Willie S.
The earliest Apple AirPods were decent. Not great. Decent. Despite the high price, Apple AirPods struggled to beat their closest competitors in sound tests, and we couldn’t help but feel that Apple was relying on their brand name to shift the headphones, and they weren’t too fussed about them being the ‘best of the best’. In fact, other than the AirPods Max, these headphones were much ‘take them or leave them’ for us. However, things have changed with the Apple AirPods Pro 2. It seems as if Apple have taken note that their headphones weren’t tremendous, and they’ve put together a decent pair. But are they the best, or is it something you should still avoid?
We’ll look in this Apple AirPods Pro 2 review.
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Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) – Specs at a Glance
Part of the reason why the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are better than the previous generation is because they’ve been given a massive upgrade in the spec department. We’re talking about a faster processor, better noise canceling, a better battery, and improved audio. So, we figured we’d kick off this Apple AirPods Pro 2 review by having a quick look at the specs:
- Custom Apple sound driver
- Customer high dynamic range amplifier
- Adaptive audio
- Active noise cancellation
- Transparency mode
- Personalized volume
- Loud noise reduction
- Conversation awareness
- Vent system to reduce pressure and increase sound quality.
- In-built microphone
- Dynamic head tracking
- Skin detect sensor.
- Speech-detecting accelerometer.
- Volume controls
- MagSafe Charging Case
- 6-hour battery life
Don’t worry if you don’t have a clue what some of these features are. We’ll be expanding upon a lot of it over the next section. All you really need to know right now is that the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are feature-packed, and they’re loaded with all sorts of cool things that will make your listening experience that much more pleasant…if you have an Apple device to hook them up to, that is.
How to Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Perform
It’s incredibly tough to review headphones because, at the end of the day, they’re not designed to do much more than listen to what’s going on around you, or maybe make it easier for you to have a chat without pulling the phone out of your pocket. However, there’s still a lot to talk about with the Apple AirPods Pro 2, and we want to share our experience. So, we’re going to break what you get with the headphones over multiple sections.
Battery & Charging
Yes. We know that battery and charging shouldn’t be the priority when buying headphones, but since many people make it their priority (as they often will be out and about for long periods of time), we figured we’d start with that.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 has a battery life of around 6 hours. You may get slightly less if you’re using Siri a lot, or using the microphone, but it is around 6 hours, even when you have active noise cancelling turned on. This is perfectly respectable, and it beats many other earbuds at this price point, but Apple has always been good with its batteries. Time will tell whether the battery in the AirPods will perform as well a few years down the line, but we reckon it will.
If you’ve owned AirPods before, you’ll know that the original charging case wasn’t brilliant. It was functional but wasn’t brilliant. This was apparent when other companies started to come out with things akin to the AirPods. However, we’re pleased to tell you that Apple has given the charging case an upgrade. It has a 30-hour battery life, offers a small speaker, and even lets out a small tone should you misplace it, and trust us, you will misplace it a lot (it is tiny, but that’s fine).
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 case has either a USB-C connector or Lightning Cable. Choose whichever one is right for you. Again, a huge difference from previous iterations of the buds.
The Design of the Apple AirPods Pro 2
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 doesn’t look that aesthetically different from the original AirPods, which we suppose is Apple’s way of working. It is all about branding for them. However, Apple has added a couple of changes that show they really do listen to their customers.
The original Apple AirPods did not have volume control, which was completely baffling since it seemed something so sensible to include, and every other company managed it. Apple has decided to follow the mainstream and add volume controls to the Pro 2. You won’t get any physical buttons, though. Instead, you have a touch layer that you can swipe up and down. The headphones will vibrate a little to know you’re doing it right. It can be tough to get to grips with if you’re used to physical buttons, but it works.
You’ll need to twiddle about with the stems of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 if you’re planning on changing tracks, answering calls, etc. It is cumbersome, but it works.
All in all, you’re getting a quality-looking pair of earbuds here. You know what to expect from Apple, right?
