Apple AirPods (1st Gen, 2016)

2165 reviews

Apr, 2025

Positive
usability (638)
sound (622)
comfort (216)
design (153)
size (144)

Negative
price (272)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 2165 reviews of Apple AirPods (1st Gen, 2016). The average rating for this product is 4.7/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Headphones for all reviews. Views about the size and design are overall positive. The comfort and sound also get good feedback, whereas many are critical about the price.

usability, sound, comfort, design, size

price

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Headphones the Apple AirPods (1st Gen, 2016) is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 88/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 2165 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(74% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (23% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews (2% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews (1% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (1% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

usability
Show positive (92%)Show negative (8%)(Show all)

sound
Show positive (93%)Show negative (7%)(Show all)

price
Show positive (31%)Show negative (69%)(Show all)

comfort
Show positive (86%)Show negative (14%)(Show all)

design
Show positive (91%)Show negative (9%)(Show all)

More features

Showing 1236 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Disclaimer:

Below is a list of reviews for this or similar products. If you think this grouping is wrong please click here to flag.
Read more on our FAQ’s page.

Showing 1 - 10 of 1236 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (927)

Expert review by (engadget.com)

Bragi's 'Headphone' takes on Apple's AirPods

Bragi's back with another pair of all wireless earbuds, and they're definitely worth a look.

Nov, 2016

Read the full review

Expert review by (engadget.com)

Apple The bottom line: Our quick verdict on Apple's AirPods

With Apple kissing the standard headphone jack goodbye, it's hoping people will buy these completely wireless earbuds instead. They're elegant in some ways, with a simple pairing process and good voice-call quality. It's too bad that Apple otherwise...

Dead-simple to set up ; Siri and calls work very well ; Solid battery life

Controls aren't flexible enough ; Mediocre audio quality ; EarPods-inspired design isn't for everyone

Sep, 2016

Read the full review

Expert review by : Caleb Denison (digitaltrends.com)

Apple AirPods review

Rock-solid wireless reliability, range ; Solid battery life ; Fast, compact charging case ; Independent earbud operation ; Replacement parts available

Not suitable for fitness activity ; Average sound quality ; Expensive replacement parts

Apple’s AirPods are among the best completely wire-free earbuds available today. Their flawlessly stable wireless connection and range alone still puts them ahead of much of the competition. That said, they are no longer the kings of the court in terms...

Read the full review

Expert review by : Vanessa Hand Orellana, (cnet.com)

AirPods vs. Powerbeats Pro: The best wireless earphones are…

We tested out the second-gen AirPods alongside Apple's new wireless Powerbeats Pro. Here's what we liked and didn't like from each one.

Jun, 2019

Read the full review

Expert review by : David Carnoy (cnet.com)

Apple AirPods updated review: Getting better with age

Apple's AirPods still aren't perfect, but a series of small software upgrades have made them better.

The ultra-lightweight Apple AirPods are fully wireless headphones that offer a reliable wireless connection, effortless pairing with Apple devices, decent sonics and good call quality. The included compact charging case quickly charges the buds. You...

Will fit more securely in some ears than others. Their open design allows for a lot of ambient noise to leak in. Similarly priced wireless models deliver better sound. And yes, they still look kinda dorky.

Look past their offbeat design and you'll find that Apple AirPods' compact size and high convenience factor are a winning combination.

Nov, 2017

Read the full review

Expert review by : David Pierce (wired.com)

AirPods

Apple's new wireless headphones aren't for the iPhone 7. They're for Siri.

Apr, 2017

Read the full review

Expert review by : Tim Gideon (pcmag.com)

Apple AirPods

The Apple AirPods feel like a big step for wireless in-ear audio—but it's more about innovations and features and less about audio performance.

Clear audio performance. Seamlessly pairs with multiple iOS devices on the same iCloud account. Carrying case doubles as backup battery.

Lack of ear canal seal means less bass response and potential ear-to-ear stereo image discrepancies. Limited onboard controls virtually require you to use Siri. In-ear fit could be more secure.

Most of the hand-wringing over the lack of a headphone jack in the iPhone 7 is misdirected—wireless audio is clearly the direction of the future. But it remains to be seen how the world will respond to this new breed of cable-free earphones. As far as...

Dec, 2016

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Chris Davies (slashgear.com)

Apple AirPods Review

Wireless headphones have been ripe for a reboot for years now, but no contenders for the crown have divided opinion quite like Apple's AirPods. Revealed alongside the iPhone 7, the fully-wireless earbuds were intended to salve the pain of losing the...

Pairing and connecting process is best-in-class ; Solid battery life ; Convenience and speed of charging case ; Lightweight and comfortable

Reliance on Siri ; Third-party music apps lack deep control Apple Music enjoys ; No "Find my AirPods" tracking system ; Audio quality on par with free EarPods

Dec, 2016

Read the full review

Expert review by : Sam Vafaei , Marc Henney, Jean-Christophe Lamontag (rtings.com)

Apple AirPods Wireless HEADPHONES

The Apple AirPods are decent-sounding truly wireless earbuds with a sturdy and stylish design. They're compact, breathable and more stable than the making them a suitable option for sports. However, getting a tight fit may vary from person to person....

Great build quality. ; Amazingly portable design. ; Stable fit.

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

Feb, 2018

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Joe M. (phonearena.com)

Apple AirPods Review

At Apple's September keynote event that took place a few months ago, there were a few controversial announcements that took place. The iPhone 7's familiar design and the removal of its 3.5mm headphone jack caused for quite a bit of uproar, and along...

Minimalistic design ; Comfortable to wear ; Ridiculously easy pairing process ; Gesture controls work well ; Audio is clear and surprisingly punchy ; Battery life is incredible for headphones this small ; Price is competitive against similar gadgets

One-size-fits-all design won’t fit everyone’s ears perfectly ; Limited gesture controls

Apple’s AirPods certainly may be one of the more controversial products that the company released this year, but after spending some good quality time with them, they just might be one of my favorite gadgets of 2016.

Dec, 2016

Read the full review