The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are the next generation of the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless. They look remarkably similar to their predecessor, but there have been some notable changes. The Gen 2 have an upgraded H2 chip, which the manufacturer advertises to improve their audio performance and lets you seamlessly pair them with other devices in your Apple ecosystem. Their carrying case also has its own U1 chip, allowing you to easily track it if you misplace the case. Their ANC has improved, and their sound profile has been tweaked for a better all-around experience.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are decent for neutral sound. Compared to their predecessor, their bass is more extended, which helps improve their overall bass. That said, their sound profile is a little warmer rather than rumbly this time around, making vocals and instruments sound cozy and soft. The treble is a bit more recessed, which takes the edge off of sibilants and instruments. They're still in-ears, though, and their passive soundstage doesn't feel as natural or spacious as dedicated audiophile headphones. Luckily, their Spatial Audio feature allows audio to follow your head movements when using compatible content, which can feel more immersive.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are great for commute and travel. Thanks to their lightweight and portable design, you can easily store these comfortable and well-built earbuds in your pocket or bag on the go. Their ANC can also block out a lot of the low rumble of bus and plane engines, and with their ANC on, they last about six hours continuously. They don't leak very much audio at high volumes either, meaning you won't annoy others around you.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are great for sports and fitness. Although some users find that the buds can wiggle out of their ears, once you get a good fit, they're comfortable and stable enough for moderate exercise. These lightweight buds are also certified IPX4 for resistance against water splashes and have a durable build quality.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are decent for office use. These in-ears have a comfortable and well-built design that's suitable for long days at the office. While their six-hour continuous battery life may not completely last through your day, their carrying case supplies an additional four charges, which is handy in a pinch. They're also equipped with an excellent ANC system and can block out office noise like chatty coworkers or the high-pitched hum of AC units very well.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are Bluetooth headphones. They aren't designed with wireless gaming in mind, and their latency is likely too high.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are Bluetooth headphones, and you can't use them for wired gaming.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are mediocre for phone calls. These buds have an integrated mic, but since it sits far away from your mouth, the mic struggles to capture your voice clearly. As a result, speech sounds muffled and thin. It can also be drowned out if you're taking a call from a noisy environment like a busy street. On the upside, their ANC system can help block out background noise so that you can better focus on your calls.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 come only in 'White', and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are the next generation of the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless. As we've come to expect from Apple, they have the same premium build quality as their other products. However, their ANC has been improved to rival competitors also vying for the title of the best noise cancelling earbuds, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. In addition, Apple has updated the chip technology inside their buds from H1 to H2, making it easy to pair your headphones with other iOS devices. Their carrying case also has a U1 chip, which allows you to precisely track down your carrying case. While they may not be as customizable as other buds out there, like the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3, they offer a robust performance, especially if you don't want to play around with settings.
Check out our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds and the best wireless earbuds for iPhone.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Beats Fit Pro True Wireless. The Apple are more comfortable, better built, and have a significantly better noise isolation performance. They also have longer continuous battery life and more charges in their carrying case. However, the Beats have a more stable in-ear fit, making them a more suitable choice for sports and fitness.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless. The Apple are more comfortable, have a more neutral overall sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can block out more background noise across the range. They also have an H2 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices. However, the Sony headphones have a better overall battery performance, and their companion app offers customization features like a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are the next version of the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless. While not a lot has changed in terms of comfort, and premium build quality, there have been slight changes to their sound profile and noise isolation performance. The second-gen sound a little warmer than the first-gen and can reproduce better low bass. Their ANC also does a significantly better job of blocking out background noise across the spectrum. Additionally, they have a longer continuous battery life, though they're one extra charge short of their predecessor. Their carrying case has a U1 chip too, so you can easily locate your case if you lose it. Overall, the changes are somewhat minor, but the second generation make good strides in the right places.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless and the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are both great in-ears with different strengths. The Bose are more comfortable in-ears, and their ANC system is significantly better. Their companion app also offers graphic EQ and presets to help you customize their sound to your liking. However, the Apple headphones are well-designed for Apple users. They have a more premium feel, have an H2 chip for seamless pairing with other iOS devices, and support Spatial Audio. They also have a slightly more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer,
Depending on your preferences, you may enjoy either the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 or the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. While both headphones are well-built and have similarly excellent levels of noise isolation thanks to their ANC systems, the Sennheiser have a significantly better battery performance, and you can customize them using their companion software's graphic EQ and presets. In comparison, the Apple are more comfortable and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer.
