The AirPods Pro 2, also known as AirPods Pro (2nd generation), are Apple’s brand new true wireless earbuds, here to replace the original 2019 AirPods Pro.
If you’re looking to learn what those new “Pro” earbuds are bringing to the table, you’re in the right place! Join us for this preview of the AirPods Pro 2, which will soon turn into a full review…
Table of Contents:
AirPods Pro 2 design and colors
For their price of $249, the new AirPods Pro (2nd generation) feature a design that’s virtually identical to the original 2019 AirPods Pro (1st generation).The earbuds have the same straight stems, with touch-sensitive spots that serve as playback controls. We have the familiar rubber eartips also, and generally a familiar glossy plastic build.
Same goes for the charging case – it’s a rounded rectangle with a metal hinge. The case can be engraved if you want to add your own little touch to your personal AirPods Pro 2, but that’s about it. There are no other color options, but white.
Both the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds and the case are IPX4 sweat and water resistant though, which means they’re well adapted for non-water sports and exercise. No matter how intense your workout gets, they should be fine.
And it’s worth noting that despite these being “Pro” headphones in late 2022, on the bottom of their charging case you won’t find a USB Type-C port, but the usual Lightning.
AirPods Pro 2 fit and feel
Because the AirPods Pro 2 have rubber eartips, they may be irritating to the few people who can’t wear such, but perfect for most, as those eartips should provide a snug, tight in-ear fit, and with that – better isolation and sound.
In fact, this time Apple gives you not three, but four whole rubber eartip sizes to choose from – extra small, small, medium and large. Our ears are all different, but even so, anyone should be able to get these fitting snugly in the ear.
AirPods Pro 2 pairing and supported devices
Although you can pair the AirPods Pro 2 to any device, even an Android phone or a Windows computer, you’ll lose on some features – most notably Spatial Audio, which we’ll talk about later. The touch controls will always work, though – play, pause (but no Siri of course), and switching between ANC and Transparency mode.Pairing the AirPods Pro 2 to an iPhone is as easy as ever – simply unbox your new earbuds, open their case close to your iPhone, and a prompt would pop up on screen to set them up. It’s a very quick and easy process.
However, if you’re pairing them to an Android phone, you’ll have to go the longer route – navigating into the Bluetooth settings on your phone, then finding and tapping your new AirPods to pair them that way. If they’re not appearing, press and hold the circular button on the back of their case until an LED on the front starts flashing, which means they’re in pairing mode now.
AirPods Pro 2 sound quality and Spatial Audio
Before going into the sound itself, here’s a new feature that many will find welcome – you can finally adjust the volume on your AirPods Pro 2 with touch gestures. A swipe on the earbuds’ stems will lower or raise it, conveniently without you having to reach for your phone every time, or asking Siri to change the volume. So this is a great start!
Now, onto the sound – Apple says that its new H2 chip is the force behind the AirPods Pro 2’s “advanced audio performance.” That their custom‑built driver and amplifier deliver crisp, clear high notes and deep, rich bass in “stunning” definition — so every sound is more vivid than ever. Having experienced Spatial Audio on other AirPods, I can definitely presume this to be true, but we’ll have to wait for our full review (coming soon) to test those claims.
Speaking of Spatial Audio, I’d argue that’s an essential feature to always keep on if you’re buying modern AirPods, including the AirPods Pro 2. Without it, which you’ll have to be if you don’t own an iPhone or an iPad, I’d say you should just go ahead and look into other earbud options like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro instead.
Because Spatial Audio on AirPods truly makes a difference – it makes both movies and music sound more exciting, wider, with stronger bass, and… of course – more spatial. You can turn it off from your iPhone’s sound settings if you want a flatter, less “exciting” sound, but I doubt most people will, once they’ve heard the difference.
AirPods Pro 2 active noise canceling (ANC) and Transparency mode
Apple was already on top of the food chain when it comes to ANC in consumer headphones, but with the AirPods Pro 2 it’s promising “next-level Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency” that “reduce more external noise.”
“Featuring up to two times more noise cancellation than their predecessor, the H2-powered AirPods Pro are built to let you listen in peace. With control over what you hear — and don’t hear — you’ll be immersed in songs and podcasts like never before.”
Those are pretty bold claims, considering the previous AirPods Pro were already very competent at blocking lower-frequency noises. We’ll let you know how the AirPods Pro 2’s ANC holds up soon, when our full review is out.
As for Transparency mode, that’s a mode you can switch to when you don’t want ANC, but instead you wish to hear what’s happening around you. Transparency mode lets sounds in, such as voices and city noise you’ll likely want to be aware of (e.g. cars).
AirPods Pro 2 battery life and charging
Your AirPods Pro 2 earbuds will charge from their case, starting as soon as you place them in. The case itself can charge either via the Lightning port on its bottom, or via MagSafe or Qi wireless charging.
In terms of battery life, the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds can last up to 6 hours on a single charge, or more likely – up to 5.5 hours if Spatial Audio is enabled (which it probably will be).
But if used with their case, the AirPods Pro 2 can last up to 30 hours on a single charge, so you’re more than likely to go on a weekend trip, not take a charger with you, and still have some battery left on Monday.
In addition, 5 minutes of keeping the earbuds in their case charges them with about an hour of battery, which means they’ll be pretty quick to top up.
And of course, although you do get a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box, there’s no charging brick, so you’ll have to reuse your iPhone’s charger or buy a separate one.
