One feature in the new AirPods Pro has nothing to do with sound. Tap Find My on an iPhone and the charging case now chimes, loudly enough that ZDNET’s reviewer picked it out from the bottom of a backpack in another room. Anyone who has lost a case between sofa cushions will understand why that matters.
Apple unveiled a follow-up to its AirPods Pro in September 2022 and billed it as the most advanced AirPods ever. Customers could order from Friday, September 9, through the Apple website or the Apple Store app, and shelves in stores followed on Friday, September 23.
What the H2 chip changes
The headline is the new H2 chip. Apple says the earbuds block as much as double the noise of the first pair. Bob Borchers, who runs worldwide product marketing at Apple, said the earbuds offer “up to double the noise-cancelling power of their predecessor.”
The same chip drives Adaptive Transparency, which handles processing on the device and softens loud intrusions such as sirens, construction tools or concert speakers. ZDNET’s Christina Darby, who lives in a noisy city, singled it out as a standout. She did note that she had to raise the volume roughly a quarter when switching from noise cancelling to transparency.
Her verdict on sound was simple. The first-generation pair is good, she wrote, and the new one is better. In a side-by-side test of a bass-heavy song with brass instruments, vocals came through clearer on the new pair and she heard instrumental detail she had missed before.
Fit, battery and the case
A fourth ear tip size, extra small, is her favourite change. She had used the small size for a year and still kept adjusting it. With the new tip she ran two 40-second sprints at nine miles per hour and the buds stayed put.
Battery life stretches by 1.5 hours over the first generation, to up to six hours with noise cancelling on. With the case, which allows four additional charges, the total reaches up to 30 hours, six hours beyond the previous model. The case itself is new: sweat- and water-resistant, with a lanyard loop and a built-in speaker. It also charges from an Apple Watch charger, as well as MagSafe, a Qi mat or Lightning cable.
Touch control lets listeners swipe the stem up or down for volume. Darby found it awkward on the move, since the stems need firm pressure and the more sensitive skin sensors sometimes paused a song or ended a call by accident.
Where it still falls short
The old complaint survives. Because the earbuds try to switch automatically among Apple devices, they can cling to a Mac or iPad when you want your iPhone back, and the H2 chip did not cure that. ZDNET also noted that they remain among the most expensive earbuds on the market, with a premium of $70 over the original. For people already happy with the first generation, she wrote, they are not missing too much.
Sources
- Apple announces the next generation of AirPods Pro – Apple Newsroom
- Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) review – ZDNET
