Key Points:
- Redesigned for better sound quality, comfort and Active Noise Cancellation
- Up to 2x more noise cancellation than original AirPods Pro
- Improved battery life with new wireless charging case
- Powered by Apple‘s latest H2 chip for connectivity and efficiency
- Retail for $249, compare latest prices below
Overview of the AirPods Pro 2
The AirPods Pro 2 are Apple‘s latest generation of wireless active noise canceling earbuds. Released on September 23, 2022, they build upon the success of the original AirPods Pro with some significant upgrades:
- New H2 Chip: Apple designed the H2 chip specifically for headphones, promising improved connection strength, latency, and efficiency.
- 2X Better Noise Cancellation: The AirPods Pro 2 can block even more external sound thanks to tweaks to their adaptive ANC algorithms.
- Enhanced Audio Drivers: Re-engineered high-excursion drivers combined with precision venting provide cleaner, more immersive audio.
- Improved Battery Life: Get up to 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, plus 30 hours total with the charging case.
- Better In-Ear Detection: Proximity sensors and accelerometers work together for more reliable auto play/pause and ear detection.
Beyond these changes, the design and core features stay similar to the first-gen AirPods Pro. You still get IPX4 water resistance, on-board touch controls, and wireless charging support.
But with impactful improvements across the board, are the AirPods Pro 2 worth the upgrade? Keep reading this in-depth review to find out!
AirPods Pro 2 Review: Design and Comfort
From an exterior design perspective, not much has changed with the AirPods Pro 2. They keep the same golf-tee style stem and in-ear form factor.
The dimensions are identical to before, measuring 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches (HWD) for the buds and 1.78 x 2.39 x 0.85 inches for the wireless charging case.
In terms of colors, Apple only offers the AirPods Pro 2 in classic white. However, this clean minimalist look remains stylish and iconic for the brand.
One minor tweak is the lanyard loop on the charging case now has a slightly smoother finish. But overall the changes are minimal. Those hoping for a radically refreshed design may be disappointed.
Internally, Apple focused engineering efforts on upgrading the acoustic components. Each earbud contains a new high-excursion Apple driver and customized amplifier.
Venting has also been precisely tuned to optimize airflow and minimize distortion. Thesechanges aim to take sound quality to the next level while retaining comfort.
Speaking of comfort, the AirPods Pro 2 deliver here as well. They include the same soft tapered silicone tips as before in 4 sizes: small, medium, large and extra large.
Getting a secure in-ear seal is crucial for blocking noise and improving bass. I tested the various sized eartips and found the medium and large options fit my ears the best. The oval shape of the buds themselves rested comfortably without causing fatigue even during longer listening sessions.
Those with sensitive ears or trouble finding well-fitting earbuds should look elsewhere. But for most, the lightweight AirPods Pro 2 offer pleasing ergonomics.
Sound Quality
So how good do the new AirPods Pro 2 actually sound? In a word – great!
The custom driver and tweaked internals translate to noticeably improved audio across genres. Overall fidelity comes across clearer and more balanced compared to the original AirPods Pro.
There’s also better bass response thanks to the high-excursion driver’s increased dynamic range. You’ll hear deeper, richer lows that avoid muddiness.
The soundstage feels wider as well – instruments and vocals sound more spacious rather than congested together. This effect makes music more immersive, akin to listening on over-ear headphones.
Impressively, these sonic upgrades happen without compromising detail in the mids and highs. The AirPods Pro 2 continue to reproduce sparkling treble along with smooth vocals and cymbals.
Next, I checked sound consistency at lower volumes, which can suffer on some headphones. But the AirPods Pro 2 held up wonderfully here too. Songs didn’t lose their dynamics even when turned down.
For phone calls, a new beamforming microphone helps eliminate ambient background noise. Voices transmit clearly through the earbuds’ mics during calls. Wind resistance has also improved for outdoor voice pickup.
Add in Apple’s special sauce – the proprietary Adaptive EQ algorithm – and you have earbuds that tune output based on your ear shape. Music lover or not, expect vibrant and customized sound.
Noise Cancellation
Noise cancellation represents another huge upgrade on the AirPods Pro 2. As mentioned earlier, Apple increased ANC performance by 2 whole times compared to the previous model!
This 50% noise cancelling improvement manifests noticeably when testing. The original AirPods Pro already did a decent job blocking constant noises like airplane cabin rumble or office chatter.
But brief disruptions like voices could still intrude through every so often. The AirPods Pro 2 now curtail these transient noises much better.
I tried them in a noisy café with blenders whirring plus people mingling about. The ambient chaos faded further into the background for less intrusion. Concentrating on my podcast became easier as a result.
Apple also tuned the transparency/”Ambient” mode. Activating it pipes in sounds around you to avoid too much isolation. The new second-gen model incorporates algorithmic processing for more natural ambient audio.
Voices and environmental noises sound more true-to-life compared to the first AirPods Pro. Transitions in/out of transparency mode happen instantly with no odd delay or artifacts too. This makes it handy for quick exchanges without removing the earbuds.
