Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Review

Overview

Apple’s AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C charging arrived in September 2023 as a mid-cycle refresh of the 2022 second-generation model. The earbuds themselves remain acoustically identical to the original Lightning-case version — the update swaps the proprietary port for USB-C, bringing the case in line with the iPhone 15 lineup and modern charging standards. For anyone who already owns the Lightning version, there is no sonic reason to upgrade. But for new buyers or those coming from first-generation AirPods Pro, this is the model to get.

The H2 chip inside these earbuds represents a significant leap over the H1 silicon in the originals, packing roughly one billion transistors — twice as many as its predecessor. This enables stronger active noise cancellation, better power efficiency, and smarter features like Adaptive Audio. Expert reviewers across major publications have been overwhelmingly positive, with WIRED awarding a 9/10, What Hi-Fi giving a five-star rating, and PCMag bestowing its Editors’ Choice award. SoundGuys scored the earbuds a 7.6 out of 10. The product also carries a 4.7-star average rating from nearly 29,000 Amazon customers.

It is worth noting that Apple has since released the AirPods Pro 3, which some reviewers describe as a further refinement of this same likable sonic profile. The Pro 2, however, remain widely available and continue to represent an excellent overall package — especially for iPhone owners who want premium true wireless earbuds without chasing the absolute latest generation.

Design and Build

Apple did not reinvent the wheel here. The AirPods Pro 2 look nearly identical to the first-generation model, sporting the same glossy white plastic exterior with the iconic stem design. The buds feature silicone ear tips that sit inside the ear canal, unlike the open-fit AirPods 4. Apple includes four pairs of oval silicone tips in XS, S, M, and L sizes — the extra-small option is a new addition compared to the originals.

The charging case has seen more meaningful updates. It is a rounded rectangle that now features a built-in speaker on the bottom, which plays sounds for charging notifications, low battery alerts, and Find My location pinging. The case also carries a U1 ultra-wideband chip for precision finding via the Find My app. A lanyard loop is built into the side, though Apple does not include a lanyard in the box. The case is now IPX4 water-resistant, matching the buds themselves — a meaningful upgrade for gym use and outdoor activity.

Charging options are extensive: USB-C, MagSafe, Qi wireless charging, and even Apple Watch charger support. The case is compact and pocketable, and the magnetic lid closure produces a satisfying click that multiple customer reviewers specifically praised. The white-only color choice drew mild criticism initially, though several customers came to appreciate how easily visible the buds are when dropped on the ground or in snow.

Fit and Comfort

Comfort is where subjectivity reigns. The AirPods Pro 2 use an in-ear canal design with silicone tips that create an acoustic seal — essential for both noise isolation and sound quality. Apple’s tip selection process, which uses an on-screen test to evaluate seal quality, helps users find the right fit. For many, the medium tips work well and the buds stay secure during everyday activities.

However, fit is the most commonly cited complaint across both expert and customer reviews. Multiple users reported that the buds fall out during workouts, while eating, or even during casual walking. Some users with larger hands also noted that the stem-based controls can be tricky to operate accurately. The in-ear canal design itself is not for everyone — some people simply dislike the sensation of having something inserted into their ear canal.

Expert reviewers noted that minor positional changes in how the buds sit affect ANC performance, making it worth experimenting with different tips and insertion angles. Several customer reviewers recommended third-party memory foam tips as an upgrade over the included silicone options, and others suggested purchasing ear hooks for workout security.

Sound Quality

This is where the AirPods Pro 2 mark their biggest generational leap. Apple’s H2 chip pairs with a custom-built low-distortion driver and 11mm dynamic drivers to deliver what multiple expert reviewers called the best-sounding AirPods to date. What Hi-Fi awarded five stars, noting that Apple finally delivered the sonic performance they had been waiting for — clear, detailed, and powerful sound that stands among class leaders.

The sound signature is well-tuned and fairly balanced, with a natural character. Bass response is strong and satisfying — perhaps slightly heavy for some tastes, particularly with Dolby Atmos mixes, though this is often a function of mastering rather than the earbuds themselves. High notes are crisp and clear, and there is good separation across the frequency spectrum. The soundstage is surprisingly wide for true wireless earbuds, though one audiophile reviewer noted it lacks depth.

