Imagine switching your Apple Watch Ultra into night mode while hiking in the Grand Tetons and streaming audio to a pair of Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen which now feature enhanced ANC, touch sensors, and personalized Spatial Audio.
Apple CEO, Tim Cook, grinned like a gleeful school girl, as he proclaimed the new Apple AirPods Pro the “best sounding earbuds in the world” — a claim that we’re taking with a grain of salt based on the sound quality of the current AirPods Pro in comparison to the best wireless earbuds from Sony, Sennheiser, Master & Dynamic, and Beyerdynamic.
The new Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen, 2022 model) are likely to become one of the best-selling products in the entire lineup; Apple expects to sell millions of the new Apple Watch 8 Series models and iPhone 14 over the next 6 months, which will help move the new AirPods Pro just in time for the holidays.
Comparison
| 2019 model | 2022 model | 2021 model | |
| AirPods Pro | AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) | AirPods 3 | |
| MSRP | $249.00 | $249.00 | $179.00 |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes | Yes | – |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes | – |
| Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking | Yes | Yes, Personalized | Yes |
| Sweat and water resistant | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Chipset | H1 chip | H2 chip | H1 |
| Battery Life | 4.5 hrs | 6 hrs | 6 hrs |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes | Yes | – |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes | – |
| Adaptive EQ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Charging Case | MagSafe Charging Case | MagSafe Charging Case with speaker and lanyard loop | MagSafe Charging Case |
| Sensors | Dual optical sensors | Skin-detect sensor | Skin-detect sensor |
| Touch Control | Force Sensor | Touch Control | Force Sensor |
| Volume swipe up/down | – | Yes | – |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Silicon ear tips | 3 sizes | 4 sizes | N/A |
| Accessibility | Conversation Boost | Conversation Boost | – |
What’s new
H2 Chip: Apple includes a new H2 chip which elevates the listening experience and cancels up to twice as much noise over the previous generation AirPods Pro (2019 model) which uses the H1 chip.
Low Distortion Driver: Featuring a low-distortion driver and custom amplifier, AirPods Pro offers richer bass and crystal-clear sound across a wider range of frequencies than previously.
Ear Fit: A new smaller size ear tip is included that may be more comfortable for many users. Ear tip sizes now come in Large, Medium, Small, and Extra-Small.
Adaptive Transparency: This expands the capability of the previous AirPod Transparency Mode further, by tapping into the H2 chip’s on-device processing for a more comfortable listening experience. This reduces loud environmental noises (passing vehicle sirens, construction).
Personalized Spatial Audio: Users can create a personal profile for Spatial Audio that delivers a listening experience precisely tuned just for them based on the shape and size of their ears and head. This is facilitated by using the TrueDepth camera on an iPhone to determine ear shape and size.
Tip: The AirPods Pro also features dynamic head tracking. Voices, dialog, or music vocals always sound like they are coming from the correct direction regardless if you turn your head.
Apple Device Compatibility: The 2nd Generation AirPods Pro supports instant pairing with all Apple audio playback devices. There is also a new dedicated AirPods section in iOS Settings that lets users easily access and control AirPod features.
Connectivity: The new AirPods Pro support Bluetooth 5.3. Although backward compatible with earlier Bluetooth versions, a source device must also support it. iPhone 14 models will be the first Apple products to support Bluetooth 5.3.
Touch Control: The Touch control on AirPods Pro adds additional convenience. An up or down swipe on the stem enables easy volume adjustments. Press the stem to change the music, answer phone calls, and more, or use Siri to perform adjustments hands-free. An improved, built-in skin-detect sensor more accurately ends or starts playback, contributing to better battery life.
Extended Battery Life: The 2nd Generation AirPods Pro offers 1.5 hours of additional listening time over the first generation, for a total of up to six hours with Active Noise Cancellation.
Using the case for four additional charges, users can enjoy up to 30 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation — a full six hours more than the previous generation.
For more flexibility when traveling, customers can now charge AirPods Pro with an Apple Watch charger, in addition to a MagSafe Charger, Qi-certified charging mat, or a Lightning cable.
Charging Case: AirPods Pro comes with a newly designed charging case that is sweat- and water-resistant, and includes a convenient lanyard loop and built-in speaker to locate it when it’s lost.
Precision Finding: Users with a U1-enabled iPhone can locate their charging case with guided directions. The charging case also has a built-in speaker to deliver louder tones, so it’s easier to locate.
Tip: Users can personalize the charging case with individual Memoji, including custom-posed Memoji, Animoji, and a curated list of stickers. To begin engraving, create and upload a Memoji in the Apple Store app.
Availability and Pricing
The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) is priced at $249 and will be available for pre-order online and in the Apple Store app starting Friday, September 9, with store availability beginning Friday, September 23, 2022.
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