Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds Review

Overview

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 represent a pivotal moment in Apple’s audio history. For years, the original AirPods and AirPods Pro were viewed as good-but-not-great wireless earbuds. They offered seamless iOS integration but consistently lagged behind the sonic heights established by top-tier noise-cancelling competitors. With the second-generation AirPods Pro, Apple finally delivered the five-star experience audiophiles had been waiting for.

Powered by the new Apple-designed H2 chip, these earbuds modestly but meaningfully improve upon their predecessors. Apple managed to raise the bar without raising the price, keeping the MSRP at $249. The upgrade introduces better active noise cancellation, superior sound quality, and longer battery life. While the product has technically been succeeded by the AirPods Pro 3, the Pro 2 remain an excellent value if found on sale.

Design and Build

The AirPods Pro 2 share a strong family resemblance with the rest of Apple’s earphone lineup. They feature the iconic, glossy white plastic exterior that divides users. Some appreciate the clean aesthetic, while others find the material hard to grip and somewhat slippery.

Apple slightly shortened the stems on the Pro 2 compared to the original AirPods Pro. These shorter stems still provide enough purchase to prevent most accidental drops when adjusting the earbuds. The overall dimensions remain incredibly compact, measuring 0.94 x 0.86 x 1.22 inches per bud.

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A significant design update is the inclusion of IP54 dust, sweat, and water resistance for both the earbuds and the charging case. This is a notable step up from the IPX4 splash-proof rating of the previous generation, offering better durability for workouts and outdoor use in varied conditions.

Comfort and Fit

Apple includes four pairs of oval silicone ear tips in the box: extra-small, small, medium, and large. This customizable fit accommodates a wide range of ear shapes and provides all-day comfort. Finding the right tip is crucial, as minor positional changes significantly affect active noise cancellation performance.

The silicone tips create an acoustic seal that helps keep out noise and secures the AirPods Pro 2 in place. Most testers found the fit snug and comfortable, though fit varies from person to person. Some users with unique ear shapes have reported a loose fit over time.

One notable drawback appears during intense workouts. The silicone tips can get slick when sweaty, potentially compromising the secure fit. Furthermore, the charging case is slick, shiny, and smooth. Its elongated shape might not fit comfortably in smaller pockets commonly found on women’s clothing.

Intelligent Noise Control

Active noise cancellation is where the AirPods Pro 2 truly shine. Apple promises up to 2x more background noise removal compared to the original AirPods Pro, and they deliver on that claim. The combination of the in-ear acoustic seal and the active cancellation technology creates an immersive listening environment.

Transparency mode lets you hear the world around you clearly. The real magic, however, is Adaptive Audio. This feature seamlessly blends Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode together. It dynamically adjusts the listening experience based on your environment, providing the best audio setting in any situation without requiring manual input.

Conversation Awareness further enhances this intelligent noise control. When you start speaking with someone nearby, the AirPods Pro 2 automatically lower the volume of whatever is playing. This hands-free interaction makes quick chats effortless, pausing your media without needing to touch the earbuds or your phone.

Sound Quality

The Apple-designed H2 chip helps create deeply immersive sound. The Pro 2 feature a new custom-built amplifier and driver that deliver low-distortion audio. This setup produces crisp, clear high notes and full, rich bass in stunning definition.

Experts widely agree the AirPods Pro 2 are the best-sounding AirPods to date. The sound is clear, detailed, and powerful, finally standing amongst class leaders. GearLab awarded the sound quality an impressive 7.8 out of 10, while What Hi-Fi? gave the earbuds a rare five-star rating for their rich and engaging sonic profile.

Despite the audio improvements, there are limitations. The low-end and high-end of the audio spectrum still need some finessing compared to rivals like the Sony WF-1000XM5. Additionally, the AirPods Pro 2 lack high-resolution codec support, relying solely on the AAC codec over Bluetooth 5.3. Furthermore, EQ presets aren’t adjustable without a third-party app, frustrating audio tinkerers.

Personalized Spatial Audio

Personalized Spatial Audio is a standout feature. Using an iPhone’s TrueDepth camera, users can create a personalized spatial audio profile that maps their unique ear shape. Combined with dynamic head tracking, the AirPods Pro 2 deliver an immersive listening experience that places sound all around you.

This feature creates a theater-like environment for your ears. You can listen to select songs, shows, and movies in Dolby Atmos, bringing stunning definition to supported content. The spatial audio implementation is widely considered among the best available in any pair of wireless earbuds on the market.

Call Quality and Microphone

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 feature upgraded microphones and improved call quality. The H2 chip powers Voice Isolation, a feature designed to improve the quality of phone calls in loud conditions by focusing on the user’s voice and filtering out background noise.

Expert opinions on call quality vary somewhat. GearLab awarded the call quality a stellar 9.0 out of 10, noting crystal clear calls. However, Tom’s Guide found the call quality lackluster in their testing. This discrepancy likely stems from differing testing environments and background noise levels, but the overall consensus leans positive.

Pioneering Hearing Health

Apple positions the AirPods Pro 2 as a pioneering device for hearing health. They unlock the world’s first all-in-one hearing health experience in a set of consumer earbuds. This includes a scientifically validated Hearing Test that users can take directly on their iPhone.

