The Apple Airpods

By: Pase Osmanovic

City University of New York, The City College of New York, The Grove School of Engineering

ENGL 21007: Writing for Engineering

Professor Julia Brown

March 19, 2024

Table of Contents

• 1)Definition…………………………………………………………3
• 2)Overview…………………………………………………………3
• 3)Components/Explanation………………………………………3-5
• 4)Visuals…………………………………….……………………5-6
• 4)Conclusion……………………………………………………….6
• 5)References…………………………………………………..……7

Definition

            The Apple Airpod is a popular wireless earbud used by millions of people to this day. It was designed by apple, with the intent to make a new kind of Bluetooth wireless earbuds with style to it. The overall function of the airpods is to be used like any other kind of headphones, to listen as well as communicate with them. The difference between airpods to regular headphones is it can connect to any device, most likely a phone, using Bluetooth which is just wireless connection through satellites.

Overview

            Apple Airpods are wireless earbuds used to connect to a device to be able to listen and communicate. Airpods are tiny, measurements coming in at 1.21 inches tall and 0.72 inches wide. They are very lightweight like a feather with a total weight of 0.15 ounces. They have a rounded and slightly angled earbud shape. They are made of plastic whilst the inside of the airpods is metal. Apple Airpods only come in the color white with a clear finish on them. Airpods come with their own case, which is also made of plastic with a sleek metallic finish to them.

Components

            The main components of the Apple Airpod:

• H1 Headphone chip: the brain of the Apple Airpod
• Dialog Semiconductor: flash memory just like a hard drive to store information.
• Audio Codec: the audio chip connected to the speakers to be able to give audio.

• Battery : used to give power to the Apple Airpods and be able to recharge

Picture above is what the battery inside the Apple Airpod looks like

– Microphone: used for communications

– Speaker: which is connected next to the chip in order for it to work

In the image above the speaker can be seen in its shape and under it the chip which helps “turn on” the speaker can be located

• Inertial sensor: one of many sensors in the Airpod to be able to communicate with the chip

Explanation

Airpods are made from plastic as well as aluminum in all their magnetic components. In the actual inside of the airpods, there are multiple parts that create the Apple Airpods. There is a battery, specifically put in the bottom of the airpod to be able to recharge easily when put in its charging case. A microphone at the bottom as well which is surrounded by white rubber which helps protect the microphone sensitivity as it’s a very delicate piece of machinery. Next to the microphone is the noise reduction hole. The noise reduction hole allows for noise to be reduced when other outside noise levels are higher than the actual earbud noise levels. A sensor is at the top of the airpod, which again is one of the most important parts that make airpods worth it. When the sensor senses something put against it, it acknowledges it through the chips put in by apple, which is connected to a device to let it know that it is now connected all from a touch. A speaker is put on the other side of the chip, which is of course a normal part of any earbud.

            The software components of the Airpod start with the H1 headphone chip, which is basically the brain and heart of the airpod. Everything gets connected through this chip to be able to get the Apple Airpods to work. Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology, which is the newest piece of wireless that allows the airpod to connect to a satellite which then communicates with the device that wants to connect to the Apple Airpod, for instance like a phone. Sweat and water-resistant component which was not very common with the old earbuds. Active noise cancellation, one of the popular aspects of the Airpods. This aspect of the Airpod works through the sound sensors the airpod has embedded inside and the actual speaker as well. When the sensor gets the touch active as well as the outside noise which could be car sounds or people talking, it creates a sort of border which allows the noise to go directly through the speaker without any outside noise. Along with the sensors comes the touch sensors, which help with not only automatically detecting when the Airpods are encountering an ear but also detecting touch controls. Airpods allow for different controls that happen by touch, which is tapping the actual Airpod. Different controls can include activation of siri, answering a phone call, declining a phone call, pausing music or hitting play on music.

Visuals

The Airpods itself side by side front view. With this view the microphone as well as the sensor circle, which is where all the sensors are put in are seen.

Back view of the Airpods, where the other sensor circles, dust filler which helps protect the chip inside from getting dust are seen.

 The view of the speaker itself, this is the part that goes in the ear. Very faintly the speaker inside as well as see the touch sensor on the side can be seen.

Conclusion

            The Apple Airpod is not the first airpod creation that apple has created but it is also not the last. Before the Airpod generation 2, came of course generation 1, which was the first child of this whole creation. This Airpod gen 1 did not have the many aspects generation 2 has, like active noise cancellation or water resistant or the many sensors or even the new chip inside the Airpod. While both generations 1 and 2 have similar measurements, later came Airpod gen 3 which had a drastic change in appearance as well as slight change to the components. There is a price difference between all three airpods. Apple Airpods 2^nd generation (image on the left) has a price of $129 plus any tax. Apple Airpods 3^rd generation(middle image) has an increased price of $169 plus tax. Finally, Airpods Pros(image on the right) has a price of $249 plus tax. With wireless earbuds come various amounts of warnings that if failed to follow can include in fire, electric shock, injury, or damage to the Apple Airpods. Do not attempt to change the battery of the Apple Airpods as they may lead to overheating and injury. Avoid heat exposure as it may cause injury. To prevent hearing damage, avoid listening at high volume levels for a long period of time. Apple Airpods present a choking hazard and/or injury to small children as it’s recommended to keep them away from small kids. Lastly, electrostatic shock can be causing injury if used in air that is very dry or if the Apple Airpods are touched by ungrounded metal objects.

Overall, with these creations, Apple Airpod 2^nd generation 2 was a popular wireless earbud that Apple has created. Its simple look yet complicated components made a drastic change in earbuds or headphones in general for a long time.

References

AirPods (3rd generation) – Technical Specifications. (n.d.). Apple. https://www.apple.com/airpods-3rd-generation/specs/

Apple AirPods 2 In-Depth Teardown Review by 52AUDIO. (2019, May 14). Chargerlab. https://www.chargerlab.com/apple-airpod-2-in-depth-teardown-review/#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20semi%2Dcircle

Airpods 2 teardown. iFixit. (2022, April 28). https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/AirPods+2+Teardown/121471#s233970