AirPods Pro vs. AirPods Pro 2 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?

Almost three years after the launch of the first-generation AirPods Pro, Apple unveiled the second-generation model alongside the iPhone 14 lineup and several new Apple Watches. Although the second-generation AirPods Pro feature the same design as their predecessor, they improve on features like Active Noise Cancellation, in-ear detection, and battery life, while introducing new functionality like Adaptive Transparency, volume adjustment touch controls, and precision finding.

airpods pro 2
The first-generation AirPods Pro have now been discontinued by Apple, but they can still be found for reduced prices at third-party resellers and second-hand. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to purchase first-generation AirPods Pro for a reduced price or the second-generation version.

The two AirPods Pro generations share the overwhelming majority of their features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the first-generation AirPods Pro to save money? This breakdown also serves as a way to see all the differences that the new AirPods Pro bring to the table.

Differences

AirPods Pro (First-Generation) AirPods Pro (Second-Generation)
Active Noise Cancellation Active Noise Cancellation (2x stronger)
Transparency Transparency and Adaptive Transparency
High dynamic range amplifier powering a high-excursion, low-distortion speaker driver New low-distortion audio driver and custom amplifier for richer bass and clearer sound
H1 chip H2 chip
Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.3
Optical IR sensors for in-ear detection Skin-detect sensors for in-ear detection
Force sensor controls Force sensors and touch controls for volume adjustment
IPX4 sweat and water resistant earbuds IPX4 sweat and water resistant earbuds and charging case
Up to 4.5 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled Up to 6 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled
24 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation using MagSafe Charging Case 30 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation using ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case
‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case with Find My ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case with built-in speaker for ‌Find My‌, Precision Tracking, and Lanyard loop
‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case compatible with ‌MagSafe‌ charger, Qi wireless charging mats, and Lightning ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case compatible with Apple Watch charger, ‌MagSafe‌ charger, Qi wireless charging mats, and Lightning
Three silicone ear tips (S, M, L) Four silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, L)

Overall, the second-generation AirPods Pro offer a modest upgrade over the previous generation with valuable enhancements across the board, but there are few must-have new features. Some users who heavily use their AirPods Pro may be able to justify upgrading to the second-generation model due to the wide range of improvements, but this will not be the case for all existing users.

Many users who recently purchased the AirPods Pro may not be able to justify upgrading to the second-generation AirPods Pro at the current time, unless they particularly want features like Adaptive Transparency, touch controls for volume adjustment, or Apple Watch charger compatibility. Users who purchased their AirPods Pro in late 2019 or early 2020 may see more of a reason to upgrade, especially if the batteries in their existing device have significantly degraded. These customers will benefit from the plethora of refinements that the second-generation model offers.

If you've been interested in purchasing the AirPods Pro for a while, now is still a good time to pick up the first-generation model for a hefty discount, but it should be remembered that they are now over three years old. Likewise, it is worth bearing in mind that the AirPods Pro are among the most-commonly discounted Apple products, so check out our Apple Deals Roundup for significant savings.

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...
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. ...
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...
Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Thursday September 25, 2025 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system codenamed "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple smart home hub concept based on rumors This is likely Apple's long-rumored "homeOS" operating system. In a report last month, Gurman said both Apple's rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027 will run the new operating system. He said the software platform ...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...

Top Rated Comments

vegetassj4 Avatar
40 months ago
Waiting on the rumored AirPods Ultra



Attachment Image
Score: 53 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
40 months ago
How is all new low distortion drivers, wider range of sound frequencies, high bandwidth connectivity, full FindMy integration, touch sensitive stems for volume control, 2X Noise Cancellation, a new transparency mode and 33% improved battery a "modest upgrade"???
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CopyChief Avatar
40 months ago
Post again when you can do real side-by-side comparisons. Otherwise this is just clickbait. What does 2x better noise cancellation even mean? How useful is the volume adjustment on such a small stem? Does the battery improvement align with reality? How much better do they sound? That’s how you answer whether or not the upgrade is worth it.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RigoStar Avatar
40 months ago

No way - not until lossless audio is included.
I don't get why people want lossless audio in tiny earbuds? If you are serious about music, you should use high fidelity headphones with amp, to have a much wider frequency spectrum.. othwerwise what's the point of having lossless transmission of 20hz-20Khz?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chrjy Avatar
40 months ago

No way - not until lossless audio is included.
The thing is, from my understanding, lossless isn't possible over bluetooth.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrat93 Avatar
40 months ago
What’s most disappointing is that they’re going to release the exact same headphones, but with a USB-C case, next year.

That’s my only reservation — since I know with iPhone 15, I’ll never need a Lightning cable again.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)