweat and water, and use newer Bluetooth 5.3. Their battery lasts about 5 to 7 hours per charge, depending on the model and whether noise cancelling is on, but the case holds less in total (20 to 22 hours).
Pick up to three. You get a page with just those, side by side, on the subjects owners raised.
The thing that keeps people attached is how the AirPods 2 sit in the ear. Owners who tried later models describe going back to their old pair, and some wish they had bought spares before Apple stopped making them. Sound holds up well for them too. One owner keeps buying newer AirPods hoping to replace their 2s and has not yet found a pair that sounds better to them, and another found a rival set slightly bassier and a touch lower in quality by comparison. One owner liked the open design for walking outside or staying aware of roommates, with no settings to change and no silicone tips slipping out.
On comfort taken alone, owners are divided. Some call the AirPods 2 their favourite and the most comfortable pair they have owned, while another finds silicone tips more comfortable. The open design also means no noise cancellation, and one owner who moved to the AirPods 4 with noise cancelling was very pleased with the upgrade. Living with an older pair has meant working around the battery: keeping a newer set as a backup, or in one case going back to wired EarPods to stop worrying about charge.
Apart from the battery, the AirPods 2 get credit for staying out of trouble. One owner says theirs have worked without any problems for a very long time. Others compared them with newer replacements that had faults (one bud disconnecting, hissing, volume dropping in one ear, a side that would not charge) and returned those to go back to the AirPods 2.
What wears out is the battery, and on older pairs it often goes unevenly, with one bud fading first. Owners deal with it by buying a newer model as a second pair or switching to wired earphones. Long-term accounts here are thin: only a few owners spoke directly about reliability, so treat this as an early picture rather than a settled one.
From 10 owner accounts that said how long they have had it. Own one? Add how long yours has lasted.
Counted from the owners who raised each subject, not from everyone. A subject is judged once at least 4 owners raise it.
18 more subjects came up from fewer than 4 owners each, which is not enough for a fair reading. To see how it stacks up, compare it with another machine.
The same owner, asked again at each point. Fills in as owners answer.
Two questions: how long you have had it, and anything you would like to say about it. Then we ask again as it ages. This helps our mission.
More in headphones and earbuds: Sennheiser Momentum 4, Sony XM6, Sennheiser M5.
Among the 10 owner accounts here that gave a duration, 1 described a failure. Parts named most: lost/slipped out of pocket.
Before you buy one used, ask the seller: how old it is, whether it was ever repaired and by whom, and whether any of the parts above have been replaced. Ask to see it run. A receipt tells you the warranty start date; most makers honour the term only for the first owner.
Public discussions we read and summarised in our own words. Nothing here was submitted to Still Kicks.
Counted from public accounts by people who said they own it, and summarised by Still Kicks in its own words. Not a manufacturer claim, a lab test or an estimate.
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