Customer reviewers consistently praised the sound quality, with many describing rediscovered details in familiar music — background harmonies, production nuances, and subtle instrumentation they had not previously noticed. Even self-described audiophiles who own premium over-ear headphones acknowledged that the AirPods Pro 2 sound genuinely good, even if they do not match the absolute best from Sony, Sennheiser, or Bowers & Wilkins.

One limitation: the AirPods Pro 2 support only the AAC and SBC codecs over Bluetooth 5.3. There is no support for scalable codecs like LDAC or aptX, meaning lossless audio streaming is off the table. Apple appears to favor consistency and stability over hi-res playback. There is also no built-in EQ customization without a third-party app, which SoundGuys flagged as a drawback.

Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is supported and works well, particularly for movies and television. Multiple reviewers found it immersive for video content, though opinions on its value for music were more mixed. WIRED noted that spatial audio for music remains in its infancy, and What Hi-Fi observed that Dolby Atmos mixes can be hit or miss.

Active Noise Cancellation and Listening Modes

The H2 chip enables what Apple claims is up to twice the active noise cancellation of the first-generation AirPods Pro. Expert testing largely bears this out. SoundGuys rated ANC at 8.2 out of 10, and PCMag called the AirPods Pro 2 the best noise-cancelling true wireless earphones for iPhone owners.

In practice, the ANC is highly effective at masking consistent ambient noise — HVAC systems, television audio, espresso machines, and conversation. One customer reviewer described sitting 25 to 30 feet from a TV and being unable to hear it. Another noted that a 95-decibel air compressor was barely perceptible. A truck driver reported that the ANC muffled the cacophony of driving at 80 mph. While some reviewers noted that over-ear headphones like the Bose QuietComfort series still edge out the AirPods Pro 2 in raw noise reduction, the gap has narrowed considerably.

Transparency mode uses the external microphones to pipe in ambient sound, allowing you to hear your surroundings without removing the buds. It works well and is notably more natural-sounding than simply pausing audio. The standout new feature is Adaptive Audio, which dynamically blends ANC and Transparency based on your environment. If you are walking down a quiet street, it lets in outside noise; step into a loud coffee shop, and it ramps up cancellation. Customer reviewers praised this feature, though some noted that the conversational awareness component — which reduces volume and activates Transparency when you speak — can be slightly slow to trigger, sometimes causing a brief delay before important conversation is caught.

Controls and Features

The AirPods Pro 2 retain the squeeze-based stem controls from the originals and add a new capacitive touch surface on the stem for volume adjustment via vertical swiping. One squeeze plays or pauses, two squeezes skips tracks, and a long press toggles between ANC and Transparency. The squeeze mechanism is generally praised as more reliable and accurate than tap-based controls on competing earbuds, though users with larger fingers reported occasional mis-commands.

Skin detection sensors replace the infrared optical sensors used in the first-generation model, improving play/pause accuracy when buds are removed or inserted. Siri can be activated hands-free, and the virtual assistant can read notifications aloud — a feature some users find useful. However, WIRED noted that Siri activation is not perfectly reliable every time.

The Find My ecosystem is a standout. The case’s built-in speaker emits a tone when triggered through the Find My app, and the U1 chip enables precision directional finding. Individual buds can also play a tone, though one hearing-impaired customer reviewer found the high-pitched sound difficult to locate and wished it were adjustable. Several customers noted that the “leave behind” notification can arrive with a delay of several minutes, which is helpful but sometimes too late to be actionable.

Battery Life and Charging

Apple rates the AirPods Pro 2 for up to six hours of listening per charge with ANC enabled, with the case providing approximately four additional full charges for a total of around 30 hours. SoundGuys rated battery life at 6.0 out of 10 — adequate but not class-leading. Several customer reviewers reported getting about five hours per bud in real-world use, which aligns with expert findings.

Charging is flexible. The USB-C port supports wired charging, and the case is compatible with MagSafe, Qi wireless pads, and Apple Watch chargers. A few minutes in the case provides roughly 45 to 60 minutes of listening time. One reviewer noted that charging the buds from zero to full takes about half an hour, and the case itself charges from 40% to 90% in a similar timeframe when plugged into a low-wattage brick.

