Apple Airpods 2 Pro
Retail Price
$249
Lowest Price
$156.02
Release Date
September 23, 2022
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, retaining their iconic design, offer superior performance due to the advanced H2 chip, extended battery life, and improved active noise cancellation. The sound quality is notably enhanced, making them a competitive choice among top noise-cancelling earbuds. The U1 chip in the case facilitates precise tracking, while the new vent placements significantly boost noise cancellation. Despite a higher price tag, the earbuds are a compelling choice for iPhone users due to their premium build, easy iOS pairing, and superior audio performance.
Purchase Links
Overview
- Summary
- Overview - Build
- Overview - Features
- Overview - Performance
- Overview - Purpose
- Overview - Upgrade
- Recommendation
- Positive
- Negative
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, while retaining its classic design, brings about modest improvements including enhanced active noise canceling and battery life, courtesy of the upgraded H2 chip. With the case’s U1 chip and integrated speaker, locating it via the Find My app is more precise. For iPhone users, the new AirPods Pro is a compelling choice.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro outperform their predecessor with enhanced sound quality, active noise canceling feature, and extended battery life, offering remarkable performance for their compact size.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro boasts a premium build quality and improved ANC to compete with top noise cancelling earbuds. Upgraded from H1 to H2 chip technology, these earbuds ensure easy pairing with iOS devices. The carrying case, fitted with a U1 chip, enables precise tracking. While they may lack customization options compared to others, they provide a robust performance with an enhanced sound profile.
The Verge
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, priced at $249, boasts enhancements including an improved case, extended battery life, and the innovative H2 chip for advanced computational audio. The new vent placements significantly enhance the active noise cancellation capability, reportedly doubling its effectiveness compared to the previous model.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro features notable design updates, especially in the microphone and sensor placement. Unlike the original model, the noise-canceling microphone and skin-detection sensor are now separate, with the former relocated to the top for enhanced ambient sound processing. The sensor is more compact and has been upgraded for more accurate playback control and improved energy efficiency, mirroring the configuration of the AirPods 3.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro carrying case, maintaining its previous generation’s plastic design, is equipped with features such as MagSafe charging, a lanyard loop, and IPX4 certification for splash resistance. It also includes a U1 chip for location tracking via the ‘Find My’ app. The case has dimensions of 1.8″ in length, 2.4″ in width, and 0.9″ in height, with a volume of 3.67in3.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offers sound quality that aligns closely with our house curve, with noticeable deviations only above 8kHz. Despite a slight under-emphasis in the highest octave, the harmonic detail remains satisfactory, especially during busy track segments. The Adaptive EQ feature ensures consistent audio playback by adjusting to the fit of the earbuds and the shape of the user’s ear.
David Carnoy – CNET
Apple’s new Apple AirPods 2 Pro come with an H2 chip, new amplifier, and low-distortion drivers, all enhanced with new digital processing algorithms for improved sound quality. The active noise cancellation feature depends on the tightness of the ear tips’ seal, with occasional adjustments needed for optimal performance. Significant improvements can be noticed in both noise cancellation and sound, characterized by better clarity, enhanced bass definition, and more depth, resulting in a more dynamic, full-bodied sound.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro feature highly responsive and easy-to-use controls, with improved ‘Force Sensor’ controls providing click feedback. They offer various command functions like playing, pausing, and skipping audio tracks, and cycling between ANC modes. They also support voice commands for Siri, specifically on iOS devices.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro surpass expectations with enhanced features including superior battery life, sound quality, and noise cancellation. They also boast an improved transparency mode, better case design, and volume control on the stocks. These significant upgrades offer a better user experience at the same price point.
The Verge
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro boast an upgraded H2 chip, new amps, and drivers, which according to the company, result in deeper bass and crisper highs.
Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro’s new H2 chip processes efficiently and the device also features Bluetooth 5.3, providing improved range and power efficiency. This technology also enables the case to transmit battery level to your phone without the earbuds, enhancing overall usability.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro’s H2 chipset, microphones and algorithms contribute to Apple’s enhanced adaptive active noise canceling, claimed to be twice as potent as its predecessor’s noise-canceling capabilities.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer a decent neutral sound, characterized by an extended bass compared to the previous model. The sound profile is warmer, resulting in softer vocals and instruments. Although the treble is slightly subdued, it helps in reducing the sharpness of sibilants and instruments. Despite being in-ears, the headphones lack a natural or spacious passive soundstage. However, the Spatial Audio feature compensates by providing an immersive audio experience by tracking head movements.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro sound profile is highly responsive and crisp, offering noticeable enhancements in lows and mids, making it ideal for bass-heavy music like hip hop. It also maintains minimal distortion even at high volumes.