The Apple AirPods Max Wireless and the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless have different strengths, so depending on your usage, you may prefer either one. The Max are over-ears with better overall battery performance and have flatter, more even mids, so vocals and instruments sound accurate. However, the second generation of the Pro have a more comfortable fit and their ANC performance is significantly better too.
The Nothing Ear (2) Truly Wireless are better in-ear headphones than the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. While both buds have similar comfort, battery life, and build quality, the Nothing come with more features for a lower price than the Apple, like multi-device pairing, ANC presets, and a graphic EQ with presets. However, the Apple have a better-functioning ANC that isolates you from more ambient noise, making them ideal for commutes and working in loud offices. They also have better compatibility with Apple's product ecosystem thanks to their H2 chip which allows for seamless pairing with other Apple devices.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless have a slight edge over the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless. While both in-ears are comfortable and have similarly excellent levels of noise isolation, the Apple have a more premium build, and their battery performance is better. They also have an H2 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices. However, the Samsung headphones sound more neutral out of the box, and have EQ presets, which some users may prefer to adjust their sound to their liking.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the EarFun Air Pro 3 True Wireless. While both buds are comfortable, the Apple are better-built, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and support Spatial Audio for a more immersive audio experience. Their ANC performance is significantly better too, and have an H2 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices. However, the EarFun are more customizable via their companion app and support multi-device pairing as well as aptX Adaptive.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are slightly better earbuds than the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless. The Apple headphones offer features like seamless pairing with your other iOS devices as well as Spatial Audio to help give you a more immersive sound. They're also more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, their ANC can block out background noise, and they have a better overall battery performance. However, the Bowers & Wilkins support aptX Adaptive, which is nice if you want to stream high-quality audio, and their carrying case doubles as a wireless transmitter.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Status Between 3 ANC True Wireless. The Apple are more comfortable, better built, and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have Spatial Audio to help make your audio even more immersive, their ANC does a significantly better job of blocking out background noise, and they have an H2 chip for seamless pairing with other devices in your Apple ecosystem. However, the Status have a companion app with sound customization features, support multi-device pairing, and have a longer continuous battery life.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 have nearly the same design as their predecessor, the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless. They have a sleek white design with a stem design and white silicone tips. They only come in one color variant, which is to be expected from Apple products.
These in-ears are comfortable and lightweight. Unlike their predecessor, Apple has included an extra small pair of ear tips, raising the total number of pairs of included ear tips to four. Their fit doesn't apply pressure to your ear and won't be pushed further into your ear if you're trying to register commands. However, like the previous generation, the earbuds can wiggle out of your ear over time. While this doesn't affect all users, some people have solved this issue by purchasing foam ear tips, which mold to your ear.
These buds have very good controls. Compared to the first gen, the manufacturer has improved the 'Force Sensor' controls, and there's click feedback for the amount of clicks you make on the stem. There are different chimes when cycling between ANC modes, as well as touch volume chimes when adjusting the volume and reaching min/max volume. Overall, the controls are easy to use and responsive.
On either stems' force sensor:
The carrying case is great. It has the same plastic design and finish as the previous generation. It supports MagSafe charging and has a lanyard loop if you want to attach it to something. It's also certified IPX4 for resistance against water splashes and has a U1 chip that allows you to easily find the case if you lose it using the 'Find My' app.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 have an adaptive EQ, and when on, they have a slightly warm sound profile, which is great if you like genres with a bit more bass or if you like your vocals and instruments to sound cozier in your mixes. Compared to their Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless, they also have better bass extension, which helps improve the depth of bass in your audio. Overall, their sound is quite versatile and is well-suited for a variety of audio content. However, there are no built-in EQs or presets to help you tweak their sound. If you're an iOS user, you can access sound customization features in your settings via the 'Accessibility' tab.
Thanks to their H2 chip, these headphones can adjust their bass and treble response, depending on the listening volume. However, this is only noticeable when connected to an iOS device. This change mitigates the effects of equal-loudness contours (and more specifically, the Fletcher-Munson curve). To simplify, this research explores the perception of constant sound pressure based on listening volume. At high volumes, the listener perceives more bass and treble than mid. However, at low volumes, the listener perceives less bass and treble than mid. These headphones counter this issue in their frequency response by increasing bass and treble at lower volumes to encourage people to listen to audio at lower volumes. You can see the change in frequency response when using an iOS device with ANC on and ANC off. This effect doesn't apply to PCs or Android devices.
