When Apple announced the second generation of their AirPods Pro, I was eager to see if they could improve on what was already a solid product. This apple airpods pro 2 review comes after three months of daily use, giving me plenty of time to test every feature in real-world conditions.
The unboxing experience remains quintessentially Apple – minimal, elegant, and satisfying. Opening the clean white box, I found the AirPods Pro 2 nestled in their charging case, along with extra ear tips (now including an XS size), a USB-C to USB-C cable (a welcome upgrade from Lightning), and the usual documentation.
My first thought upon holding the charging case was how familiar yet refined it felt. The dimensions are nearly identical to the original, but the addition of a small speaker for Find My alerts and a lanyard loop are thoughtful improvements. In my airpods pro 2 review, I’ll be covering everything from sound quality to battery life, comfort, and special features that might make these worth the $249 price tag.
Design and Comfort: Small Changes Make a Big Difference
The AirPods Pro 2 look almost identical to their predecessors at first glance. The iconic white stems and rounded earbuds remain, but Apple has made subtle refinements that improve the overall experience.
The most noticeable change for me was the improved fit. With four ear tip sizes now available (XS, S, M, L), I found a more secure and comfortable fit than with the original Pros. I have smaller ear canals, so the new XS tips were a game-changer for me. During my testing for this apple airpods pro 2 review, I wore them for 4-5 hour stretches without discomfort – something I couldn’t do with the originals.
The airpods pro 2 specs include an IP54 rating for dust, sweat, and water resistance, making them more durable than the previous generation. I’ve worn them during intense workouts and in light rain without issues. The sweat resistance is particularly impressive – I’ve had other earbuds fail after repeated exposure to sweat.
The touch controls have also been improved. I can now swipe up or down on the stems to adjust volume, which is much more convenient than asking Siri or pulling out my phone. This small addition has significantly enhanced my daily experience with the AirPods Pro 2.
Sound Quality: A Noticeable Step Up
The apple airpods pro 2 features that impressed me most include the significant improvements in sound quality. Powered by the new H2 chip, these earbuds deliver richer, more detailed audio across all frequencies.
Bass response is noticeably better – punchy without being overwhelming. Listening to Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” I could feel the deep bass lines in a way that was missing with the original Pros. The mids are clearer too, making vocals stand out beautifully. When I listened to Adele’s “Easy On Me,” her voice had a warmth and presence that was truly impressive for earbuds of this size.
The high frequencies are crisp without being harsh. Classical pieces like Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” revealed subtle details I hadn’t noticed before, with string instruments sounding natural and airy.
Throughout this airpods pro 2 review, I’ve tested them with various music genres, podcasts, and videos, and they’ve performed admirably across the board. The sound signature is well-balanced but slightly warm, making them versatile for almost any content.
Active Noise Cancellation: Twice as Good Is No Exaggeration
Apple claims the ANC in the AirPods Pro 2 is twice as effective as the previous generation, and my experience supports this claim. The improvement is immediately noticeable and has made my airpods pro review methodology focus heavily on real-world testing scenarios.
On flights, the AirPods Pro 2 blocked out significantly more engine noise than the originals. In coffee shops, the constant background chatter was reduced to a barely audible murmur. Even the rumble of subway trains was dramatically reduced, allowing me to listen to podcasts at lower, safer volumes.
What impressed me most was how the ANC handled sudden, loud noises. Construction sounds outside my apartment that would break through the original Pros’ noise cancellation were significantly muted with the second generation.
The apple airpods pro 2 features also include an improved Transparency mode, which Apple calls “Adaptive Transparency.” This mode lets in outside sounds but reduces very loud noises automatically. Walking down a busy street, I could hear traffic for safety, but when a truck honked its horn nearby, the earbuds instantly reduced the volume to protect my hearing. It’s a subtle but meaningful improvement that shows Apple’s attention to detail.
Spatial Audio: A Theater in Your Ears
Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking remains one of my favorite features, and it’s even better on the AirPods Pro 2. The effect is more precise, creating a truly immersive experience when watching movies or listening to Dolby Atmos music.
Watching “The Mandalorian” on Disney+, the sound truly felt like it was coming from all around me, with the direction locked to my iPad even as I moved my head. It’s the closest thing to a theater experience you can get from a pair of earbuds.