r/apple
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro sound quality is remarkably clear, particularly in the bass/heavy spectrum.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro perform satisfactorily across various settings. Their microphone may not capture voice clearly during phone calls, especially in noisy environments. However, their Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature aids in blocking background noise for better focus. The earbuds are suitable for office use due to their comfortable design and six-hour battery life, which can be extended with the carrying case providing four additional charges. Their ANC effectively muffles office noises. For sports and fitness, they offer a comfortable and stable fit, along with IPX4 certified water resistance. Finally, they are convenient for commuting and travel due to their lightweight, portable design, excellent noise cancellation, and minimal sound leakage at high volumes.
The Verge
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro are not a radical departure from the original design, but they offer a solid upgrade with enhanced battery life, minor case improvements, improved audio quality, significant advancement in Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and added features like personalized spatial audio.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, with its improved performance and active noise cancellation, offers great value at its original price of $249 USD, making it a worthwhile purchase for iPhone users needing new earbuds. However, first-gen AirPods Pro owners might not find the upgrade necessary.
Pros & Cons
- Pros
- Cons
- Positive
- Negative
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro boasts of active noise cancellation and Adaptive Transparency modes, with excellent auto-wear detection. The buds and case are water-resistant and provide a good fit with four ear tip options. They come with pressure-sensitive stems, sliding controls, and are compatible with MagSafe, Wireless, and Apple Watch charging.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro boasts significant enhancements such as improved sound quality and noise canceling features. Powered by the new H2 chip, it offers extended battery life of 6 hours. Microphone quality has been upgraded and the charging case now includes a U1 chip and built-in speaker for ‘Find My’. The device also introduces new swipe volume controls, an adaptive transparency mode, spatial audio, and extra-small ear tips for added comfort.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro are well-regarded for their impressive spatial audio and excellent active noise cancellation. They are designed for comfort and premium aesthetics, offer a continuous battery life of six hours, and come with a case providing four additional charges. Additionally, their IPX4 certification ensures resistance against water splashes.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro charges via a lightning cable and boasts numerous Apple-exclusive features, however, customization of the EQ requires a third-party application.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, despite sporting a similar design to its predecessor, lacks high-resolution audio and does not offer XL ear tips.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro disappoints with a poor passive soundstage and substandard microphone performance.
Build & Design
- Build - Amplifiers & Drivers
- Build - Case
- Build - Comfort
- Build - Ear Tips
- Build - Material
- Build - Portability & Dimensions
- Build - Water Resistance
- Design - Case
- Design - Size & Shape
- Design - Style
- Positive
- Negative
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer a significantly improved audio experience due to the introduction of a new driver and amplifier.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro’s new MagSafe-enabled wireless charging case now comes with an inbuilt speaker and Apple’s U1 chip, enabling it to use Apple’s precision Find My feature, essentially having an Apple AirTag integrated within it.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro case maintains the same dimensions but now includes a lanyard loop for easy attachment. A new speaker at the base of the case enhances its utility, playing a loud sound for location purposes, along with the already effective precision finding enabled by the internal U1 chip. The case produces a sound when charged, either wired or wirelessly, with MagSafe ring assisting in stable placement on any MagSafe wireless charging puck. The new addition of compatibility with Apple watch chargers adds convenience.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The lightweight Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer comfortable fit with four pairs of ear tips included, providing no pressure when registering commands. However, the fit might be loose over time, causing the earbuds to wiggle out for some users. This issue can be addressed by purchasing foam ear tips. Despite this, once a good fit is achieved, they stay in place during moderate head movements, though they might fall out during intense activities like running.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
For optimal sound quality and secure fit of the Apple AirPods 2 Pro, users should try out the four different sizes of silicone ear tips provided by Apple (XS, S, M, L).
David Carnoy – CNET
Apple’s AirPods 2 Pro has added an extra set of extra-small ear tips to accommodate users with smaller ear canals, improving the fit of the original design.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro now include an extra small ear tip, alongside the default medium, two smaller, and one larger size, enhancing the fitting options for users with smaller ears.
Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro are comfortably designed with rubber ear tips for a secure fit, featuring an enhanced vent for improved user experience compared to other models.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro are highly appreciated for their excellent build quality, primarily constructed of plastic with silicone ear tips, maintaining the standard set by previous Apple products.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro are lightweight and portable, easily fitting into most bags or pockets even when housed in their carrying case. They measure 1.2″ in length, 0.9″ in width and height, and have a volume of 0.99in3.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, featuring an IPX4-rated case and earbuds, is the first in its series to provide resistance to splashes and light rain.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro boasts an IPX4 certification, ensuring resistance against water splashes, making it suitable for gym use.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro maintains its IPX4 water resistance, offering added security during workouts and in rainy conditions.
Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro stands out not only for its IPX4 water-resistant earbuds but also for its water-resistant case, a feature often overlooked.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro maintains the glossy white design of its predecessor, with added enhancements including a silver lanyard loop and speaker.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro maintains its original compact and lightweight design, fitting comfortably in most users’ ears without any significant alterations in size or appearance.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro maintain the sleek, stem design of their predecessor with white silicone tips, and are only available in the signature Apple ‘White’ color variant.
Features
- Charging
- Chipset
- Connectivity Options
- Controls
- Microphones
- Sensors
- Setup
- Software
- Sound System
- Specifications
- System
- Positive
- Negative
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro charging case can be recharged using various methods including wireless charging through Qi, MagSafe, or Apple Watch charging mat, or wired charging using a Lightning cable.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer versatile charging options, including Lightning, MagSafe, standard Qi wireless pads, and even an Apple Watch magnetic charger.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro come with a carrying case that features a lightning point for recharging, and also supports wireless charging. However, the included lightning to USB-C cable can only be used for recharging and not for audio.
Max Tech
Apple has enhanced the Apple AirPods 2 Pro with the capability to be charged using an Apple Watch charger.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The updated chipset in the Apple AirPods 2 Pro introduces enhanced battery life, superior sound quality, and active noise canceling (ANC), showcasing Apple’s innovative approach despite seeming complacent.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, enhanced by Apple’s advanced H2 chip, offer increased processing capabilities while ensuring energy efficiency.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro come equipped with the second-generation H1 chip, capable of processing audio, enabling noise cancellation, and facilitating other special features. This chip carries out real-time processing on the earbuds themselves, not on the phone. Additionally, it communicates with the Noise app on the Apple watch, visually indicating the extent of noise cancellation. The H1 chip also detects and alerts the user if mismatched earbuds are placed in the case.
Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro now feature a U1 Ultra-wide band chip, providing precision finding that guides you to your lost AirPods, even in dark rooms with LED flash. Additionally, a built-in speaker makes a chime to assist in locating the device.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro supports Audio Sharing via iPhone, allowing audio streaming to two separate Apple headsets. They maintain connection through Bluetooth 5.3 and offer SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs for reliable and high-quality audio. However, AAC performance may vary on Android devices. The H2 chip further enhances sound quality, nearing lossless audio.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 and supports the AAC LC3 audio codec, delivering 16-bit 48 kilohertz bit rates, a slight improvement from the 16-bit 24 kilohertz bit rates of AAC, although it’s not high-resolution audio.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer decent Bluetooth connectivity, allowing simultaneous connections to two different Apple devices. However, the same feature is not available for Android devices. These headphones can also connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs with full audio and mic compatibility, though they cannot connect via other methods. Notably, they exhibit high latency when connected to PCs, but this issue is less prominent on iOS and Android devices. However, latency may vary based on the device and application used.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offers hands-free commands and inquiries with “Hey Siri” when connected to a compatible Apple device, and introduces swipe gestures for improved user interaction.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro retain the preferred pinch controls on the stems and incorporate new swipe controls for volume adjustment. They continue to support hands-free Siri commands, including volume control, enhancing user convenience.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro now feature a convenient volume control on the stock, eliminating the need to reach for your phone for adjustments.
The Verge
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro now feature an enhanced stem design that allows users to adjust the volume by swiping up and down.
Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro features a convenient swiping control, although it might not be frequently used by individuals who own an Apple Watch. However, for those without an Apple Watch, this feature proves useful for adjusting volume and interacting with Siri.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro has seen significant improvements in its microphone system, now featuring two beamforming microphones, one on the outer bud and another at the stem’s base, both covered with mesh to reduce wind noise. This upgrade offers better voice clarity during Wi-Fi FaceTime calls, noticeable when compared to the original AirPods Pro.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro features automatic play/pause functionality, which stops the music when earbuds are removed and resumes when reinserted. The earbuds also automatically turn off ANC or Transparency mode when removed. Additionally, the skin-detect sensor ensures music only resumes when the buds are in contact with the skin, not when placed in a pocket.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
Setting up the Apple AirPods 2 Pro involves a pop-up prompt for personalized Spatial Audio configuration, which uses the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera to generate a sound profile tailored to the user’s head and ears.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro primarily interfaces with the iOS/iPadOS Settings app, which is essential for receiving firmware updates. Although Android users can connect to the AirPods Pro for basic functions like music and calls, they won’t have access to all the features.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro now allow for separate tracking of the case or either earbud using the Find My feature, utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for more efficient location tracking, overcoming the previous limitation where the sound played for locating them could not be heard if they were in the case.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro’s interface is accessible via iOS, allowing users to monitor battery life, switch ANC modes, remap controls, use the ‘Find My’ feature for misplaced cases, and perform fit checks. Although the app lacks an EQ, sound customization is available through the ‘Accessibility’ tab on the iOS device.
@SleepyPossums – The Verge
The FindMy feature on the Apple AirPods 2 Pro is commendable for its ease in locating misplaced buds or case, making the product highly user-friendly.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro provide enhanced features such as Adaptive Transparency, which effectively reduces the intensity of loud, unexpected sounds, making them audible but not painful. They offer superior noise cancellation, capable of eliminating 20-30dB of ambient noise, making them ideal for commuting, air travel, or listening in noisy environments. Furthermore, the earbuds deliver high-quality sound, accurately reproducing basslines and distinct vocal timbres, ensuring an immersive listening experience.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro are equipped with Adaptive EQ, using an internal microphone and the H2 chip for on-the-fly audio optimization, and an Adaptive Transparency Mode for natural ambient sound intake with the option to turn it off. The product also includes Apple’s Spatial Audio virtual surround mode, providing a superior experience compared to other brands.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, equipped with an adaptive EQ, deliver a warm sound profile with a strong bass depth, making it ideal for a range of audio content. However, there are no inbuilt EQs or presets for sound adjustment. When connected to an iOS device, the H2 chip can modify bass and treble response based on the volume, promoting lower volume listening. They feature great bass accuracy with an extended low-bass and additional warmth to balance the underemphasized low-bass. While the mid accuracy is excellent, some overemphasis from the bass range may slightly clutter vocals and instruments. The headphones are compatible with Apple’s Spatial Audio, providing an immersive audio experience by following head movements. Lastly, the treble accuracy is commendable, though slightly underemphasized, resulting in somewhat veiled upper harmonics and less sharp sibilants.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro sound is enhanced with computational audio, which dynamically adjusts the EQ across various volume levels for optimal sound quality. It also introduces the “Adaptive Transparency Mode,” which maintains outside sound but reduces harsh noises above 85 decibels. The device boasts improved active noise cancellation, significantly reducing background noise, particularly white noise. Further enhancements to spatial audio have widened the sound stage, offering a more spread-out audio experience. All these improvements are facilitated by the H2 chip.
The Verge
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro’s adaptive transparency mode feature enhances the listening experience by reducing annoying sounds when active, allowing for a more pleasant interaction with the surrounding environment.
Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer an adaptive transparency mode and improved microphones for enhanced sound quality. They can effectively lower loud external noises to protect your hearing. Additionally, the active noise cancellation feature is exceptionally effective.
@paterneyao4527 – The Verge
The unique and groundbreaking feature of the Apple AirPods 2 Pro is its transparency mode which can reduce loud sounds to 85Db, providing significant assistance in diverse situations.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, released on September 23, 2022, are priced at $249. Their dimensions are 30.9 x 21.8 x 24 mm for the earbuds and 45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7 mm for the case, with weights of 5.3g and 50.8g respectively. The model number is MQD83AM/A and both earbuds and case have an IPX4 waterproof rating.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro are wireless earbuds with an impressive battery life of up to 6 hours. They feature noise canceling (ANC) capabilities but lack multipoint connectivity. Moreover, they are splash-proof with an IPX4 water resistance rating.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro are truly wireless, in-ear headphones with a closed-back enclosure. They feature a dynamic transducer, noise cancelling technology, and an integrated microphone.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro case’s speaker does not play music but helps locate it using the Find My app and alerts for low battery or successful pairing, which can be disabled through iPhone settings.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, paired with iOS 16, offer various advanced features including the ability to modify the buds, play masking sounds, and create custom audiograms. It also includes a Conversation Boost for individuals with minor to moderate hearing loss, transforming the buds into hearing amplifiers. Furthermore, iOS 16 introduces Personalized Spatial Audio, which improves dialogue placement during movie watching for a more immersive experience, with an option for fixed head-tracking.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro introduces a personalized spatial audio mix, using Face ID depth sensors to scan your head and ears for a customized audio experience.
