Always speaking in terms of quality-price ratio, I personally believe that in this price range you can find something better! It is a solid choice if you have Apple devices and it offers a wide range of features that make your daily life easier. Of course, they also work on Android-Windows with limited functionalities, and don't make the mistake of buying them used because 99% of the time you will end up with non-authentic ones that have nothing to do with the originals.
1) Sound quality, Codec, Compatibility: The 2nd generation Airpods do not have any magical uniqueness in sound quality; after listening to several cheaper headphones, such as those from the Huawei series, I can't say that the sound quality impressed me. The Airpods offer a Neutral Balanced sound experience this year with slightly increased bass compared to the previous model. Thanks to their smart design, the Soundstage is quite wide for TWS. What I personally don't like is the tuning in the 370-650Hz frequencies; the low frequencies are quite good, the boost in the bass is at smooth levels and is quite pleasant if you are not a fan of high bass. The mids are quite elevated, the vocals are somewhat thin, and they lack a lot of extension. The highs sound slightly sparkly, the SPL of the headphones is around 97dB, and the volume is okay. Regarding the codec, the headphones play in AAC, which is fine if you listen to music, for example, from Spotify because it is compressed anyway. However, we are in 2023, and other headphones offer LDAC. The connectivity is excellent; however, the headphones do not have Multipoint Pairing to switch seamlessly with my laptop, which bothers me given how expensive these headphones are.
2) Adaptive EQ, Equal Loudness DSP, Spatial Audio, Personalized Audio: The Adaptive EQ helps the headphones adjust based on the fit they have in your ears, so it is very important to find the right eartips. Then, the more you increase the volume, the bass and treble decrease and vice versa, which solves the apparent Fletcher Munson problem. The Personalized Audio did not help me personally as it completely eliminated my ability to hear frequencies above 15K. The Spatial Audio did not excite me personally; I would prefer less reverb and not such a large increase in bass. The response in the EQ is average and requires a limiter.
3) Build quality, Design, App: Very good build quality, sturdy construction of the case. The hinge does not seem like it will break as it is metal. The headphones are okay in terms of comfort and fit; personally, they bother me after 1 hour, causing a bit of pain in my ear. If you still have a problem with this, try the Spinfit Superfine Eartips. The design of the headphones, placing meshes on the top, helps the sound travel spherically and completely into the ear, which means that, for example, the background vocals are more distinct.
4) ANC, Transparency, Features: The ANC is simply AMAZING; it is a model of how it feels to live like a deaf person. Outside on the street in a busy city with a lot of noise and traffic on the highways, you wear them and everything is eliminated, as if you have no hearing ability, like earplugs. Transparency is good but not as good as I would like based on the price; I struggle a bit to hear people and may need to remove them, especially when I’m wearing a hood or in a windy environment, because sound passes through the microphones. They have a Pause Sensor that works very well without issues; removing one earbud puts the headphones into Transparency Mode to help you hear. The headphones feature the U1 Chip, allowing you to locate them if you lose them like I do.
5) Touch Controls, Microphones, Battery: fantastic pinch control, always responsive and accurate with ease. Easy volume control with Slide, gestures are on the sides and not the back to avoid accidental presses. The microphones are crystal clear, and in most conditions, you won’t have a problem talking on the phone. The battery is excellent with long duration as long as they are played with AAC; they can last from 4 to 6 hours depending on the functions that are on. Personally, I reach 5 hours with Transparency always on.
6) Value for money: Personally, if you don’t have Apple devices, these headphones are not for you, as they are focused on making your daily life easier with user-friendly features that you won’t have on Android. The sound quality is not that great for their monetary value; you can find much better headphones like Huawei at a lower price, or prefer companies that specialize in sound, like Bose, Sennheiser.