At long last, the AirPods Pro 2 are here. It’s been three years since Apple shook the wireless earbuds industry with the launch of the AirPods Pro, and since then, many have been craving second-generation Pro models, despite them already being one of the best wireless earbuds around.
Announced at Apple’s September event, the AirPods Pro 2 delivered on all fronts: an upgraded H2 processor, updated touch controls, better active noise cancellation, longer battery life, and more. Heck, the AirPods Pro case even got an update. Sure, we didn’t hear anything about those rumored body temperature sensors, and the stems are still intact, but these new earbuds are an upgrade through and through.
Is it time for an upgrade? There are a number of differences between the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro, even though they may look similar in design. If you’re considering giving the second-generation earbuds a whirl, we’ve outlined the differences below.
AirPods Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro: Specs
| AirPods Pro 2 | AirPods Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $249 |
| Wireless charging case | Yes (included) | Yes (included) |
| Processor | H2 | H1 |
| Battery life (rated) | 6 hours, 30 hours (with charging case) | 4.5 hours (ANC on), 5 hours (ANC off), 24 hours (with charging case) |
| IPX rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Size and weight (buds) | 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches, 0.19 ounces | 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches, 0.19 ounces |
| Size and weight (charging case) | 1.78 x 0.85 x 2.39 inches, 1.79 ounces | 1.8 x 0.9 x 2.4 inches, 1.6 ounces |
| Special features: | Active noise cancellation, Adaptive EQ, Touch control, Personalized Spatial Audio, automatic switching, audio sharing, announced messages with Siri, Enhanced Find My, “Hey Siri” voice-activated assistance, Live Listen, Lost Mode, MagSafe charging case with speaker and layered loop | Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio, automatic switching, Ear Tip Fit Test, audio sharing, announced messages with Siri, Enhanced Find My, “Hey Siri” voice-activated assistance, Live Listen, MagSafe charging case (2021 version) |
AirPods Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro: Price
Thankfully, you won’t have to spend more than the AirPods Pro if you’re after the AirPods Pro 2, as the price is still $249/£249. Well, only if you’re planning a purchase on Apple’s official website.
While the AirPods Pro have always been $249, plenty of third-party retailers have dropped the price well below $200, especially during big sales. In fact, as of this writing, you’ll find the AirPods Pro at $179 on Amazon (opens in new tab). The AirPods Pro 2 won’t be dropping anytime soon, seeing as they’ve just been announced.
The AirPods Pro 2 will be available on September 23; pre-orders start on September 8.
AirPods Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro: Design
If you enjoyed the design of the AirPods Pro, then you’ll be delighted to hear they haven’t really changed. Although, you can expect a few updates to the touch controls.
There were rumors that Apple was working on making the AirPods Pro 2 smaller and more like the stemless Beats Studio buds. However, the AirPods Pro 2 are nearly identical to their predecessors. However, the stems have a few new controls, thanks to the new Touch Controls. While you’ll still need to squeeze the tiny stems to play, pause, and skip forward or backward, you can now swipe up or down to adjust the volume.
One extra design change comes with the added silicone ear tip. The AirPods Pro 2 will now come with an XS ear tip to allow for a better tip for more people.
The charging case, however, underwent a small change that makes a big difference. The first is the addition of a small speaker near the bottom, which will play a loud sound when Find My is activated, making it that much easier to find the wayward case. Plus, there’s a new loop so you can attach a lanyard so they don’t get lost in the first place.
AirPods Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro: Audio
The audio quality, balance, and clarity on the AirPods Pro are already good, but the AirPods Pro 2 aim to heighten the quality to another level. This is through a number of improvements, namely thanks to the new H2 processor over the H1 in the last-gen model.
The biggest feather in Apple’s cap is that active noise cancellation (ANC) is getting better performance. More precisely, “2x more” ANC over the AirPods Pro. With noise-cancelling microphones and a rear vent, the AirPods Pro 2 can detect sound coming in and reduce how loud it is.
Adaptive Transparency is also getting an upgrade in the AirPods Pro, as it will automatically minimize the noise of harsh sounds coming in, like sirens or construction work. And it’s meant to work seamlessly, reducing noise at 48,000 times per second.
There’s also personalized Spatial Audio and adaptive EQ, but that’s not anything new compared to the original AirPods Pro that boast the same. Of course, this may work better on the second-gen earbuds with the new H2 processor, but that’s something we’ll have to find out once we get our hands on them.
Speaking of, that H2 chip is said to deliver lower distortion during playback, along with deeper bass and crisper highs. That’s thanks to the H2 working with a new custom-built driver and amplifier.
As for the charging case, it’s now compatible with Find My with Precision Finding thanks to U1 chip. Your iPhone will be able to navigate to where you last left it, and the speaker will emit a loud tone so you can find out where it’s hiding, too. Plus, the speaker will indicate charging, pairing, and low battery. That’s a huge jump over the AirPods Pro case, which really just charges the AirPods and keeps them nice and cosy.
AirPods Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro: Battery life
The original AirPods Pro had a rated battery life of 4.5 hours. Apple has extended the battery life to a much-needed 6 hours. Paired with the charging case, you get over 30 hours of battery life, making it one of the longest-lasting wireless earbuds on the market (identical to the AirPods 3, in fact).
Sadly, the AirPods Pro 2 are still Lightning dependent. However, you can now charge the case via an Apple Watch charger in addition to a MagSafe or a Qi charger.
Outlook
The AirPods Pro 2 offers enticing upgrades over their predecessors, and with the H2 chip, enhanced touch controls that let you swipe for volume adjustment, better ANC and improved Transparency mode, these earbuds offer the upgrades many AirPods fans have been looking for.
Since we haven’t been able to try them out yet, we’ll have to wait to see if audio quality is any better, and if the updated chip offers even better call quality. Stay tuned for our review for a deeper dive.
In the meantime, with the price still sticking to $249/£249, those who have waited to jump on the AirPods Pro bandwagon will be getting the best version of the AirPods Pro yet. Although, if you’re not too fussed about features like better ANC and longer battery life, you’ll be able to save a few bucks by sticking with the first AirPods Pro for around $180. (opens in new tab)
