You’ve seen them everywhere. The long white stems poking out of ears on the subway, in the gym, and during every other Zoom call. It’s wild because the AirPods 2nd generation officially hit the shelves back in 2019. In tech years, that’s basically the Mesozoic era. Yet, here we are in 2026, and Apple still hasn't killed them off.
Why?
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Honestly, it’s because they’re the "old reliable" of the wireless earbud world. While the newer AirPods Pro 3 are out there measuring your heart rate and the AirPods 4 are trying to cancel noise without a silicone tip, the 2nd gen just... works. They’re simple. No frills. And for a lot of people, that’s exactly the point.
The Fit That Nobody Can Seem to Replicate
There is a very specific group of people who absolutely hate rubber ear tips. You know the ones—the silicone tips that "seal" your ear canal. For some, it feels like being underwater. For others, it’s just plain itchy.
The AirPods 2nd generation uses that classic "open" design. It just rests in the concha of your ear. It’s light. Like, "I forgot I was wearing them and almost stepped into the shower" light. Because they don't seal your ear, you can hear the world around you naturally. If you’re a runner who doesn't want to get hit by a car you didn't hear coming, or an office worker who needs to know when the boss is sneaking up behind them, this is a feature, not a bug.
But let’s be real: this fit is polarizing. If you have "non-standard" ears, these things will fly out the moment you tilt your head. I’ve seen them dropped in puddles, sewer grates, and once, memorably, a bowl of ramen. If they fit you, they’re the most comfortable buds on earth. If they don’t, they’re a $129 liability.
What’s Actually Under the Hood?
Despite being old, the tech inside isn't complete garbage. It uses the H1 chip. This was a massive jump from the W1 in the original 2016 model.
- Siri is always listening: You don't have to tap anything. Just say "Hey Siri" and ask for the weather or to text your mom.
- Switching is (mostly) seamless: If you move from your iPhone to your iPad, the H1 chip handles that handoff pretty gracefully. It’s not as fast as the H2 chip in the Pro 2 or Pro 3, but it’s rarely frustrating.
- Latency is low: Apple actually improved gaming latency by about 30% when these launched compared to the first ones.
Battery life is where you start to feel the age. You get about 5 hours of listening time on a single charge. In 2026, that’s... okay? It’s fine for a commute, but for a cross-country flight, you’ll be putting them back in the case at least twice. The case itself holds another 19 hours or so, giving you a total of 24.
The Sound Quality Reality Check
If you’re an audiophile, look away. These aren't for you.
Because there’s no seal in your ear, the bass literally leaks out. You aren't going to get that "thump" in your chest from a heavy kick drum. The mids and highs are actually quite crisp and clear, which makes them fantastic for podcasts and audiobooks. But for high-fidelity music? They’re just average.
One thing they do better than almost anyone else, though, is call quality. Those long stems? They aren't just for show. They point the beamforming microphones directly toward your mouth. I still know people who own the latest Pros but keep a pair of AirPods 2nd generation in their desk drawer specifically for phone calls because the mic clarity is just that consistent.
The Durability Problem No One Mentions
Here is the "dirty little secret" about any AirPods, but especially the older 2nd gens: they are essentially disposable.
The batteries inside these tiny stems are microscopic. Every time you charge them, the battery capacity degrades a tiny bit. After about two or three years of daily use, you’ll notice that 5-hour battery life has turned into 2 hours. Then 45 minutes. Then they die the moment you take them out of the case.
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There is no way to replace the battery. You can't repair them. When they die, they’re e-waste. This is a huge bummer for the environment and your wallet. If you’re buying a pair today, just know that you’re buying a product with a 36-month shelf life, max.
Is It Still Worth Buying in 2026?
It depends on what you're paying. If you see these for the full MSRP of $129, keep walking. You can often find the AirPods 3 or even the newer AirPods 4 on sale for close to that price, and they offer much better sound and water resistance.
Wait. I should mention that. The AirPods 2nd generation has no official water resistance rating. No IPX4. Nothing. If you’re a heavy sweater or you like running in the rain, you’re playing Russian Roulette with your hardware.
However, if you find them on sale for $79 or $89? That’s the sweet spot. At that price, they are the perfect "secondary" buds. Throw them in your gym bag. Keep them at the office. Use them as a backup for when your expensive noise-canceling ones die.
Use these if:
- You hate silicone ear tips and want an open fit.
- You spend 4 hours a day on phone calls and need a great mic.
- You’re deep in the Apple ecosystem but on a budget.
- You want something so light you forget they're there.
Skip these if:
- You travel on planes or buses often (no noise cancellation means you'll hear everything).
- You want "big" bass.
- You need sweat protection for intense workouts.
If you’ve decided to stick with the classic design, your next move should be checking your current iPhone's firmware. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the "i" next to your AirPods, and make sure you're running the latest version. Apple occasionally pushes "silent" updates that improve connection stability even for these older models. Also, grab a cheap silicone case cover—the glossy white plastic on the original case scratches if you even look at it wrong. Store them in a dedicated pocket away from your keys if you want them to stay looking decent for more than a week.