Apple recently released the second generation of its popular AirPods Pro wireless earbuds. As an upgrade over the original 2019 AirPods Pro, the new AirPods Pro 2 promise better sound quality, improved noise cancellation, longer battery life, new touch controls, a lanyard loop, and a new charging case with added features like a speaker and Find My support.
I’ve been testing out the AirPods Pro 2 for the past couple weeks. Here’s my in-depth review on how they perform and whether they’re worth upgrading to for audio quality, comfort, and noise cancelling abilities.
Sound Quality
The most important upgrade with the AirPods Pro 2 is definitely the sound quality. Apple has added a new low distortion driver and custom amplifier to provide improved audio across a wider range of frequencies. I can confirm that the sound reproduction is clearer and more natural on the AirPods Pro 2.
The AirPods Pro 2 handle bass extremely well, providing punchy yet controlled low-end no matter what volume you listen at or genre you’re playing. Mids are accurate and detailed, bringing out vocals and instruments with excellent definition. Highs are crisp without getting overly sharp or sibilant. There’s also a spacious soundstage that makes music sound open and surrounding.
By comparison, the original AirPods Pro sound a bit muddy in the bass and lack the same level of clarity and detail. The AirPods Pro 2 are a decent step up that make music more immersive. Just be aware that you’ll only hear the improvements if you get a good seal with one of the included eartips.
Active Noise Cancellation
The other major upgrade with the AirPods Pro 2 is the active noise cancelling (ANC) performance. Apple uses a new H2 chip to enable improved noise cancelling. In my experience, the AirPods Pro 2 block out a bit more environmental noise like chatter, airplane engines, traffic, etc.
They seem to target mid and high frequency sounds especially well. You still get some low frequency rumble coming through, but the ANC is very effective overall. Apple also says that the AirPods Pro 2 can reduce twice as much high frequency environmental noise as the original AirPods Pro. This would explain why they mute common noises like voices so well.
Just like with sound quality though, getting a proper in-ear seal makes a big difference for ANC effectiveness. Be sure to test all the included eartips to find the best fit.
Adaptive Transparency Mode
A neat feature carried over from the original AirPods Pro is Adaptive Transparency mode. This lets in external sound so you can stay aware of your surroundings, but uses advanced processing to reduce harsh environmental clatter.
On the AirPods Pro 2, Adaptive Transparency goes a step further by identifying specific noises like sirens, construction tools, shouting voices etc, then selectively reducing their volume so you’re not overwhelmed.
I tried Adaptive Transparency in some noisy environments and found it works extremely well, letting in speech and close sounds while minimizing background disruption. It’s great for when you need to quickly chat with someone or listen out for announcements without removing the earbuds.
Touch Controls
The AirPods Pro 2 gain new touch controls thanks to the addition of a force sensor in the stem of each earbud. You can now swipe up or down to raise/lower the volume – very convenient! Swiping forward or back still handles playback, while pressing the force sensor controls noise cancellation mode.
The touch controls are reliable and the volume adjustment is super useful. My only small complaint is that pressing the sensor feels a bit stiff and can push the earbud slightly into your ear. But this is a minor issue overall.
Battery Life
Apple quotes the AirPods Pro 2 as having 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabled. That’s an hour and a half longer battery life compared to the original AirPods Pro. I’ve generally been getting around 5.5 hours in real-world usage before needing to pop them back in the charging case.
The charging case itself holds over 24 additional hours worth of charges. It’s not a revolutionary battery upgrade, but still very solid. The case also now supports Apple’s new Find My integration to help locate it if misplaced.
Comfort
The AirPods Pro 2 maintain the same in-ear design as the originals. They come with four eartip sizes this time around to help accommodate more ear shapes. I’m glad Apple kept the oval-shaped earbuds as I find them very comfortable to wear for long stretches.
The earbuds themselves are extremely light and essentially disappear in your ears after a short while. The included eartips form a tight seal without causing pain or pressure buildup. Those with small ears would still likely find the AirPods Pro 2 too bulky though.
New Charging Case
Besides the internal upgrades, the charging case got some nice improvements too. It now features a built-in lanyard loop so you can attach a strap, carabiner etc. There’s also a speaker on the bottom for Find My audible alerts to help locate a lost case.
Apple says the case is now sweat and water resistant too. So no need to worry as much if it gets briefly soaked. The case still charges via Lightning or wireless charging pads. USB-C would have been nice for modernity, but Lightning works fine.
Who Should Upgrade?
So are the new AirPods Pro 2 worth upgrading to? If you have the original AirPods Pro from 2019, I think the improvements are meaningful enough to justify getting the second generation model. You’ll be getting better sound, improved ANC, and nice quality of life upgrades like the touch controls.
On the other hand, if you already have a very recent higher-end set of wireless earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM4, you probably won’t gain much by switching to the AirPods Pro 2. The audio and noise cancelling quality is quite similar across high-end models nowadays.
For iPhone users without any wireless earbuds yet, or relying on older more basic models, then yes the AirPods Pro 2 are an easy recommendation if you can afford them. They deliver virtually unmatched integration and user experience with Apple devices. You can expect them to be supported for years of updates too thanks to the new H2 chip inside.
Conclusion
The second generation AirPods Pro are an excellent revision of Apple’s premium earbuds. You’re getting noticeably better sound quality, improved active noise cancellation, handy new touch controls, and longer battery life.
While expensive at $249 USD, the upgraded audio fidelity, noise blocking abilities, and tight integration with Apple gear make the AirPods Pro 2 easy to recommend for iPhone owners wanting a no-compromise wireless listening experience. They tackle the common pain points of earbuds extremely well. I sincerely hope you find article ” Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)- A Comprehensive Review” article helpful.