The new AirPods have better performance, 50% more talktime, faster connect times, and hands-free Siri.
Apple says its new H1 chip in the new AirPods is developed specifically for headphones, and "delivers performance efficiencies, faster connect times, more talk time and the convenience of hands-free "Hey Siri.”
By "50% more talktime," Apple means an extra hour of battery life during phone calls.
And as for "hands-free" Siri, it means you can summon Siri using just your voice. It's a significant change over what you had to do with the original AirPods to summon Siri, where you had to physically tap one of the pods.
The new AirPods with the wireless charging case cost $200 — $40 more than the originals.
Keep in mind, if you buy the wireless charger case you'll need to spend another $40 to $60 for a special Qi compatible wireless charging mat, if you don't already own one.