AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro 2024: Review and Specs

The AirPods Pro (2nd generation), also known as AirPods Pro 2, have new features, a longer battery life, and active noise cancellation and transparency mode that have been completely redesigned. Even though the design is almost the same, Apple has a whole new bag underneath.

If you’ve been using AirPods Pro for a long time and were waiting for the next generation to come out, we have good news for you. At an event in September 2022, Apple finally showed off the updated second-generation AirPods Pro, leaving fans to wonder if the new version is worth the extra money.

To help you decide, here are the main differences between the new AirPods Pro 2 and their predecessor. This way, you can see what’s different and decide if you want to buy the new buds. But let’s be honest: this second generation of AirPods Pro pretty much picks up where the first one left off and makes them better in almost every way.

airpods pro 2 vs airpods pro Comparison Table

Apple AirPods Pro 2Apple AirPods Pro 2
Price$249$249 (originally); $179 (currently)
ChipH2H1
Battery life5.5 hours4.5 hours
Water resistanceIPX4 (buds and charging case)IPX4 (buds only)

Price and availability

If you want the AirPods Pro 2, you won’t have to spend more than you did on the AirPods Pro. The price is still $249/£249. Well, only if you plan to buy something from Apple’s website.

The AirPods Pro have always cost $249, but a lot of third-party stores, especially during big sales, have dropped the price to well below $200. As of this writing, the AirPods Pro are available on Amazon for $179. Amazon charges $199 for the AirPods Pro 2, which is still a bit more.

Design

airpods pro 2 vs airpods pro

AirPods Pro have been Apple’s best-looking headphones for a long time, and AirPods Pro 2 don’t change what works. From the outside, the new Pros look almost exactly the same as their predecessors. But there are two small but very helpful additions. First, a new capacitive touch sensor on the back of the headphones lets you control the volume by swiping up or down.

This makes them (somewhat surprisingly) the only AirPods that can be adjusted from the outside. Finally! Second, AirPods Pro 1 no longer have IR optical sensors. Instead, they have “skin-detection” sensors. The new sensors, which are also used in AirPods 3, make it easier to tell when they are in your ear and stop them from turning on by accident when they are in your bag or pocket.

Apple has added XS ear tips to the S, M, and L options it already had for people with small ears. The IPX4 rating means that the AirPods Pro 2 can handle splashes of water, but they shouldn’t be fully submerged.

Features

airpods pro 2 vs airpods pro

Still, the Pro model is different from the “standard” AirPods model in a big way: it has active noise cancellation. This time, the sound-blocking function is much better thanks to the new H2 chip and the better placement of the mics and acoustic vent. We thought it worked really well, but not as well as the award-winning Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.

This H2 chip also lets you use a new mode called “Adaptive Transparency,” which is meant to cut down on loud, harsh, high-decibel sounds like a passing truck or roadwork. It seems to do a good job of reducing high-pitched sounds, but the effect can be small.

The original AirPods Pro were updated to work with Apple’s spatial audio with head tracking technology. The Pro (2022), on the other hand, lets each person customise this immersive listening experience. Taking pictures of your ears with your iPhone’s camera is part of the process, but we found it hard and frustrating and hope Apple will make it easier in an update. Of course, people with Android devices still can’t use any of these extra features that only work on Apple devices, and there’s still no Android app.

Audio Quality

The AirPods Pro already have good audio quality, balance, and clarity, but the AirPods Pro 2 are meant to take it to the next level. Among other things, this is because the new H2 processor is better than the H1 processor in the last-gen model.

The best thing about Apple is that its active noise cancellation (ANC) is improving. More specifically, “two times more” than the AirPods Pro. With noise-canceling microphones and a vent in the back, the AirPods Pro 2 can pick up sounds and lower how loud they are. The AirPods Pro also have an improved version of Adaptive Transparency, which will automatically lower the volume of loud sounds like sirens or construction work.

It’s supposed to work smoothly and cut down on noise 48,000 times per second. There’s also personalised Spatial Audio and adaptive EQ, but adaptive EQ wasn’t new with the first AirPods Pro, which had the same features. It’s possible that this will work better on the second-generation earbuds with the new H2 processor, but we won’t know until we try them out.