Apple has added Personalized Spatial Audio, which uses the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera to create a personal profile based on your ear geometry. After setting this up, I noticed subtle improvements in how accurately sounds were positioned around me.
In my apple airpods pro review comparisons between generations, this personalization feature stands out as a meaningful advancement that enhances the already impressive Spatial Audio experience.
Battery Life and Charging: Incremental but Welcome Improvements
The airpods pro 2 specs claim up to 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabled (up from 4.5 hours on the original) and up to 30 hours total with the charging case. My real-world testing confirms these numbers are accurate, sometimes even conservative.
With ANC on and volume at about 60%, I consistently got between 5.5 and 6 hours of listening time. With ANC off, I could stretch that to nearly 7 hours. The case provided about 4 full charges, giving me around 30 hours total before needing to plug in.
The charging case now supports USB-C charging, which aligns with Apple’s gradual transition away from Lightning. It also works with MagSafe chargers, Apple Watch chargers, and Qi wireless chargers, offering plenty of flexibility.
A feature I particularly appreciate is the quick charge capability – 5 minutes in the case provides about an hour of listening time. This has saved me multiple times when I’ve realized my AirPods were low on battery just before a call or workout.
Many Apple AirPods pro 2 review reddit threads mention occasional battery drain issues with the case, but I haven’t experienced this problem. My case maintains its charge well, even when left unused for several days.
Smart Features: The H2 Chip Makes a Difference
The new H2 chip powers many of the improvements in the AirPods Pro 2, from better sound to improved ANC. However, it also enables some clever features that enhance the overall experience.
Automatic switching between Apple devices works more reliably than with the original Pros. When I finish a call on my iPhone and start watching a video on my iPad, the AirPods switch almost instantly with no manual intervention required.
The Find My integration has been significantly improved. The charging case now has a built-in speaker that can play a sound when you’re trying to locate it. This has already saved me from losing my AirPods multiple times. According to apple airpods pro 2 review reddit discussions, this is one of the most appreciated new features.
Voice isolation during calls is noticeably better. Several people I spoke with commented on how clear I sounded, even when I was in noisy environments like coffee shops or walking on busy streets. The beamforming microphones and speech-detecting accelerometer work together to focus on my voice and reduce background noise.
Hearing Health Features: More Than Just Earbuds
One of the most interesting developments is how Apple is positioning the AirPods Pro 2 as hearing health devices. My apple airpods pro 2 hearing aid review tests show they can indeed help people with mild to moderate hearing loss in certain situations.
The Conversation Boost feature, which uses computational audio and beamforming microphones to focus on the voice of the person in front of you, works surprisingly well. It’s not a replacement for medical-grade hearing aids, but it can definitely help in challenging listening environments.
Apple has also added a Hearing Test feature that can assess your hearing and adjust audio accordingly. The test takes about 5 minutes and creates a personal profile that optimizes sound based on your hearing abilities. I found the results consistent with a professional hearing test I had done recently.
These features make the AirPods Pro 2 more than just premium earbuds – they’re becoming health devices that can potentially help millions of people with mild hearing issues.
Comparison with Competitors: How Do They Stack Up?
When conducting this airpods pro review, I paid special attention to how they compare with other premium earbuds on the market, particularly the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.
In terms of noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro 2 are now on par with Bose, which has long been the gold standard. The Sony XM5s still have slightly more customizable ANC, but in raw performance, there’s very little difference between the three.
Sound quality is more subjective, but I find the Sony XM5s offer slightly better bass response and more detailed highs. The Bose have a warmer sound signature that some might prefer. The AirPods Pro 2 strike a nice balance – not as bass-heavy as the Sony or as warm as the Bose, but very well-tuned for a wide range of content.
Where the AirPods Pro 2 clearly win is in ecosystem integration. If you use other Apple devices, the seamless switching, Spatial Audio, and shared audio features are significant advantages. The Find My integration is also superior to anything offered by competitors.
At $249, the AirPods Pro 2 are priced competitively against the Sony WF-1000XM5 ($299) and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II ($299). Looking at the airpods pro 2 specs, the value proposition is strong if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem.
The Little Things: Details That Matter
Throughout my three months with the AirPods Pro 2, I’ve come to appreciate some smaller features that don’t make headlines but improve the daily experience:
The skin-detect sensor is more accurate than the previous optical sensor, meaning the audio pauses immediately when I remove an earbud and resumes instantly when I put it back in. This works more reliably than the original Pros.
The case’s lanyard loop is a simple addition, but it’s made it easier to keep track of my AirPods by attaching them to my bag or keys. It’s a small touch that shows Apple is listening to user feedback.
The speaker in the case not only helps with Find My alerts but also provides battery status sounds. A high tone means good battery level, while a low tone indicates it’s time to charge. It’s a thoughtful addition for accessibility.
The advanced apple airpods pro 2 features justify the higher price point for many users, especially those who value these quality-of-life improvements that make the overall experience more seamless.
Drawbacks: Not Perfect, But Close
No apple airpods pro 2 review would be complete without mentioning some drawbacks. While I’m generally impressed, there are a few areas where improvements could be made:
The white color still shows dirt easily, and after three months of use, my case has some visible scuffs and discoloration. I wish Apple offered more color options.
While battery life is improved, it still falls short of some competitors. The Sony WF-1000XM5 offers 8 hours with ANC on, compared to 6 hours for the AirPods Pro 2.
The touch controls, while improved, can still be finicky at times, especially when trying to adjust volume while moving. It sometimes takes a couple of attempts to get the right gesture recognized.
Some users in apple airpods pro 2 review reddit threads mention occasional connectivity issues, particularly with non-Apple devices. I’ve experienced this a few times when connecting to my Windows PC for work calls.
Verdict: Are They Worth It?
After three months of daily use, my verdict on the AirPods Pro 2 is overwhelmingly positive. They represent a significant improvement over the original Pros in almost every way – sound quality, noise cancellation, battery life, and smart features.
For existing AirPods Pro owners, the upgrade is worthwhile if you value better noise cancellation, sound quality, and battery life. If you’re coming from regular AirPods or other earbuds, the jump in quality and features is substantial.
At $249, they’re not cheap, but they offer excellent value compared to other premium earbuds, especially if you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem. The airpods pro 2 specs reveal several under-the-hood improvements that enhance the user experience and justify the price.
This apple airpods pro 2 review is based on my personal experience using them daily for three months, and I can confidently say they’re the best wireless earbuds I’ve used. They strike an excellent balance between features, performance, and convenience, making them easy to recommend for most users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are AirPods Pro 2 worth upgrading from the original AirPods Pro?
Yes, I think the upgrade is worthwhile. The improvements in noise cancellation (twice as effective), sound quality, battery life (6 hours vs 4.5 hours), and the addition of touch volume controls make a noticeable difference in daily use. If your original Pros are showing battery wear or you use them frequently, the upgrade will be appreciated.
Do AirPods Pro 2 work well with Android phones?
They work with Android phones as standard Bluetooth earbuds, but you’ll lose several key features like automatic switching between devices, Spatial Audio, customizable controls, and ear tip fit test. For Android users, alternatives like Sony WF-1000XM5 or Google Pixel Buds Pro might offer better integration.
How effective is the noise cancellation for airplane travel?
Very effective. In my testing, they blocked significantly more engine noise than the original Pros. While not quite as complete as over-ear noise-canceling headphones, they’re among the best noise-canceling earbuds for travel and make flights much more comfortable.
Can AirPods Pro 2 replace hearing aids?
No, they cannot replace medical-grade hearing aids for significant hearing loss. However, features like Conversation Boost and Personalized Hearing can help people with mild hearing difficulties in specific situations. They’re best thought of as helpful assistive devices rather than medical replacements.
How durable are the AirPods Pro 2 for workouts and running?
With an IP54 rating, they’re well-protected against sweat and light rain. I’ve used them for intense workouts and running without issues. The improved fit also helps them stay secure during activity. Just remember they’re not fully waterproof, so avoid submerging them or exposing them to heavy rain.
Do the AirPods Pro 2 fix the crackling/static issues some users experienced with the original Pros?
Based on my experience and research, Apple seems to have addressed the crackling issues that affected some original AirPods Pro units. I haven’t experienced any crackling or static during my three months of use, even in windy conditions or during calls. If you do encounter these issues, Apple’s support is generally good about replacing affected units.