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
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iOS 18

Here Are Apple's Full iOS 18.5 Release Notes

Tuesday May 6, 2025 2:17 pm PDT by
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of iOS 18.5 to developers and public beta testers, giving us a look at the final version of the update that will be provided to the public next week. With the release candidate, Apple provided release notes, so we have a more complete look at the new features that are included in the update, including those that weren't found during the beta...
siri glow

iPhone Users Now Able to Submit Claims in $95 Million Siri Spying Lawsuit

Wednesday May 7, 2025 11:40 am PDT by
If you owned a Siri-compatible device and had an accidental Siri activation between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024, you could be eligible for a payment from Apple as part of a class action lawsuit settlement. Apple in January agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit involving Siri spying accusations, and a website to distribute the funds has now been set up and...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17: What's New With the Cameras

Friday May 2, 2025 3:52 pm PDT by
We've still got months to go before the new iPhone 17 models come out, but a combination of dummy models and leaks have given us some insight into what we can expect in terms of camera changes. Apple is adding new camera features, and changing the design of the camera bump for some models. You might be skeptical of dummy models, but over the years, they've proven to be a highly accurate...
iOS 18

Apple Says iOS 18.5 Coming Soon, Here is What's New

Monday May 5, 2025 8:19 am PDT by
In its press release for the new Pride Band today, Apple said that iOS 18.5 is "upcoming," following more than a month of beta testing. We expect the iOS 18.5 Release Candidate to be released this week, and this should be the final beta version, barring any last-minute bugs or changes. The software update should then be released to the general public next week. iOS 18.5 is a relatively...
Nineth iOS 19 Feature

iOS 19 Beta is a Month Away With These New Features for Your iPhone

Thursday May 8, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is just one month away, and there are already many new features and changes that are expected with it. Apple should seed the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Foldable iPhone Said to Have Two Key Advantages

Monday May 5, 2025 6:41 am PDT by
Apple plans to release its first foldable iPhone next year, according to several reporters and analysts who cover the company. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the foldable iPhone will offer two key advantages over other foldable smartphones. First, he said the foldable iPhone will have a "nearly invisible" crease when unfolded. This means the device's...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Apple's Foldable iPhone Display Tech May Set New Industry Standard

Thursday May 8, 2025 3:29 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will feature a new type of display panel developed by Samsung that has never been used in a foldable product, claims a source with links to Apple's supply chain. According to the account yeux1122 on the Korean Naver blog, the foldable iPhone will use a custom display process for which Apple will hold branding trademark rights, and that meets Apple's stringent ...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...

Top Rated Comments

Koni17 Avatar
35 months 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
35 months ago
To me, this was actually the highlight of the keynote.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacBird Avatar
35 months ago
Features sound promising but still no USB-C charging case?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GigabitEthernet Avatar
35 months 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
35 months 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
35 months 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)