A commonly cited frustration is the case’s charge status indicator. The single amber/green LED on the case provides only a broad binary indication — charging or charged. To get a precise percentage, you must open the case near your iPhone or iPad with the buds inside. Multiple customer reviewers found this clunky and wished for a more granular indicator or the ability to simply ask Siri.

Call Quality and Microphone

Call quality is one of the AirPods Pro 2’s strongest suits. Multiple customer reviewers described them as the best earbuds they have used for phone calls, praising the microphone’s ability to mask background noise so effectively that callers on the other end cannot tell you are in a noisy environment. One reviewer described a call where a child was gaming loudly in the background, and the processing was good enough that the noise was only faintly audible.

However, the news is not universally positive. A truck driver noted that while they could hear callers perfectly even standing next to a loud generator, the person on the other end struggled to understand them. The microphone’s noise cancellation can sometimes over-process speech, making it difficult for callers to parse words in very loud environments. A dedicated headset with a boom mic still outperforms the AirPods Pro 2 for calls in extreme noise.

SoundGuys rated the microphone at 5.1 out of 10, the lowest individual metric in their scoring. For typical office or home calls, the AirPods Pro 2 are more than adequate. For construction sites, factories, or highway-speed driving, limitations become apparent.

Ecosystem and Connectivity

The AirPods Pro 2 shine brightest within the Apple ecosystem. Pairing is as simple as opening the case near an iPhone and following the on-screen prompt. Audio automatically switches between iPhone, iPad, and Mac based on which device is actively producing sound — a feature that works seamlessly for most users, though some reported initial pairing hiccups when connecting to multiple devices simultaneously.

For Android and Linux users, the AirPods Pro 2 function as standard Bluetooth earbuds. They pair without issue, but the experience loses much of its magic. There is no dynamic switching, no Siri integration, and many of the customization and feature settings require an Apple device. SoundGuys and What Hi-Fi both noted that many features are restricted to iOS devices, which is a significant drawback for cross-platform households.

The Bluetooth 5.3 connection is stable, and all ANC and Transparency processing happens locally on the earbuds rather than requiring a phone connection. This means the core listening experience is preserved regardless of which device you are connected to.

What Customers Are Saying

With a 4.7-star average rating from nearly 29,000 Amazon reviews, customer sentiment is overwhelmingly positive. The most common praise centers on sound quality, noise cancellation effectiveness, and the seamless Apple ecosystem experience. Many reviewers upgrading from first-generation AirPods Pro or cheaper earbuds described the improvement as revelatory — hearing details in familiar music they had never noticed before.

The case received outsized praise. Customers loved the built-in speaker for Find My functionality, the satisfying magnetic closure, the compact pocketable size, and the chime that confirms the buds are properly seated for charging. The USB-C port was frequently cited as a meaningful quality-of-life improvement, eliminating the need for a separate Lightning cable.

Fit and comfort drew the most varied responses. Many users found the buds comfortable for all-day wear and secure during activity. Others reported persistent issues with the buds falling out during workouts, while eating, or even during casual movement. Several recommended third-party ear hooks or memory foam tips. A few noted that none of the included silicone tip sizes provided a secure seal, requiring reseating after an hour or so.

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Battery life was described as acceptable but average. Most users reported around five hours per charge with several additional charges from the case — sufficient for daily use but not class-leading. The case charge status indicator was a recurring complaint, with multiple users finding the single LED too imprecise.

Call quality drew mixed feedback. While many praised the microphone’s background noise suppression, others reported that callers sometimes complained about audio quality. The conversational awareness feature was appreciated but criticized for a slight delay in recognizing speech.

