Priced at $249, the second-generation AirPods Pro feature improved sound quality, longer battery life, and up to 2x the noise cancellation compared to the original AirPods Pro. They also feature scan-based volume control, an improved built-in skin detection sensor that more precisely turns audio playback on or off, and a new XS ear tip option. The new AirPods Pro come with an updated charging case with a built-in speaker and U1 chip for Find My with Precision Finding support, a lanyard slot for easy portability, and IPX4-rated water and sweat resistance. In addition to Lightning and MagSafe, the case can now be charged with an Apple Watch charger. We’ve gathered both written and video reviews of the new AirPods Pro below.
Written Reviews
Chris Welch of The Verge said there are “substantial” improvements to active noise cancellation: But Apple has made significant gains with active noise cancellation. The company says that, on average, the new app is “up to” twice as efficient as the original AirPods Pro. And while I lack scientific measuring tools, this claim doesn’t seem far-fetched. In our office, I recently moved offices and now sit near an air vent that emits a persistent hum. The original AirPods Pro leave a trace of this in the noise-canceling mode, but it’s completely silent and imperceptible with the second-generation pair. I can still hear co-workers chatting if they walk right by my desk, but most of the time, the AirPods Pro give me enough peace of mind. I’ve also noticed decent improvements when commuting on the subway, and less overall street noise when traversing Brooklyn daily. Welch also noticed improved sound quality overall: Let’s get straight to the sound quality. Apple has completely redesigned the amplifier and driver in the AirPods Pro, and while these drivers are the same 11mm size as the third-generation AirPods, they sound superior and deliver the cleanest, most dynamic output of any AirPods to date . Engadget’s Billy Steele achieved about six hours of battery life as advertised: During my tests, I managed six hours and fifteen minutes of use with a combination of noise cancellation, transparency mode and calls. That’s more than the previous generation (4.5 hours) and on par with most of the competition these days. Sure, some companies offer 10-plus hours on a charge, but the average is about five to seven for the noise-cancelling products I’ve tested. More battery life would always be nice, but the six or seven hours Apple musters is enough to get you through the work day if you’re taking a short break. Gizmodo’s Andrew Liszewski said the new swipe-based volume control feature is a welcome upgrade, but it can be “a little fussy” at times: It’s a welcome upgrade, but unfortunately I found it a bit difficult to operate. Occasionally it took a few hits before anything happened. As someone who generally hates having to touch my headphones while wearing them (it inevitably pushes them a bit away) I’ll probably continue to use Siri’s voice commands for volume adjustments or skipping a track (the one thing Siri does really well). MobileSyrup’s Patrick O’Rourke said the swipe-based volume control is his favorite new AirPods Pro feature, providing a more convenient listening experience: In my experience, the new AirPods Pro volume touch controls are extremely sensitive and work with subtle changes. If, for example, you only want to turn the volume down or up a notch or two, you can do so with a short swipe. The controls are also indicated by a slight clicking noise, indicating that they are active and working. I didn’t run into any accidental presses during my many days with the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), even when I long-pressed the stem to turn Active Noise Cancellation on/off or double-tap to skip between songs. The on-device touch volume controls are by far my favorite new AirPods Pro feature. The convenience and ease of use of changing volume levels directly on the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) without having to take out my iPhone really can’t be understated. O’Rourke added that iOS 16’s Personalized Spatial Audio feature isn’t particularly noticeable: In theory, I like the idea of the sound being tuned specifically to the shape of your ear, but in practice, it doesn’t make much of a difference. It’s also worth noting that while I really enjoy Surround Sound when watching movies or TV shows on platforms like Apple TV+, it’s hit or miss with music, especially when a track wasn’t originally recorded with technology in mind and has been remastered . . WIRED’s Parker Hall said the charging case’s new built-in speaker “rings loud enough” to help track my location, but he wishes the case had a USB-C port for wired charging instead of the usual Lightning connector: Want to find the case through Apple’s Find My app? Now you can, and it hits pretty hard. It also makes a little chime when it starts charging. Speaking of which, you can charge wirelessly as usual (the case also supports MagSafe), but it’s a shame to see Apple still rely on the Lightning port instead of USB-C.