Listening & Noise Cancellation
We loathed the active noise cancelation on previous iterations of Apple AirPods. It barely functioned properly. In fact, it seemed to always add a noticeable crackling for us. Thankfully, Apple has shaken things up a lot with the Pro 2. They have a better noise cancelation chip in place, and it works wonders. It really can drown out the sounds that are around you. So, it is just you and your music. We’re willing to go as far as to say that the Apple AirPods Pro 2 has the best noise cancellation in the business.
In addition to the active noise cancelation, you’ll find a ‘transparency’ mode, which isn’t fully noise canceling, but it can help to round off high-pitched sounds so they’re less startling, while also keeping you aware of your surroundings.
It is worth noting that while you have a degree of adjustment on the noise cancelation, it is a dynamic process. So, the ANC will change depending on the situation you’re in i.e., if you’re indoors, there’ll be less noise cancelation than if you were outside in a high-traffic area. For the most part, it works.
Overall sound is good, just as you would expect from a pair of earbuds of this caliber. Some people report that there is a little bit of thinness when playing tunes while using ANC, but it isn’t a major issue. We certainly haven’t noticed it. Just expect quality earbud-level music.
Microphone Use
The microphone on the AirPods is good. There are two things we want to highlight here.
Firstly – the Apple AirPods boast conversational awareness. If the earbud’s microphone detects you’re trying to have a conversation, it will automatically lower the music. We know that other earbuds offer something similar, namely the Sony ones, but the Apple AirPods Pro 2 is better. It is less sensitive, which means you don’t have to worry about the sound automatically lowering because you’re having a bit of a cough.
In terms of overall microphone conversation when you’re on a call, the microphone is serviceable. It always is on earbuds due to the smaller microphone. The other person may claim that your voice sounds a little bit thin, but you will be hearable. It is fine. If you want a better call quality, then hold the phone up to your ear instead.
Cool Features Offered by the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
There are a few other features you should probably be aware of with the Apple AirPods Pro 2, although do bear in mind that some of these features are only available on iOS devices, since Apple has yet to make an Android app, and they seem to have no intention of doing so.
Spatial audio is one of our favorite features on the AirPods. It provides a completely immersive sound experience, and you’ll feel like you’re surrounded, 360 degrees, by the music or video. The headphones can even detect turns of your head.
You also get the nifty ‘Find My AirPods’ feature, just in case you misplace them, and you probably will misplace them. Unfortunately, you can only find them if you lose them while using an iOS device. Lose them in every other situation, and you best have some good tracking skills as Apple will be of no help.
You may also enjoy the personalized volume feature, which will adjust the sound automatically depending on your preferences and the environment you’re in. This is a feature we love, as we are so tired of turning the volume up and down, depending on where we are.
Why You Should Get the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
There are plenty of reasons why the Apple AirPods Pro 2 may be right for you. If you want the following, then pick them up:
- A pair of headphones that works seamlessly with Apple devices.
- The best active noise cancelation on the market.
- Quality sound
- Good responsiveness to the environment
- Decent battery life
Why You Should Avoid the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
We don’t necessarily think you should avoid the Apple AirPods Pro 2, but you may want to give them a skip if you don’t have an Apple device to pair them up with.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 will work with non-Apple devices. They’re Bluetooth headphones, after all. The problem is that you’ll be missing out on a ton of features by not pairing it with an Apple device. This means no Siri, no easy pairing, and no ‘easy switchover’ to other devices. All of these are staple features of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and, without them, you have just another pair of Bluetooth headphones in your hand.
That’s not to say that the AirPods Pro 2 still won’t perform well. They will. We just see no sense in picking up the Apple AirPods Pro 2 unless you’ve got an Apple device. Why not save yourself a little bit of cash, since you won’t be able to use every single feature the AirPods have anyway? All they’ll be at this point is a status symbol.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 – Are They Right for You?
We know the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are expensive, which is why they won’t be for everybody. They may not even be right for you. However, if you’re looking for a quality pair of earbuds, that will work seamlessly with your current Apple devices, then they’re worth checking out. This is the best version of the Apple AirPods yet, and if you pick up a pair of these, we can guarantee that you’ll be happy with them for years.
