The Apple AirPods Pro 2 was released on September 20, 2022, just 3 years after the original Apple AirPods Pro. From the time gap, you can understand Apple has brought some innovative changes to the table to provide close competition with premium brands like Bose, Sony, and many others. The demand for TWS has grown rapidly and providing only ANC and decent sound will not lure customers into buying the product. Continue reading to learn about the changes made by Apple in their second generation AirPods Pro.
Design
Apple has kept the exterior design unchanged, apart from the repositioning of microphones and vents. Many people expected to see a few color options, a better water resistance rating than IPX4, or shorter stems, but the company has stuck to its tried and trusted design, and that makes sense. The skin detector sensor is still inside the earbuds, but the noise-canceling microphone has been put on top of the buds for exposure. The company has implemented an improved small skin detector sensor, which is not only more energy efficient but also has the ability to spot the difference between your ear and another surface and will automatically stop playing the music when kept in a pocket or on a table. Apple is providing 4 ear tips (XS, S, M, and L) with the AirPods Pro 2, which means you have more options for a perfect fit. AirPods Pro 2 are extremely lightweight, weighing only 5.3 g, and have a dimension of 30.9 x 21.8 x 24.00 mm, which makes them sit comfortably on your ears. The charging case for the buds, on the other hand, has undergone some changes. It now has a built-in speaker, a lanyard loop, and a U1 chip. Along with indicating low battery and charging, the built-in speaker even plays music to help locate the missing case or buds, highlighting Apple’s Find My feature. The dimensions of the case are 45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7 mm, and it weighs 50.8 g, boasting portability and a style statement.
Audio
The implementation of the new H2 chip in the AirPods Pro 2 has brought a handful of changes in almost all departments. The new chip is energy-efficient yet has the ability to deliver more processing power. The H2 chip is further helped by the new low-distortion drivers, new digital processing algorithms, and new amplifiers to provide a subtle and pleasing user experience. This setup has immensely improved the ANC, which the company claims have become twice as good as the first generation.
ANC
Now, by saying “twice as good,” the company meant the second-generation AirPods Pro has become incredibly effective compared to the first generation. While commuting on a crowded train or working in an office while wearing these buds, background sounds feel like a low murmur. The airy effect further enhances the overall comfort and audio experience. Yes, it is true that the earbuds do not provide absolute silence in ANC mode like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, which has set a new benchmark, but AirPods Pro 2 provides a satisfying premium experience. Also, use the proper ear tip to get the right amount of seal, which also affects the ANC. If you have an Apple Series 8 Watch or any Apple watch running on OS 9, you can download the Noise app to see how many decibel levels have been reduced by the ANC mode.
Adaptive Transparency
The addition of the Adaptive Transparency feature to the AirPods Pro 2 is a welcome change. Sudden, harsh noises can often distract and be harmful to our ears; Adaptive Transparency tries to tone them down and works perfectly in a variety of settings. Apple, like Bose, should tweak more with this feature and can even think of adding different modes, which are present in the QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Spatial Audio
Similar to Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s 360 Reality Audio, AirPods Pro 2 has Spatial Audio with a dynamic head tracking feature that provides users with an immersive 360-degree experience both in the field of audio and video. The feature even comes with a personalization option where you can set it more accurately according to your needs. People who are suffering from a little to moderate hearing loss can turn the buds into hearing amplifiers by using the Conversation Boost feature.
Sound
The presence of a high excursion audio driver, high dynamic range amplifier, custom low distortion transducer, and H2 chip has dramatically changed the sound quality of the AirPods Pro 2. The earbuds have better definition, clarity, more bass punch, and all-around depth than the first-generation buds. To monitor the sound passing into your ears, the AirPods Pro 2 use their inward-facing microphone and adaptive EQ, which helps the buds optimize and process a wider range of frequencies. The tonal balance of the AirPods Pro 2 is not similar to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, but the sound is loud and fluid. Voice calling features were already top of their class, it has now further improved and both your and the caller’s voices can be heard clearly.
Battery
You get 6 hours of listening time and up to 5.5 hours of spatial audio and head tracking on a single charge. You also get 4.5 hours of talk time on a single charge, which is quite great. With the charging case, you can derive 30 hours of listening time and 24 hours of talk time. For a quick purpose, 5 minutes in the case can provide 1 hour of talk time or listening time. Because of the battery improvement, the AirPods Pro 2 now competes with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 and the Sony WF-1000XM4. The battery can be charged with the Lightning connector, Qi-certified chargers, MagSafe charger, or Apple Watch charger.
Connectivity And Controls
The AirPods Pro 2 support the AAC LC3 audio codec and come with Bluetooth 5.3. iPhones now have an AirPods section in the settings for seamless connectivity within the Apple ecosystem. Apple has not only retained the pinch controls but has also introduced the swipe controls on the stems, which are quite noteworthy. You can swipe up or down to control volumes, press once to pause, play, or answer calls, twice to skip forward, and thrice to skip back.
Wrapping Up
Yes, it is true that when you pair AirPods Pro 2 with any Android device, it loses a handful of features, and that is a major drawback. But when it comes to performance, it is on the same page with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, and the Sony WF-1000XM4. With a competitive price of $249, it is a must-have accessory if you are an iPhone owner and a music lover.
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