The first generation AirPods were released in December 2016 and offer decent sound quality and a comfortable fit. They offer up to five hours of listening time on a single charge and come with a charging case that can provide an extra 24 hours of battery life. However, they lack features like noise cancellation and wireless charging.
The second generation AirPods were released in March 2019 and feature several improvements over their predecessors. They offer improved sound quality, longer battery life (up to 24 hours of listening time on a single charge), and support for wireless charging. Additionally, the second generation AirPods also feature a new H1 chip that provides improved performance and better connectivity.