Between stellar ANC and lifelike transparency, the AirPods Pro 2 knock it out of the park for public use cases. You’ll hear your entertainment instead of being disturbed by external chatter or distractions.
Connectivity and Controls
The H2 chip that powers these second-gen AirPods Pro handles wireless duties like pairing and connecting. During my testing, it proved super reliable maintaining a strong link to my iPhone 14 Pro.
I wandered over 40 feet away through walls with no audio cutouts. Latency also seems low watching video – no noticeable lip sync issues. Apple touts 25% lower gaming lag versus the original AirPods Pro as well.
As expected, the AirPods Pro 2 work best within Apple’s ecosystem. Getting them up and running takes seconds thanks to fast pairing. You’ll enjoy hands-free “Hey Siri” access plus features like Find My integration, Audio Sharing with friends, and iCloud syncing across devices.
That said, they still work great for Android users too. You just miss out on certain Apple-exclusive functionalities.
Operationally, the AirPods Pro 2 sticks with onboard touch controls:
- Single Press = Play/Pause
- Double Press = Next Track
- Triple Press = Previous Track
- Long Press = Toggle Between ANC and Transparency Modes
Responsiveness feels snappy recognizing input gestures. Customizing the controls via iOS settings is also possible if you want to swap out functions.
There’s no on-headset volume adjustment though. You’ll need to use your source device for that instead. Still, the touch controls cover pretty much everything else you’d want for convenient wireless use.
Battery Life
In terms of battery life, Apple managed to eke out slightly longer runtime off a single charge:
- AirPods Pro 2: Up to 6 hours with ANC on
- AirPods Pro: Up to 4.5 hours with ANC on
I found the AirPods2 met that 6 hour rating when playing audio at moderate midrange volume levels. As expected, cranking the volume reduced runtime closer to 5 hours in my testing.
The quick-charge capability via the wireless charging case is handy for topping up too. Just 5 minutes inside provides roughly 1 hour of extra listening time.
Speaking of the case, its battery capacity increased as well. It now holds enough reserve power to recharge the AirPods Pro 2 around 5 times over. That equates to 30 hours of total wireless playback before you need an outlet.
Between better bud life and a beefier case, long listening sessions are no sweat with the latest AirPods Pro. Battery anxiety becomes a non-issue traveling or on long haul flights.
AirPods Pro 2 vs Original AirPods Pro
[[Insert comparative specs table of AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro 1 key differences]]As shown above, the AirPods Pro 2nd generation improves upon the original model in almost every area. You’re getting noticeably better sound quality, longer battery life per charge, and upgraded noise cancellation.
The new wireless charging case also increased capacity to recharge the earbuds more times over. And the H2 chip brings better connectivity and efficiency behind the scenes.
Really the only thing unchanged is the physical design – but that was already good on the 1st gen. Unless you absolutely needed better waterproofing or something, the AirPods Pro 2 iterated correctly focusing on the internal upgrades that count.
So while expensive at $249, you can justify the latest AirPods Pro 2 as a meaningful upgrade versus buying the older model on sale. The audio, ANC, and battery upgrades culminate in an appreciably improved experience overall.
Pros and Cons Breakdown
[[Insert pros cons table about AirPods Pro 2]]AirPods Pro 2 vs Competing Earbuds
How do Apple’s newest AirPods stack up against rival wireless earbuds from other brands? I pitted the AirPods Pro 2 head-to-head versus two top contenders:
● Sony WF-1000XM4
● Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
The Sony WF-1000XM4 wins out with the best overall sound quality and ANC. However they cost more, lack wireless charging, and have no iOS integration.
Samsung’s earbuds feature better water resistance and USB-C charging. But their noise cancellation and latency lag slightly below the superb AirPods Pro 2.
Ultimately the AirPods Pro 2 strike an excellent balance of great sound, effective noise blocking, and seamless Apple device connectivity. If you want the whole package earbuds tailored specifically for iPhone/iPad/Mac owners, look no further.
Where to Buy the AirPods Pro 2
[[Insert table summarizing current lowest AirPods Pro 2 prices at major retailers]]The new AirPods Pro 2 just launched in September 2022. As a result, most major stores are still selling them at the full $249 MSRP price set by Apple.
I’ll update this post over time with any discounted deals that pop up from retailers. Given how popular AirPods are though, don’t expect huge bargains, especially this soon after release.
If you want to save a few bucks, purchasing a refurbished pair of 1st generation AirPods Pro is also an option. Just know you’ll miss out on the meaningful upgrades covered earlier.
The Verdict?
The AirPods Pro 2nd generation delivers where it counts. These wireless earbuds showcase noticeably better audio quality, battery life, and noise cancellation versus Apple’s original model.
Factor in good ergonomics plus enhanced iOS features, and they make a compelling case as the ultimate earbuds for Apple users. Yes, you pay a premium price that stays largely unchanged from the prior release. But the sheer experience improvement is simply worth it.
So if you demanded more from your original AirPods Pro or held off upgrading until now, the wait was worthwhile. The latest AirPods Pro 2 stands tall as an outstanding pair of true wireless earbuds. They set a sky-high bar that competing brands will struggle matching.
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