Performance
- Battery
- Charging
- Chipset
- Sound System
- Positive
- Negative
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offers a battery life of approximately 5 hours and 43 minutes with active noise cancellation, slightly less than Apple’s claimed 6 hours. The charging case further extends the listening time by an additional 24 hours, or offers up to 19 hours and 30 minutes of talk time.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro battery life has been significantly enhanced, now offering up to six hours with noise cancelling enabled and seven hours without it. The charging case provides an additional four charges, totaling 30 hours of usage with noise cancelling on and 35 hours when it’s off.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro delivers satisfactory battery performance with up to six hours of continuous use as advertised. The case provides approximately four additional charges, and the standby mode contributes to effective battery conservation. However, actual battery life may vary based on usage.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer a 33% increased battery life, providing six hours of usage with noise cancellation on, and a total of 30 hours with the case’s battery.
The Verge
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer an impressive battery life, providing six hours of usage with active noise cancellation on and four and a half hours of uninterrupted talk time on a single charge.
Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro has a similar battery life to its predecessor, with six hours for the earbuds and 30 hours with the case. However, upon closer examination, the Apple AirPods 2 Pro perform better.
David Carnoy – CNET
On the Apple AirPods 2 Pro, a brief charge of five minutes provides approximately an hour of battery usage.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro chip’s enhanced computational capabilities allow it to efficiently process and optimize a broader spectrum of frequencies, notably the high frequencies.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro delivers satisfactory performance in lows and mids but under-emphasizes the upper octave, which may go unnoticed unless one has a keen ear. While the vocals and guitar parts sound great, cymbal hits may be quieter than expected. The microphone array works well under ideal conditions but struggles with background noise.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro stand out for their impressive loudness, offering ample volume at just 65% to 70%.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offers an outstanding frequency response and imaging performance, ensuring consistent bass, treble delivery, and accurate object placement in the stereo image. The leakage performance is great with the sound mostly concentrated in the mid to treble range, making it less disturbing for others. Although the mic’s noise handling performance is average, it works well in quiet environments. These earbuds excel in noise isolation, blocking a wide array of noises effectively. Despite a few peaks and dips affecting the clarity of the mix, the overall harmonic distortion performance is great, providing clear and pure audio reproduction.
The Verge
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer impressive, full-bodied sound with balanced bass, similar to the excellent audio quality of its predecessor.
Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro delivers exceptional audio performance with a wide sound stage and the ability to play as low as 20 Hertz loudly without distortion. The enhanced spatial audio, especially after optimization, significantly improves the listening experience on every track. Additionally, it exhibits impressive separation between instruments in heavy songs.
@coolguyfilms – Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro have significantly improved the directionality in transparency mode, enhancing the user’s ability to identify the specific location of sounds. This upgrade is particularly useful for outdoor activities such as bird-watching and jogging, enabling users to clearly hear sounds from their surroundings while simultaneously enjoying their music.
@shuaybghaffoor3298 – Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro adaptive transparency mode is highly effective for a fire alarm technician working in loud environments, such as near water pumps or alarms over 85 decibels. This feature enables clear communication with team members while significantly reducing painful high-decibel noises.
@MatrixRoland – Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro’s noise cancelling and adaptive transparency mode are impressively effective, even in extremely loud environments such as factories. These earphones significantly reduce noise levels, enabling clear conversations without the need to raise one’s voice.
Inclusions & Packaging
- Inclusions
- Positive
- Negative
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 package includes the headphones themselves, a charging case, a USB-C to Lightning cable, four different tip size options, and user manuals.
