AirPods Pro 2: Six New Features If You're Upgrading

The new second-generation AirPods Pro will begin arriving to customers on Friday, September 23. For customers still using the first-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ or older AirPods models, there are several new features and changes you can look forward to using.

airpods pro 2
We've outlined six new significant features, changes, and improvements that the new second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ offer compared to older models. Read on to learn more.

Better Active Noise Cancellation

Building on a feature introduced in the first-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌, the new ‌AirPods Pro‌ now feature up to 2x better Active Noise Cancellation. The improvement will mean less ambient noise making its way into the user's ears when using Active Noise Cancellation, thanks to improved noise-canceling microphones, a new driver, and improved algorithms.

Improved Sound Quality With Richer Bass

AirPods Pro Second Generation
The new ‌AirPods Pro‌ feature a custom-built driver and amplifier that works with the H2 chip to provide low distortion, deeper bass, and crisp and clear high notes for music, videos, and more. The H2 chip also powers a new algorithm that processes sound in real-time more quickly, custom-tuning it to your ears for high-fidelity sound.

Adaptive Transparency Mode

AirPods Pro
Alongside Active Noise Cancellation, ‌AirPods Pro‌ feature Transparency Mode, which uses outward-facing microphones to let you hear the world around you. The second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ take this further with Adaptive Transparency Mode, which can minimize loud noises, like sirens and power tools, while letting you hear other sounds.

Better In-Ear Detection

The first-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ feature IR optical sensors to detect when a user places them in their ears. Like the third-generation AirPods, the new ‌AirPods Pro‌ feature skin-detection sensors for even better in-ear detection, longer battery life, and more reliable performance that will prevent the AirPods from being accidentally activated in a bag or pocket.

Longer Battery Life

The second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ get up to six hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, which is one and a half hours longer than the original ‌AirPods Pro‌. With the new MagSafe Charging Case, the new ‌AirPods Pro‌ can get up to 30 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation — six hours more than before.

Case With Speaker, Find My, and Lanyard Loop

AirPods Pro 2 Charging Case
The new ‌AirPods Pro‌ come with a redesigned ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case that now has a built-in speaker for enhanced Find My, support for Precision Tracking, and an opening on the side for attaching a lanyard for easy carrying. In addition to Lightning and ‌MagSafe‌, customers can now charge the new charging case using an Apple Watch charger.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Top Rated Comments

Koni17 Avatar
27 weeks ago
All I want are AirPods with a way to replace the batteries. Having to throw away a device that functions absolutely fine except for the battery every 3-4 years is horrible for the environment and expensive.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
infinitejest Avatar
27 weeks ago
To me, this was actually the highlight of the keynote.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacBird Avatar
27 weeks ago
Features sound promising but still no USB-C charging case?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GigabitEthernet Avatar
27 weeks ago

It's meant to be used with an iPhone. So why would they add USB-C to the case when the iPhone doesn't have it? That's just pointless.
Eh?

One of its selling features is switching between Mac, iPhone and iPad.

All but one use USB-C.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thislsmadness Avatar
27 weeks ago

Maybe it's just me, but I feel more and more disillusioned by Apple releases each year. Everything they do just seems iterative and carefully planned slow drip to maximize profit. I realize they are a business, but they seem to have lost a real innovative spark over the years. Yes, everything is well made, everything is polished and works seamlessly within their ecosystem. But, nothing they release is ever a big leap forward anymore. I guess you could argue that this is the state of a mature industry now, except you see other companies making big leaps, taking bigger risks to release untested ideas, and Apple over here just continuing to roll out incremental enhancements like clockwork, waiting to copy their competitors only if they think something is working in the market.

What we got with this release? Visually, same AirPod Pros as the previous version. So, no shorter stem. No black or other colors. Internally, it apparently has improved battery and better noise cancelling. I mean that's great, but after multiple years since the previous version, and that's all they could do?

At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, does anyone else feel like the ANC performance on the AirPod Pro 1's gradually declined with each firmware update over the years? I remember it was REALLY good at first, and now I'd say it is average as far as ANC on earbuds goes. And then, here we are, with a new release of what otherwise is practically the same AirPods with some minor tech upgrades that all of sudden provides double the ANC performance.

In any case, I'll buy the new ones if I'm forced to replace my previous gen, like if I lose an ear bud or something stops working, but otherwise I would call this a dissapointing release considering the amount of time between the release of the previous generation and these.
You just have unrealistic expectations. They improved all the basics (sound quality + battery life + anc) and they address the biggest issues people had with the originals (findmy for the case, physical volume control, smaller tips, and even a layard to make carrying easier.). Its almost the perfect upgrade for this type product. Yes they look the same.. but so what?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kissmo1980 Avatar
27 weeks ago
For me - none of the ear buds Apple release felt comfortable or secure.
No matter the model I had, eventually I ended up with one or even both ear buds not charging properly in the case, the pins that touch the earbud oxidises.

Sounds quality and features are great, no comment from my side, but these devices up to this point last about 2 years and then they are trash.

I used them in all cases: office work, music and during running.

Other may be lucky but for me, these became waste of money and they have zero attraction.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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