The best AirPods Apple has ever made
It’s been a long time coming, but Apple has finally released the next generation of its flagship in–ear headphones: AirPods Pro. We’ve been happily using the originals for the last couple of years, but when the Beats Pro came out last year — and really impressed us — it was evident that the AirPods Pro (1st generation) were due a refresh.
Visually, the new AirPods Pro share a lot in common with their older counterparts — in fact both headphones and case are virtually identical, apart from some minor differences, which we’ll come onto a bit later. This isn’t a bad thing, as we loved the look and feel of the original, but if you’re looking for a radical redesign, then you won’t find it here. What you will find is a slew of important upgrades under the hood that make a meaningful difference to the listening experience.
At the heart of these internal changes is the introduction of the H2 chip, replacing the ageing H1. This new, more potent chip powers all the new technologies, and is largely responsible for the significant improvement across the board, which Apple says uses “computational algorithims to deliver even smarter noise cancellation, superior–three dimensional sound, and more efficient battery life”.
The AirPods Pro (1st gen) always impressed with their ability to magically supress outside sounds, but Apple has somehow managed to improve upon this. That’s mainly down to the relocation of the acoustic vent and microphones, but also due to the H2 chip — which gives the new AirPods Pro 2x more active noise cancelation (ANC). Though we can’t quantify this, there’s definitely a substantial improvement. We tested over the course of a few days with some building work going on right next to our office, and we were able to work in relative peace.
Of course, it’s crucial that you get the fit right in your ears, and there’s an ear tip fit test on your iPhone which will ensure you choose the right size tip. Apple has added an extra small tip in the box this time around, allowing listeners to get a better fit, which certainly helps improve both audio and noise–canceling. We used the large option, and found that the fit was actually better — more snug than the original AirPods Pro.
Even more impressive is the new Adaptive Transparency, which automatically reduces the noise of loud sounds when you’re in Transparency mode. This is a game–changer, because it allows you to take advantage of the AirPods Pro’s excellent ability to boost external sounds when you need it, but your eardrums won’t explode when something loud happens nearby. It’s effective, though we did find that there was a slight delay of about a second before the sound was suppressed.
Audio Personalization
Apple has also worked hard to improve upon the audio quality of the original AirPods Pro, with a new custom–built driver and amplifier, which in combination with the H2 chip gives a dramatic boost to music fidelity — no matter the track, the new AirPods Pro seem to bring out the best in sounds across the spectrum. Clear, balanced, and with a stronger, more defined bass response than previously. Audio is further improved when the new Personalized Spatial Audio function is activated, providing a deeper, more immersive audio experience. Using your iPhone’s TrueDepth camera (iPhone X and later), you can create a custom profile tuned for your ears based on your head shape. This then syncs the sound across your devices. It’s worth noting we found some tracks, especially lower bit–rate ones, to affect the audio balance, making for a slightly uncomfortable listening experience. Ear tip fitment may also be part of the issue here.
One of the biggest gripes with the previous AirPods Pro was a lack of on–device volume control, but the new version addresses this issue. AirPods Pro (2nd gen) feature Touch volume controls inline (in addition to the Force sensor control) on both stalks — simply swipe up or down to adjust volume. Audible feedback lets you know when you’ve changed it. This works very well, although we found during exercising it was tricky to find the right spot for adjustment, and takes a bit of guesswork to get it right.
The new AirPods Pro now also feature a skin detection sensor, which makes for faster in–ear detection, making it a bit quicker to play and pause music than the previous AirPods Pro.
The original AirPods Pro were rated for about 4.5 hours battery life, and we’d often be reaching for the charging case for a top–up, but Apple claims the new version is good for six hours — with ANC enabled (or 5.5 hours with Spatial Audio and head tracking on). In testing we managed well over six hours with ANC on (and the occasional burst of Spatial Audio), which is pretty great. The charging case offers about 30 hours of total listening time, so that’s plenty.
Case Upgrades
The new charging case shares very similar dimensions to the original, but the new version now features IPX4 sweat– and water–resistance (as do the AirPods Pro headphones). There’s also a speaker built in, providing audible feedback, letting you know when it’s charging, when it’s paired, or when battery is low. It even helps to locate it by ringing — thanks to the inclusion of the U1 chip inside the case, you can use Find My to retrieve a lost case (or headphones) using proximity view. There’s also a new lanyard loop on the side of the case, but honestly — we’re not sure how big of a deal this is. Plus, you need to buy a lanyard, as there isn’t one included. Finally, the case benefits from improved charging, and can be juiced up using a Qi, MagSafe or even an Apple Watch charger.
Feature: Active noise cancelation, Adaptive Transparency, Touch control, Personalized Spatial Audio, IPX4 (AirPods Pro and case), H2 chip, MagSafe Charging
Price: $249
The AirPods Pro (2nd gen) are a big leap forward, offering more of everything. There’s plenty of reason to upgrade your old AirPods Pro.
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