Comparison
- Alternatives
- Competition
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods Max
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods Max, Comparison vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 & Comparison vs. Sony Mark 4
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 1
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 1, Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 2 & Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 3
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 1 Pro
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 1 Pro & Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 3
- Comparison vs. Apple Airpods 1 Pro, Comparison vs. Bose Earbuds, Comparison vs. Sony WF-1000XM4 & Comparison vs. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 2
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 2 & Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 3
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 3
- Comparison vs. Beats Fit Pro
- Comparison vs. Beats Studio Buds Plus
- Comparison vs. Bose Earbuds
- Comparison vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
- Comparison vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, Comparison vs. Google Pixel Buds Pro & Comparison vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
- Comparison vs. Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2
- Comparison vs. EarFun Air Pro 3
- Comparison vs. Jaybird X4
- Comparison vs. Nothing Ear 2
- Comparison vs. Older Models
- Comparison vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
- Comparison vs. Sennheiser Momentum 3
- Comparison vs. Sony LinkBuds, Comparison vs. Samsung Buds 2 Pro, Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 1 Pro & Comparison vs. Wired Headphones
- Comparison vs. Sony WF-1000XM4
- Comparison vs. Status Between 3 ANC
- Positive
- Negative
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
Sony’s WF-1000XM4 stands out for its top-notch noise cancellation, comfort, sturdy build, and universal mobile app. Despite being pricier than the Apple AirPods 2 Pro, it often goes on sale. For a more discreet option, Sony’s LinkBuds S is available at a lower price.
Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro’s transparency mode is a major advantage over competitors like Bose, Samsung, and Pixel Buds. The real-time passthrough of external sounds is remarkable and has been enhanced even further with the H2 chip.
The Verge
The wireless earbuds market offers a variety of options with superior ANC such as Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, better audio quality like the Sony WF-1000XM4, or affordable choices from Anker.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods Max and the Apple AirPods 2 Pro each have unique strengths; the Max offers superior battery life and accurate sound reproduction through flatter mids, while the Pro provides a more comfortable fit and significantly enhanced active noise cancellation.
Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro are effective in reducing the noise of raindrops, proving more efficient than the AirPods Max. Their performance suggests they could replace dedicated over-ear headphones for travelers.
r/apple
The noise isolation performance for Apple AirPods 2 Pro bass is remarkably superior with -22db, as compared to AirPods Max that offer -15db. This indicates a significant improvement in active noise cancellation or possibly an inconsistency in the testing methodology.
r/apple
The recent firmware updates to the Max have rendered the isolation performance of the Apple AirPods 2 Pro to be better than that of Apple AirPods Max.
Marques Brownlee
The AirPods Max provides a superior audio experience due to its larger driver, while the AirPods 2 Pro excels in noise cancellation. They compare favorably to Sony Mark 4 earbuds and Bose QuietComfort Earbud IIs in terms of noise cancellation.
@bbeal2325 – Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offers significant improvements over the Apple AirPods 1, with enhanced sound quality, advanced noise cancellation and transparency features. The addition of volume control on the stem adds to the overall user convenience.
@Alanvictoryoung – Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offers improved sound quality, bass, and advanced noise cancellation, making it a worthwhile purchase over the previous version if budget permits.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The comparison between the first, second, and third-generation AirPods and the Apple AirPods 2 Pro reveals significant differences, primarily in the ear canal sealing feature. The standard AirPods allow ambient sound, providing an experience similar to bone conduction headphones and Sony’s donut-shaped earbuds. While the third-generation AirPods offer affordability and seamless integration with Apple devices, the AirPods 2 Pro delivers superior noise cancellation capabilities.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offers minor but notable improvements over its predecessor, including enhanced noise cancellation via the H2 chip, superior sound quality due to a new driver, and an upgraded charging case with water resistance, a built-in speaker, and a U1 chip for device tracking.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro provides enhanced noise canceling across all frequencies, particularly noticeable in the muffling of mid-range frequencies like human voices, even though the improvement might not seem twice as strong compared to the original AirPods Pro.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offers enhanced sound profile and noise isolation performance, with a warmer tone and superior low bass reproduction compared to its predecessor. Despite having one less extra charge, it boasts a longer continuous battery life. The carrying case now includes a U1 chip for easy location. While the comfort and premium build remain consistent, the minor changes effectively improve the overall user experience.
The Verge
The most significant updates in the Apple AirPods 2 Pro include a redesigned case with a lanyard loop, compatibility with MagSafe and Apple watch chargers, and the new feature of the case producing sound.
@Grandmaster_Vic – Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro provides a significant improvement over the 1st Gen, offering impressive noise cancellation and a transparency mode that feels seamless, almost as if the AirPods are not present.
@mimmendorf – Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer impressive noise cancellation capabilities, significantly improved from the gen 1 AirPods Pro, making them ideal for work from home scenarios even in noisy environments.
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The Apple AirPods 2 Pro is a significant improvement in noise cancellation during daily commutes compared to the previous model.
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The transparency mode in the Apple AirPods 2 Pro is exceptional and represents a significant improvement from its predecessor.