The earbuds also feature clinical-grade and active Hearing Protection. This feature helps preserve your hearing in loud environments by reducing loud noise exposure in real-time. Most notably, Apple introduced an FDA-approved hearing aid feature via a software update. This transforms the AirPods Pro 2 into a clinical-grade hearing aid for users with mild to moderate hearing loss, a massive leap in accessibility.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life sees a substantial upgrade over the first generation. The original AirPods Pro offered about four-and-a-half hours of listening time with ANC enabled. The Pro 2 increase this to up to 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabled.

With the charging case, users get up to 30 hours of total listening time with ANC enabled. Turning ANC off pushes these numbers even further, offering up to 7 hours of listening time and 35 hours total with the case. A quick five-minute charge provides about an hour of battery life, perfect for quick top-ups before a commute.

Charging options are incredibly versatile. The case supports USB-C charging, a welcome change from the proprietary Lightning port. It also supports MagSafe wireless charging, Qi-certified chargers, and even Apple Watch chargers. The package includes a USB-C charge cable, though no wall charger is included.

The MagSafe Charging Case

The MagSafe Charging Case is a highly capable companion to the earbuds. It features a built-in speaker that plays sounds to help you locate it. The inclusion of a U1 chip enables Precision Finding, allowing you to track the case precisely using the Find My app on your iPhone.

A built-in lanyard loop helps keep your AirPods Pro 2 close. A silver lanyard with a connection point is included in the box. The case itself shares the same glossy, slippery plastic as the earbuds. As mentioned, it carries an IP54 rating for dust, sweat, and water resistance, matching the buds.

Ecosystem and Controls

The Apple ecosystem is a user-friendly space, and the AirPods Pro 2 leverage this perfectly. Pairing is straightforward and swift with iPhones. The seamless integration with iPhones, iPads, and Macs is a primary selling point. However, many advanced features are restricted to iOS devices only, limiting their utility for Android users.

Control is managed entirely through the stems. Users can swipe, press, and hold the stem to manage playback functions. Volume swipes make it easy to adjust levels without reaching for a phone. Pressing and holding switches between ANC and Transparency modes, while presses handle calls, playback, Siri, and track navigation.

Siri Interactions add a new layer of hands-free control. When Siri asks if you’d like to hear a message, answer a call, or manage a notification, you can simply nod your head yes or shake your head no. This feature is both intuitive and futuristic, reducing the need to speak aloud in quiet environments.

What Customers Are Saying

While specific customer reviews were unavailable at the time of this report, the aggregate rating speaks volumes. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 hold an impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars based on nearly 47,000 ratings on Amazon.

This exceptionally high rating from a massive sample size implies overwhelming user satisfaction. It suggests that the majority of buyers find the earbuds comfortable, reliable, and worth the premium price. The high score also indicates that the active noise cancellation and seamless iOS integration meet consumer expectations in real-world daily use.

Expert Comparisons

When compared to the $179 AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, the AirPods Pro 2 remain the superior choice for pure noise isolation. Because the Pro 2 seal off your inner ear canal, they provide more effective noise cancellation than the open-design AirPods 4.

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Against top competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM5, the AirPods Pro 2 hold their own in noise cancellation but fall slightly short in pure audio fidelity. Sony offers better low-end and high-end audio performance and supports high-resolution codecs. However, for Apple users, the seamless integration and Spatial Audio features often tip the scales in Apple’s favor.

With the release of the AirPods Pro 3, the Pro 2 are effectively discontinued. The newer Pro 3 offer greater space, more power, and better noise-cancelling. However, if you can find the AirPods Pro 2 discounted to around $200 during flash sales, they remain an excellent value and a no-brainer for dedicated Apple users.

Pros and Cons

• Pros

– World-class active noise cancellation

– Rich, well-balanced, and detailed sound quality

– Excellent battery life improvements

– Seamless integration with Apple devices

– Pioneering hearing health features

– Highly capable charging case with Precision Finding

– IP54 dust, sweat, and water resistance

– Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking

• Cons

– No high-resolution audio codec support

– EQ presets aren’t adjustable

– Many features restricted to iOS devices only

– Glossy plastic design is slippery and prone to drops

– Silicone tips can get slick when sweaty

– No XL ear tips included

Verdict

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are a triumph of iterative engineering. Apple took nearly three years to develop this second generation, and the effort shows. By combining the power of the H2 chip, a new custom driver, and a comfortable in-ear seal, Apple finally delivered a five-star audio experience.

They offer some of the best noise cancellation available, robust battery life, and a feature-rich case. While the lack of hi-res audio support and non-adjustable EQ may deter audio purists, the seamless iOS integration and Personalized Spatial Audio make up for it. For iPhone users, these remain the top noise-cancelling true wireless earphones, even as the Pro 3 take the flagship crown.

Specifications

• ASIN: B0D1XD1ZV3
• Item Model Number: MTJV3LL/A
• Manufacturer: Apple
• Product Dimensions: 0.94 x 0.86 x 1.22 inches
• Item Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Batteries: 3 Lithium Ion batteries required (included)
• Date First Available: April 23, 2024
• Units: 1 Count
• Chip: H2 headphone chip; U1 chip for case
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
• Codec Support: AAC
• Water Resistance: IP54 for both earbuds and case
• Battery Life: Up to 6 hours for earbuds (ANC on), up to 30 hours total with case
• Charging Support: USB-C, MagSafe, Qi Wireless, Apple Watch Charger
• Price: $249 MSRP