There have been user reports that firmware 5E133 added more bass and treble to the frequency response. However, upon retesting them using several reseats, we didn't notice a change. It's important to note that frequency response does change depending on whether you turn the ANC on/off, though.
Note: There's a slight discrepancy between the left and right driver in the raw frequency response graphs. It's due to how the files were processed and level-matched. However, all other graphs are correct, and this difference isn't audible. We also don't expect users to encounter this issue with their own units.
These in-ears have great bass accuracy. They have an extended low-bass, which helps the bass have more depth in your mixes. There's also a bump of extra warmth to help balance their underemphasized low-bass. While the bassline in songs like Lavender Haze by Taylor Swift feels a little lacking compared to other in-ears, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless, the bass still feels satisfying and present without overwhelming vocals and instruments.
The mid accuracy is excellent. There's some warmth coming from the bass range into the mid. This overemphasis clutters vocals and instruments a bit, but the rest of the range is flat, so these sounds are still present and detailed in mixes. In vocal-centric songs like Vegas by Doja Cat, Doja's voice sounds cozy and warm but a little muddy.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 have great treble accuracy. The response is slightly underemphasized across the range, which takes the edge off of vocals and instruments. The upper harmonics of these sounds are slightly veiled, while sibilants like hi-hats lose a bit of their sharpness.
The peaks and dips performance is great. There's a peak across the high-bass to low-mid, which muddies mixes a bit, while a dip in the mid-mid affects the left driver more prominently and nudges vocals and instruments to the back of the mix. Another bump in the mid-treble makes sibilants like cymbals piercing.
The imaging performance is outstanding. Apple works hard to ensure good quality control over their products. As a result, our unit's L/R drivers are well-matched in group delay, phase, amplitude, and frequency response, which is important for the accurate placement of objects like voices in the stereo image. Imaging can vary between units due to quality control and ergonomics, though.
These in-ears have a bad passive soundstage, but that's normal from in-ear headphones. Since they bypass the pinna by design, their soundstage feels closed-off and as if sound is coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed in the room around you.
These in-ears are compatible with Apple's Spatial Audio in the iOS interface. It scans your face from the front as you rotate it to capture all the angles of your face. Once complete, sound will follow your head movements, making for a more immersive audio experience.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2's noise isolation performance is excellent. They can block out a wide array of noise very well. This includes the low rumble of buses, to ambient chatter, to the high-pitched hums of an AC unit. As a result, these buds are a solid choice if you're looking for something to use during busy commutes or noisy days at the office. If you're looking for an even better noise isolation performance from in-ears, it's worth considering the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless.
Note: Due to user feedback, we've tested these headphones using firmware 5A377 and 5B58 to see if the noise isolation changed. You can see a comparison of both firmware here. We also did multiple passes using firmware 5E133, and you can see a comparison of 5B58 and 5E133 here. However, there wasn't much of a difference between firmware updates.
The mic's noise handling performance is okay. The mic has trouble separating your voice from background noise, and speech can be drowned out altogether if you're taking a call from a noisy environment. However, this won't be much of a problem if you're calling from a quiet space, like home.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2's battery performance is decent. The manufacturer advertises them to last six hours continuously, and we measured a similar amount. Battery life can vary depending on use, though. Luckily, there are roughly four additional charges in the case if you need it, and the buds go into standby mode, which is good for conserving battery life.
You can access the headphones' interface if you're connected via iOS; check out a video of how the interface works here. You can check the battery life of the headphones as well as the case, switch between ANC modes, and remap the press and hold control. You can also use the 'Find My' feature to track the case if you misplace it, and do a fit check to ensure the best possible fit. While there isn't any EQ in this app, you can access sound customization features via your iOS device's 'Accessibility' tab.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 have decent Bluetooth connectivity. You can connect them simultaneously to two different Apple devices, though this won't work if you're using Android devices. They also have high latency when connected to PCs, but luckily, their latency is lower on iOS and Android devices. Latency can vary depending on the app and device, though.
These headphones can connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs with full audio and mic compatibility. However, you can't connect them to your PC in any other way.