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The Apple AirPods 2 Pro has notably improved Active Noise Cancellation compared to its predecessor.
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The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offers significant improvements over its predecessors, with superior sound quality and stronger noise cancelling features. Its adaptive transparency provides an impressive experience, making it a worthy upgrade for in-ear monitor enthusiasts.
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The noise-canceling feature on the Apple AirPods 2 Pro seems to have declined in performance, offering minimal help in reducing ambient noise during a recent airplane journey.
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The Apple AirPods 2 Pro have superior sound quality, with significant improvements in Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode compared to the original model.
@nodrogkam – The Verge
The Apple AirPods 3 offers a noticeable improvement in mic quality compared to the AirPods 1 Pro and 2 Pro, providing a fuller sound that closely resembles wired Ear Pods, making it ideal for frequent call users.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 1 Pro, initially known for their compact size, comfortable fit, and unique Apple features, have now improved significantly in terms of sound quality and noise canceling. Despite the subjective nature of audio quality, many users might prefer the Apple AirPods 2 Pro’s sound over other premium earbuds like Bose, Sony WF-1000XM4, or Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, all of which come with equalizer options in their apps.
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The Apple AirPods 2 Pro case is appreciated for its precision ‘find my’ feature, which has significantly reduced the time spent searching for the user’s 2nd Gen AirPods.
@chrisrules8403 – Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, with superior sound quality, ear tips, noise cancellation, and Apple Watch charging capabilities, are deemed a worthy investment over the second-generation AirPods and AirPods 3, especially for those with the financial means.
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The Apple AirPods 2 Pro case is appreciated for its precision ‘find my’ feature, which has significantly reduced the time spent searching for the user’s 2nd Gen AirPods.
Max Tech
The Apple AirPods 3 are recognized for their superior comfort, especially during extended use of over two hours, and despite their higher price, they have frequently been available at discounted prices as low as $139.
@rgaufman – Max Tech
Some users find both Apple AirPods 2 Pro and Apple AirPods 3 useful in different situations, appreciating the comfort and stability of the 3 for activities like running and in quieter environments. The Pro2 are preferred in louder settings but both have their distinct advantages and are considered complementary rather than one being superior to the other.
Lily Katz – SOUNDGUYS
The Beats Fit Pro and Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer distinct advantages to different users. Athletes may prefer the Fit Pro due to its stabilizing ear wings, while everyday listeners may find the AirPods 2 Pro more comfortable for prolonged use. The Fit Pro is also more versatile, working well on both Android and iOS, whereas the AirPods limit users to Apple’s ecosystem. Despite a $50 price difference in favor of the Fit Pro, both earbuds deliver similar sound profiles, with minor differences in sub-bass, midrange output, and active noise canceling performance. Both feature personalized Spatial Audio, skin-detect sensors, and an IPX4 rating, although only the AirPods Pro case shares this rating. The choice between the two largely depends on individual needs, comfort, and budget constraints.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro outperform the Beats Fit Pro in terms of comfort, build quality, noise isolation, and battery life. However, the Beats Fit Pro offers a more stable fit, making them ideal for sports and fitness activities.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro outperform the Beats Studio Buds + in terms of build quality, sound profile, and noise isolation. With the H2 chip, they offer effortless pairing within the Apple ecosystem, making them a preferred choice for Apple users.
TimothyStidham – The Verge
A user prefers the unique sound of the Apple AirPods 2 Pro over Bose, despite acknowledging Bose’s proficiency in making incredible speakers.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offers clearer voice quality on calls, albeit with more background noise, compared to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 which almost entirely silences background noise. In terms of sound quality, the Bose earbuds offer more warmth, naturalness, and bass, but require higher volume for finer details and extra bass. The AirPods Pro 2, on the other hand, deliver good detail and bass at moderate volumes.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Apple AirPods 2 Pro are impressive in-ears, each offering unique features. The Bose earbuds stand out with superior comfort and ANC system, coupled with a customizable sound experience through their app’s graphic EQ and presets. Conversely, the Apple AirPods 2 Pro cater to Apple users with a more premium design, the H2 chip for easy pairing with iOS devices, and support for Spatial Audio. They also offer a more neutral sound profile that may be preferred by some.
The Verge
The Bose QuietComfort II earbuds outshine others in noise cancellation, significantly reducing external sounds, while the Apple AirPods 2 Pro also display improved noise cancellation compared to their predecessor.
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The Bose QuietComfort Buds 2 outperforms the Apple AirPods 2 Pro in terms of sound quality, causing indecision over which one to choose.
