The AirPods Pro 2nd generation is one of the new products announced at Apple’s Far Out launch event, and they are its latest premium pair of earbuds, succeeding the AirPods Pro. Apple announced the first AirPods Pro in 2019. While the AirPods 2nd generation launched the same year and got a successor last year, a new pair of AirPods Pro were missing in action.
While Apple took its time to launch a new pair of premium earbuds, rivals such as Sony, Samsung and Huawei filled in the gap with the announcement of new models practically every year. Even Google has joined the train with the Pixel Buds Pro, which were announced in May 2022 and went on sale in July.
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The new AirPods Pro 2nd generation does not appear visually different from the previous generation, although there are a few differences in terms of dimension and weight. The earbuds come with a new low-distortion driver and a custom amplifier, improving audio quality. They also come in a new case, rated IPX4, just like the AirPods 3. In addition, the case has a U1 chip, just like an AirTag, for precision to find when lost. There is also a speaker that emits a tone when paired with a device or is running low on battery. And just like how users can play a sound to find their earbuds, they can also find their case that way. Apple has also added a lanyard loop to the case.
The AirPods Pro 2 Have Adaptive Transparency
The new AirPods Pro 2nd generation comes with a new chip called the H2 chip, replacing the H1 chip in the previous generation. Its function is to handle on-device processing for noise cancelation and transparency. Apple claims its new earbuds cancel up to twice as much noise as the AirPods Pro first generation. And when users need to let environmental sounds in, the new Adaptive Transparency mode can reduce unwanted external noise such as the siren of a passing vehicle or the sound of construction tools.
Apple also adds that the AirPods Pro 2 have what is called Personalized Spatial Audio for a more immersive listening experience. As a result of the different shapes and sizes of users’ heads and ears, each person perceives the sound differently. Using the TrueDepth camera on the iPhone, Apple says users will be able to create a personalized Spatial Audio profile for them. This customized profile is synced across all of their Apple devices. In addition to the force sensors, a touch sensor responds to swipes to adjust the volume.
The battery life on the AirPods Pro 2 has improved. It lasts up to six hours on a single charge with ANC turned on, an increase from the 4.5 hours of its predecessor. The total battery life with the carrying case has also been bumped up from 24 hours to 30 hours. There is still a Lightning port for wired charging as well as MagSafe support for magnetic wireless charging. Furthermore, Apple says the new AirPods Pro can now be charged using an Apple Watch charger. This is the only AirPods model that supports this feature. The new AirPods Pro 2nd generation can carry a $249 price tag, the same as the last generation. They will be up for pre-order starting Sept. 9 and will be available for purchase online and in stores on Sept. 23.