As for the first, this could change the way things are done. “With iOS 16, you can use the TrueDepth camera on your iPhone to create a personal profile for spatial audio,” said Senior Engineer of AirPods Firmware Mary-Ann Rau. “This is because the way we hear sounds is different depending on the size and shape of our head and ears.” In other words, the AirPods Pro 2 will make sure that the sound is perfectly tuned for your ears based on how they are shaped.

Active noise cancellation

We’ve tested the ANC on the AirPods Pro in many different situations, both before and after the pandemic. Most of our experiences have been good. The buds have helped us block out noises like birds chirping, people talking at work, loud TVs, and aeroplane engines rumbling. Apple says that the AirPods Pro 2 can block out twice as much noise. We wouldn’t go that far, but it does block out outside sounds better, especially high-frequency sounds.

The AirPods Pro 2 are much better for listening to music in the background. Apple has done a great job with Adaptive Transparency. It cuts down on loud background noise and makes it easier to hear without hurting the quality of the sound. The outcomes are very good. We also like the “transparency mode” on the AirPods Pro, but the newer version makes a big difference when going through very loud settings.

Call quality

If you often use your earbuds to take calls, you’ll be happy to know that the noise-cancelling features on the second-generation AirPods make them great for calls. You no longer hear random sounds like cars and construction in the background, so you can pay attention to the person on the other end of the line.

Battery life

airpods pro 2 vs airpods pro

At about 4.5 hours, the original AirPods Pro have some of the worst ANC playtime. When ANC is turned off, the battery lasts about 5 hours longer, while the charging case can hold up to 24 hours. Apple has improved the AirPods Pro 2 so that they can hold more power on the go. The new buds can hold up to 7 hours of power, while the charging case can hold up to 34 hours of power when fully charged.

On both models, a 5-minute charge gives you an hour of play time. The charging cases also work with Lightning, MagSafe, and Qi charging, and Apple Watch owners can charge their AirPods Pro 2 with their smartwatch charger.

Which one should you consider?

Apple’s true wireless headphones have a new heir: the AirPods Pro 2. Updates to ANC, ambient listening, battery life, controls, spatial audio, and the MagSafe charging case (which now works with Precision Finding) make the latest entry more appealing for iOS users.

We still like the original AirPods Pro, especially if Apple keeps releasing iOS updates that add new features. Right now, you can get a great deal on them by shopping online while supplies last. Still, the AirPods Pro 2 are better for the future, and since Apple has already taken the older version off the shelves, anyone who wants to buy AirPods Pro should get the 2nd Generation version, which will last longer.

FAQs

Are AirPods 2nd generation the same as AirPods Pro?

Even though the two models of AirPods Pro look very similar, they are different on the inside. The 2nd generation model has an upgraded H2 chip in the earbuds and an U1 chip in the case that charges them.

Are AirPods Pro 2 better?

The second-generation Apple AirPods Pro are just a little bit better than the first-generation AirPods Pro, but they still have the same iconic look. Apple’s updated H2 chip gives you better active noise cancellation (ANC) and longer battery life. The case’s U1 chip and built-in speaker make it easy to find with the Find My app.

George Southwell
George Southwell
George Southwell is a seasoned content editor at Bollyinside, renowned for his expertise in simplifying complex tech topics. Specializing in "Tips and Tricks" articles, he excels in breaking down iPhone, Android, hardware, and software insights. George's insatiable curiosity fuels his hobby of testing the latest tech updates, keeping him on the cutting edge.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

Hubspot Service Hub review 2024: a comprehensive platform

When it comes to customer support operations, HubSpot Service Hub is an all-encompassing customer service platform that is meant to...
Read more
When players on Windows 11 or 10 try to log in to Steam, they may get the error code E87....
Users of Windows 11 or 10 may find it frustrating to deal with the error number 147-0 in Microsoft Office....
The Microsoft Store is an important part of the Windows operating system because it gives users a single place to...
It can be hard to find the right balance between usefulness, durability, and cost when it comes to kitchen storage....
Both AirDroid and Vysor are well-known tools that help Android users control their devices and mirror them. One of the...