David Carnoy – CNET
Although the Apple AirPods 2 Pro can pair with Android devices, they lose key features like Spatial Audio. Therefore, Android users may find better value in alternatives like Google’s Pixel Buds Pro, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro outperform the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 with superior comfort, a neutral sound profile, superior noise cancellation, better battery life, and unique features such as seamless iOS device pairing and Spatial Audio for immersive sound. Despite these advantages, the Bowers & Wilkins earbuds do offer aptX Adaptive support for high-quality audio streaming and a carrying case that serves as a wireless transmitter.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro outperform the EarFun Air Pro 3 in terms of build quality, neutral sound profile, superior ANC performance, and seamless pairing via H2 chip. They also offer a more immersive audio experience through Spatial Audio. However, the EarFun Air Pro 3 provides more customization options through their app and supports multi-device pairing and aptX Adaptive.
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The Apple AirPods 1 Pro were returned due to superior performance of Jaybird X4 in terms of sound isolation, sound quality, particularly bass, and battery life. With the introduction of compatible foam tips by Comply and improved battery life, the Apple AirPods 2 Pro might be reconsidered.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Nothing Ear 2 headphones outperform the Apple AirPods 2 Pro in terms of features and value for money, offering multi-device pairing, ANC presets, and a graphic EQ with presets. However, the AirPods provide superior ambient noise isolation and seamless pairing with Apple devices, making them a more suitable choice for Apple users and those frequently in noisy environments.
TimothyStidham – The Verge
The audio improvement in the Apple AirPods 2 Pro is considerably more pronounced, offering greater clarity at lower volume levels, aligning with most reviewers’ opinions. Users can enjoy detailed music at 30-40% volume.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro surpass the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in terms of premium build and better battery performance, with the added advantage of an H2 chip for seamless Apple device pairing. However, the Samsung Buds provide a more neutral sound and offer EQ presets for personalized sound adjustments.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
Both Sennheiser Momentum 3 and Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer superior build quality and excellent noise isolation due to their ANC systems. However, Sennheiser outperforms in battery life and customizable options through its software’s graphic EQ and presets. On the other hand, Apple’s headphones provide more comfort and a more neutral sound profile, potentially making them a preferred choice for some users.
The Verge
The Sony LinkBuds impress with their microphone quality, in contrast to the disappointing mic on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. The Apple AirPods 2 Pro and its predecessor have comparable sound quality. However, none can match the superior mic placement and solid wired connection of the traditional wired Apple headphones.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro outperforms the Sony WF-1000XM4 in terms of comfort, sound neutrality, noise cancellation, and seamless pairing with Apple devices, while the Sony headphones have superior battery performance and customizable sound features via their companion app.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro surpass the Status Between 3 ANC in terms of comfort, build quality, and a neutral sound profile enhanced by Spatial Audio for immersive listening. They feature superior noise cancellation and an H2 chip for effortless pairing with Apple devices. On the other hand, Status offers longer battery life, multi-device pairing, and sound customization via a companion app.
Price & Availability
- Price
- Value
- Positive
- Negative
@bigde131 – Marques Brownlee
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro are definitely worth the investment of $270 due to its immersive quality that can transport the user to their own universe, making them a constant accessory even without music playing.
Miscellaneous
- Drawbacks - Features
- Issue - Features
- Issue - Performance
- Positive
- Negative
David Carnoy – CNET
The inability of the new Apple AirPods 2 Pro to stream Apple Lossless tracks wirelessly is a disappointment to some users, and future capability or feature upgrades remain uncertain.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The recording quality of the integrated mic in Apple AirPods 2 Pro is disappointing, as it results in a thin and muffled voice, compromising the clarity of communication.
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas – RTINGS.com
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro, being in-ear headphones, exhibit a limited passive soundstage that gives an impression of sound originating from inside the head, rather than a surrounding environment.
The Verge
The Apple AirPods 2 Pro offer a personalized spatial audio feature using the iPhone’s true depth camera. However, despite the fun setup process, it doesn’t significantly impact real-life performance, with no noticeable improvement in spatial audio performance post-personalization.
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The adaptive transparency feature on the Apple AirPods 2 Pro does not seem to effectively reduce the volume of loud sounds such as vacuums and hair dryers, leading to questions about its functionality and if it only works with certain sounds.
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The Apple AirPods 2 Pro occasionally experiences bugs during calls and intermittent degradation of the active noise cancellation feature.
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