AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Review: Apple’s Best-Sounding Wireless Earbuds to Date
AirPods Pro 2nd Gen are a long-awaited product by many, coming on the back of the massive success of the first AirPods Pro and key enhancements in terms of sound, features, and performance. In a world dominated by wireless earbuds, Apple is yet again trying to outdo the rest by seeking perfection in both functionality and audio quality. We will discuss all aspects of the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation), including design and comfort, sound quality, battery life, noise cancellation, and overall performance.
Design and Comfort
In terms of design, Apple has remained lean and minimalist, sporting the signature Apple look, but at a better ergonomic and fitting system compared to the first generation.
a. Size and Fit
AirPods Pro 2 are slightly smaller than their predecessors. That makes them more comfortable as they sit snuggly deeper into the ear. There is also extra flexibility offered in terms of ear tips, which come in multiple sizes. Such a design easily creates an additional seal and enhances both comfort and performance from Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The ear tips will now fit more comfortably in a wide range of ear shapes and sizes that Apple has always believed are fundamentally important to performance, both audio quality and noise isolation.
b. New Stem Design
The stem design has also been adjusted. The AirPods Pro 2 are more streamlined and lighter, sleeker, and more ergonomic, so they feel easier to wear for longer periods without discomfort. The slightly shorter stem is a cosmetic change but also improves the balance of the earbuds overall, removing the sense of heaviness or awkwardness.
c. Sweat and Water Resistance
Just like the first generation, the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) are rated with an IPX4 rating for water and sweat resistance, making them ideal for workouts, outdoor activities, or any scenario where exposure to moisture might be a concern.
d. Charging Case Design
The charging case remains compact, but Apple has added some thoughtful improvements. The new case features a built-in speaker for Find My functionality, a lanyard loop for easier portability, and it now supports Find My network in the event the case is misplaced. The case also now has a built-in charging indicator on the outside and, like the previous generation, supports both MagSafe and wireless Qi charging, making it a very convenient and versatile charging solution.
Sound Quality
One of the biggest upgrades with the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) is its sound quality, which Apple has delicately selected make listening a lot richer, more immersive and deeper. The H2 chip and significant hardware and software advancements make these earbuds deliver awesome audio performance compared to other wireless earbuds in the market.
a. H2 Chip and Audio Enhancements
The H2 chip, accompanying AirPods Pro 2, brings much more profound improvements to the sound quality as well as to the general performance. The new chip enables an advanced audio processing pipeline that should bring a lot better dynamic range, more detailed midrange, deeper bass, and clearer highs. The new H2 chip works in harmony with a newly designed custom amplifier and driver. This enables far better control of the output as it takes more care when there is distortion involved at higher volume levels.
b. Adaptive Transparency and Customizable Sound
The AirPods Pro 2 also have enhancements in Adaptive Transparency, which adjusts the level of external sound you hear based on your environment. This helps keep your listening experience more natural and does not completely cut you off from the world. For instance, in a city street with so much noise, the AirPods Pro 2 will minimize the level of external noise so that you can hear your music or calls clearly.
Moreover, the Personalized Spatial Audio feature enhances the 3D audio experience. The AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) can map your ears using the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera to customize the sound profile according to your head and ear shape. This gives you a tailored listening experience that further improves the immersive quality of movies, music, and gaming.
c. Bass and Clarity
Bass-wise, the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are impressive. They deliver deep and resonant bass without overpowering the midrange and treble. The bass is fuller, tighter, and more accurate than before, ensuring that lower frequencies are present but not overpowering. Whether listening to bass-heavy genres like electronic or hip-hop, or simply enjoying the richness of orchestral music, the AirPods Pro 2 strike the right balance between depth and clarity.
d. Soundstage and Balance
The soundstage is far wider, and the separation between instruments and vocals is improved. The balance between different frequencies is excellent; the vocals are clear, the midrange warm and full, and the treble crisp without being harsh. This makes the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) a great choice for a wide variety of music types, whether it’s classical, jazz, pop, or rock.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency Mode
One of the key features of the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) is its Active Noise Cancellation, which has been improved greatly from the first generation. Apple has perfected its hardware and software to better isolate noise, blocking out more unwanted external noise while still being comfortable and natural to listen to.
a. Improved ANC Performance
The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) now offer more effective noise cancellation, especially on mid- and high-frequency noise. Improved drivers, the H2 chip, and new microphones work together to eliminate more ambient sound. So whether you’re in a crowded office, a noisy plane, or a busy city, ANC creates a bubble of silence so you can focus on your music, podcasts, or calls with minimal disruption.
b. Adaptive Transparency
Adaptive Transparency has also been added to the Transparency Mode of the new AirPods Pro. In contrast to the first-generation AirPods Pro, which could allow you to hear the world around you, the AirPods Pro 2 take it further by adjusting the transparency dynamically with the level of ambient noise. For example, if you’re walking down a busy street, you’ll hear traffic and voices clearly, but if someone suddenly honks their horn or yells, the ANC will automatically adjust to mitigate those sharp sounds.
Battery Life
Another area where AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) has improved is battery life. With the new H2 chip and power-efficient components, the AirPods Pro 2 can last up to 6 hours with ANC active. This is quite a significant jump from the first generation, which offered about 4.5 hours.
With the charging case, you get a total of 30 hours of listening time with ANC turned off. This makes the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) ideal for long flights, road trips, or extended periods of use. Furthermore, the case offers fast charging, providing an hour of listening time with just 5 minutes of charging, which is incredibly convenient for those on the go.
Connectivity and Features
The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) still have a seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, thanks to the new H2 chip and proprietary technologies by Apple, including Find My, Siri, and iCloud syncing. The connection is fast, stable, and reliable, ensuring that you can pair your AirPods with an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch quickly.
a. Find My and Case Improvements
The new charging case contains an incorporated speaker so you can use the Find My feature better. If you misplaced the case, it can emit a sound from it so you can easily locate the case. The case also tracks precisely, even alerting you to the last known location whenever it has gone out of the Bluetooth range.
b. Siri Integration
Like other versions, the AirPods Pro 2 integrate Siri, allowing voice control of music, calls, and general inquiries without the use of hands. The Hey Siri feature is excellent and can be activated with just a voice command. Apple has also improved on the microphone for clear voice recording during calls and when interacting with Siri.
c. Touch Control and Customization
AirPods Pro 2 has also equipped with touch controls to handle the playback, increase and decrease volume, and also receive a call. The stems are sensitive to touch and the volume adjustment using Apple’s innovation in sliding finger up and down on the stem, thus offering an accurate response than tap control. It’s far more excellent than tap-based control as practiced by AirPods earlier.
d. Adjustable Fit
The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) have more available options for changing the fit and ensuring that it fits securely inside your ears. The new sizes of ear tips, along with the ear tip fit test, ensure that people get the perfect seal and a good sound isolation. This helps in sound quality and noise cancellation but also highly impacts comfort if used for a more extended period of time.
Price and Value
For the price of $249, the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) deliver exceptional value to anyone in the Apple ecosystem with all the features the new earbuds can offer: better sound, improved ANC, and seamless integration through the Apple ecosystem. They command a premium price, but the H2 chip, personalized spatial audio, adaptive transparency, and comfort set these earbuds apart from competitors for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users. For those who value top-of-the-line audio performance, noise isolation, and an exceptional, long-lasting product with a resale value that won’t crater, the AirPods Pro 2 easily earn their price tag and deliver an unbeatable listening experience in the wireless earbud field.
