The AirPods Pro 2 are here, three years after the original launched, sporting an updated feature set and all-new charging case. In this article, I’ll explain all the best hidden Airpods Pro 2 features.
The new AirPods Pro 2nd Gen, while still among the top true wireless earbuds on the market, deliver some big upgrades in terms of both functionality and audio performance, with Apple clearly setting its sights on offering some of the best audio experiences on the market. So, if you were holding off on purchasing a new pair of wireless earbuds, check out all the major new features that the AirPods Pro 2 bring to the table.
The Best AirPods Pro Features
1. Improved Sound Quality and ANC
Thanks to its latest H2 chip, a new low-distortion audio driver, and a custom amplifier, the second-gen AirPods Pro delivers notably better sound quality and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
Apple claims the new earbuds cancel up to twice the amount of noise compared to the outgoing model. The bass is also richer, with a wider sound stage that helps improve the overall clarity.
2. Better In-Ear Fit
What’s the point of great sound quality if the earbuds keep falling from your ears? It looks like the company has heard some of your complaints, as the new AirPods Pro comes with an additional set of XS-sized ear tips to help provide a better in-ear fit for people with small ear canals.
This will allow the earbuds to passively block more noise, indirectly boosting the ANC performance and sound quality. The better fit will also help if you use the AirPods Pro to help hear conversations better.
3. Adaptive Transparency
The second-generation AirPods Pro takes the existing Transparency mode to the next level with Adaptive Transparency. Voice processing happens so much more naturally now, with it possible to hold a conversation without even realizing you’re wearing Apple’s new earbuds – although you might seem tremendously rude.
Apple is also claiming that, thanks to the H2 chip, it can offer ‘Adaptive Transparency’ automatically. So if you’re using Transparency when walking down the road and a vehicle with a siren goes past, the AirPods Pro will automatically tune down the sound without getting rid of it completely (in case you need to hear it as a warning).
4. New Charging Case With Find My Integration
The new charging case of the second-generation AirPods Pro is dust and water-resistant, just like the earbuds. There’s a lanyard loop, too, for extra convenience. If you order the AirPods Pro 2 online through the Apple Store, you can even engrave your favorite Memoji on the charging case.
Another highlight of the new charging case is Find My integration and a built-in speaker. If you have an iPhone with a U1 chip, you can use the Precision Finding feature in the Find My app to get the exact location of the AirPods Pro. And the built-in speaker on the charging case will play a loud tone so that you can locate it quickly.
5. Longer Battery Life
The final improvement to the AirPods Pro comes with the battery life: thanks mostly to the more efficient H2 chip (compared to the original H1 in the older AirPods) the Pro 2 earbuds can last six hours off a single charge when using ANC, and seven hours without.
The case can charge the AirPods Pro 2 five times, so you’ve got 30 hours’ use in ANC mode – which is a big jump over the 24 hours’ use previously.
And you’re able to charge the case in a new way too: using an Apple Watch charger. This is something that makes so much sense, especially given Apple is so intent on getting people to think of the AirPods as a key part of owning a Watch, as you can easily listen to and control music from the screen on your wrist.
6. Touch Control
Unlike the original AirPods Pro, you don’t need to press the stem to adjust the music playback or volume. The stems pack a new feature: finally, you can control the volume of your music from your AirPods Pro. While gripping the stalks, slide a finger up or down the ridge, which can register your touch through the new capacitive surface. This allows you to adjust the volume with a light swipe up or down. And to accept phone calls or control music playback, you need to press the stem lightly.
Apple has also upgraded the skin detection sensor, so the earbuds will more accurately detect when to resume or stop music playback.
These are the best AirPods Pro 2 features
You might think that the new AirPods Pro 2 seem very similar to the original AirPods Pro – but there’s a lot going on here that means these true wireless headphones are going to be a big draw for so many people.
Whether it’s the new and massively improved noise cancellation, the extra speakers in the case so it’s much harder to lose them, or the improved transparency mode to chat to your pals, there are many AirPods Pro 2 features to be excited about.