Durability surprised several reviewers. One customer reported dropping the buds repeatedly on hardwood floors and concrete sidewalks with no functional damage. The IPX4 rating provides peace of mind for gym use and light rain.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Excellent, well-balanced sound quality with strong bass and crisp highs
Highly effective active noise cancellation
Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends ANC and Transparency
Best-in-class ecosystem integration for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users
Compact, well-designed charging case with built-in speaker and Find My support
USB-C charging alongside MagSafe, Qi, and Apple Watch charger compatibility
IPX4 water resistance for both buds and case
Four ear tip sizes including extra-small for better fit options
Squeeze and swipe controls are intuitive and reliable
Strong call quality in typical environments
Personalized Spatial Audio enhances movie and video content

Cons:

Fit issues common — buds may fall out during activity for some users
No EQ customization without third-party apps
Only AAC and SBC codecs — no lossless or hi-res audio support
Many features restricted to Apple devices; Android users lose significant functionality
Battery life is adequate but not class-leading at six hours per charge
Case charge status indicator is imprecise — single LED only
Conversational awareness can be slow to trigger
Microphone struggles in very noisy environments compared to dedicated headsets
Spatial audio for music remains inconsistent
Siri activation is not always perfectly reliable
No lanyard included despite built-in loop
White is the only color option

Verdict

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C charging are, for iPhone owners, the most compelling true wireless earbuds available. They may not be the absolute best at any single metric — Sony and Sennheiser offer marginally better pure sound quality, Bose edges ahead in raw noise cancellation, and competitors offer longer battery life. But no other earbud delivers the same level of polish across every category simultaneously.

The H2 chip enables genuinely excellent ANC, a well-tuned natural sound signature, and smart features like Adaptive Audio that work as advertised in real-world conditions. The charging case is thoughtfully designed with practical touches — the built-in speaker, precision finding, and multi-protocol charging support — that demonstrate Apple’s attention to the details users interact with daily. The seamless ecosystem integration, from one-tap pairing to automatic device switching, creates an experience that no competitor can fully replicate.

The weaknesses are real but contextual. Fit problems are inherently subjective and can often be addressed with third-party tips or hooks. The lack of hi-res codec support matters to audiophiles but is irrelevant to the vast majority of listeners streaming compressed audio. The iOS-only feature set is a non-issue for the target audience but a dealbreaker for Android-centric users. Battery life is merely average rather than poor.

With the AirPods Pro 3 now on the market, the Pro 2 occupy an interesting position. They remain excellent earbuds that have aged remarkably well, and for shoppers not chasing the absolute latest generation, they represent a mature, refined product that does almost everything well. For anyone embedded in the Apple ecosystem seeking premium wireless audio, these earbuds are an easy recommendation.

Specifications

Product Name: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C Charging
Manufacturer: Apple
ASIN: B0CHWRXH8B
Model Number: MTJV3AM/A
Chip: H2 (earbuds), U1 (case)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
Codecs: AAC, SBC
Driver: 11mm dynamic
Ear Tips: Four pairs (XS, S, M, L) silicone
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes, up to 2x more than first generation
Listening Modes: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, Adaptive Audio
Spatial Audio: Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking
IP Rating: IPX4 (buds and case)
Battery: 3 Lithium Ion (included)
Battery Life: Up to 6 hours per charge (ANC on), approximately 30 hours total with case
Charging: USB-C, MagSafe, Qi wireless, Apple Watch charger
Case Features: Built-in speaker, Find My with precision finding, lanyard loop
Controls: Squeeze (play/pause, skip, ANC toggle), swipe (volume)
Sensors: Skin detection sensors
Product Dimensions: 0.94 x 0.86 x 1.22 inches (per bud)
Item Weight: 0.22 kg
Bud Weight: 5.3g (per bud)
Case Dimensions: 45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7mm
Case Weight: 50.8g
Date First Available: September 12, 2023
Units: 1 Count
Number of Items: 1

Sale

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Wireless Ear Buds with USB-C Charging, Up to 2X More Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones, Transparency Mode, Adaptive, Personalized Spatial Audio, White

RICHER AUDIO EXPERIENCE — The Apple-designed H2 chip helps to create more intelligent noise cancellation and deeply immersive sound. The low-distortion, custom-built driver delivers crisp, clear high notes and full, rich bass in stunning definition.
NEXT-LEVEL ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation for dramatically less noise when you want to focus. Transparency mode lets you hear the world around you, and Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode for the best listening experience in any environment.
CUSTOMIZABLE FIT — Includes four pairs of silicone tips (XS, S, M, L) to fit a wide range of ears and provide all-day comfort. The tips create an acoustic seal to help keep out noise and secure AirPods Pro in place.