Apple Explains Why Second-Generation AirPods Pro Ear Tips Are Incompatible With Original AirPods Pro

by

Apple today explained why the new silicone ear tips for the second-generation AirPods Pro are not officially compatible with the original AirPods Pro.

new airpods pro ear tips
In an updated support document, Apple said the original AirPods Pro ear tips have "noticeably denser mesh" than the second-generation ear tips. Apple did not provide any additional details, but the mesh density could result in acoustical differences.

"Ear tips have been designed specifically for their AirPods Pro generation, to deliver the highest-fidelity audio experience," the support document says. "As a result, use the ear tips that come with your AirPods Pro. AirPods Pro (1st generation) ear tips have noticeably denser mesh than AirPods Pro (2nd generation) ear tips."

Despite the mesh differences, the second-generation ear tips do fit the original AirPods Pro, so they are still physically compatible.

airpods pro 1 tip mesh

The mesh on the original AirPods Pro ear tips

The second-generation ear tips are available in a new XS option, while the original ear tips remain available in small, medium, and large only. Both generations of ear tips are available on Apple's online store in sets of two for $7.99 in the United States.

The new AirPods Pro will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores over the next day. The first reviews of the new AirPods Pro were shared earlier today, providing a closer look at improvements to sound quality, active noise cancellation, battery life, and more. The second-generation AirPods Pro remain priced at $249.

Update: The Verge's Chris Welch tested both generations of ear tips with the new AirPods Pro and did not notice any obvious sound differences:

Could a looser mesh pattern really make any difference to sound quality? If it's there, it's extremely subtle. Swapping back and forth between the first- and second-gen tips on the latest AirPods Pro, I didn't notice any immediate or obvious sound changes. Noise cancellation also remained just as effective with both pairs. Maybe lab testing equipment can reveal some differences between the tips, but your ears will probably have a harder time at it.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?

Wednesday September 24, 2025 3:58 pm PDT by
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line. Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum...
Read Full Article • 539 comments
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.1 Beta 1

Monday September 22, 2025 12:44 pm PDT by
Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.1 today, just a week after launching iOS 26. iOS 26.1 mainly adds new languages to Apple Intelligence, but there are a few other features that are worth knowing about. New Apple Intelligence Languages Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. AirPo...
Read Full Article • 136 comments
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

Skipped the iPhone 17 Pro? Here's What is Rumored for iPhone 18 Pro

Tuesday September 23, 2025 8:55 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still a year away, there are already a few rumors about the devices that offer an early look ahead. Below, we have recapped some of the early iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far. This story was published previously, and it has been updated to reflect the latest rumors. Many early rumors prove to be true, but nothing is confirmed yet, and Apple's...
Read Full Article • 105 comments
apple tv 4k new orange

Next Apple TV Expected to Launch This Year With These New Features

Monday September 22, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
The next Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Likely Features N1 Chip With Wi-Fi 7 Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next Apple TV would be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is...
Read Full Article • 97 comments
iPhone 17 Pro USB C Port

iPhone 17 Pro Max's USB-C Charging Speeds Tested With Apple Chargers

Monday September 22, 2025 7:29 am PDT by
The website ChargerLAB has tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max's USB-C charging speeds with a variety of Apple's chargers, from 18W to 140W. The device reached a peak charging speed of around 36W with the following Apple chargers:40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max 61W USB-C Power Adapter 67W USB-C Power Adapter 70W USB-C Power Adapter 96W USB-C Power Adapter 140W USB-C Power AdapterFor...
Read Full Article • 56 comments
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

Apple Blames In-Store MagSafe Chargers for iPhone 17 Pro Display Model Scratches

Wednesday September 24, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
The marks on the iPhone 17 Pro models that people have noticed at Apple retail stores are caused by the chargers that Apple uses, Apple confirmed today. Apple told 9to5Mac that worn MagSafe charging stands in stores are causing marks on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple says that the marks are not scratches, and are instead material transfer from the stand to the phone. The...
Read Full Article • 216 comments
AirPods Pro 3 Newsroom

Apple's 'Back to School' Offer Ends Soon, Now Applies to AirPods Pro 3

Wednesday September 24, 2025 7:20 am PDT by
Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion for students ends soon, so act fast if you want to score free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad. Until Tuesday, September 30, college students and qualifying educational staff in the U.S. can receive free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation when they purchase an eligible new Mac or iPad from Apple. This is a $179 value. ...
Read Full Article • 17 comments
ios 26 digital id passport wallet

Apple Confirms iOS 26 Wallet Passport Feature is Coming in 2025

Tuesday September 23, 2025 1:06 pm PDT by
Digital ID, the iOS 26 feature that lets U.S. passport holders add their passports to the Wallet app, is coming later in 2025, Apple confirmed today. Apple updated the release timing wording of Digital ID on its iOS 26 features page. "Digital ID will be coming later this year with US passports only," it reads. Prior to today, the footnote for the feature said "Digital ID will be available ...
Read Full Article • 71 comments
Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

iOS 26.1 Adds New Apple Intelligence Languages and Expands AirPods Live Translation

Monday September 22, 2025 11:15 am PDT by
With iOS 26.1, Apple Intelligence is gaining support for additional languages, including Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. Apple announced plans to expand the languages that can be used with Apple Intelligence last year, and now the added language support is here. Apple Intelligence is now available in the following...
Read Full Article • 71 comments
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro is Vulnerable to Scratching, But Not Where You Might Think

Tuesday September 23, 2025 2:18 pm PDT by
Early reports have suggested that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air are more vulnerable to scratches and scuffs, primarily due to damage spotted at Apple Stores. Apple customers have discovered that the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models Apple has out for display at its retail locations have scratching in the area of the MagSafe charger. Those devices are handled by hundreds to thousands of...
Read Full Article • 142 comments

Top Rated Comments

entropys Avatar
entropys
39 months ago
A lot more detail that could otherwise be summarised as “profit”.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Isentropic Avatar
Isentropic
39 months ago
Ahem…The tips are financially incompatible with each other.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
macduke
39 months ago

Despite the mesh differences, the second-generation ear tips do fit the original AirPods Pro, so they are still physically compatible.

They simply won’t fit. Because the mesh is thicker in the original. I’ve rarely heard anyone whinge about things becoming thinner…. Except in this forum. It astounds me when people draw their own conclusions without actually reading the article.
BRO you didn't read the article and then complained about someone else not reading the article are you even for real.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
InuNacho Avatar
InuNacho
39 months ago


Attachment Image
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
appleguy123 Avatar
appleguy123
39 months ago
Did Apple improve the sound quality partly by shielding them less from ear wax ingress?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
steve09090 Avatar
steve09090
39 months ago

Planned obsolescence. FTFY
So they planned to change an ear tip to force everyone to upgrade? Seriously?



So in other words if you want the smaller tip don’t spend $8 for them on their own…. We much rather you spend $249 for them along with the new AirPods Pro
They simply won’t fit. Because the mesh is thicker in the original. I’ve rarely heard anyone whinge about things becoming thinner…. Except in this forum. It astounds me when people draw their own conclusions without actually reading the article.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments