After almost three years, Apple is launching the second generation of the Airpods Pro. In the practical test, they have improved in almost all areas. The active noise cancellation in particular is impressive and the volume control is finally as easy as it should be.
When the first Airpods Pro came out in autumn 2019, they offered by far the best overall package especially for iPhone users. However, the competition has since caught up, and some earphones have left the Apple plugs behind. The Airpods Pro 2 now restore the old balance of power, even if the distance to alternatives such as the Huawei Freebuds Pro 2, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is smaller than three years ago.
You have to look closely to see any differences to the predecessors. On the Airpods themselves, Apple only seems to have slightly changed the positions of the microphones and ventilation slots. But both earphones now finally have touch surfaces with which you can control the volume by swiping up or down with your index finger. An acoustic signal confirms the changes. Apple has done a good job, the controls are precise and uncomplicated.
The charging case now has an eyelet on the right side for attaching a strap. At the bottom, three holes show that there is a small speaker hidden there, which can make a lot of noise when you open the box with “Where is?” seeks. In addition, the charging case is now protected against water and sweat according to IPX4.
Like the first generation, the Airpods Pro 2 are exceptionally comfortable to wear. In addition, they fit much better and more securely than most competitors – an additional pair of silicone tips now makes this possible even with very narrow ear canals. You don’t have to fiddle for long until they seal optimally. You can find out whether this is the case with a pass test in the iPhone settings, where the Airpods Pro now have a place at the top.
A dedicated app for the earphones might have been a better alternative. Because one of the few points of criticism is that Apple has proceeded somewhat confusingly with the settings – probably with the good intention of not making everyday use unnecessarily complicated. A considerable part of the Airpods Pro settings has been outsourced to the accessibility features, which users have to find out first. There you will first find the entry Airpods
Apple doesn’t actually provide for sound adjustments, but a little further down, namely under Audio/Visual, there are headphone adjustments. Here you can emphasize voices or treble, for example, and there is even a custom audio configuration. Among other things, it allows you to adapt the sound to your own hearing with the help of imported audio diagrams.
Normally, however, you can leave the sound unchanged, because Apple has managed to make it even better than it already was with the first generation. The new drivers deliver even more finely tempered basses, the mids are a bit more defined and the trebles offer a little more clarity. In addition, the Airpods Pro open up an airy, wide stage that not many earphones can.
The sound is excellent, but there are earphones that sound at least as good, if not better. If you want a particularly clear, neutral and even more finely chiseled sound, you could prefer the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, for example.
Apple still doesn’t offer any higher-resolution Bluetooth standards like aptX, there’s nothing more than AAC and SBC. It remains to be seen whether one could perceive the very subtle differences in everyday life. It’s just as difficult to determine what the personalized 3D audio will bring. In any case, Apple makes it easy to scan your ears with the true-depth camera with exemplary animations and notification sounds. The 3D sound is not activated in the settings, but via the Airpods Pro controller in the control center.
The effect is impressive either way. The main reason for this is the new H2 chip, which is also responsible for active noise cancellation (ANC). And it does its job so effectively that Apple is once again at the forefront in this discipline. As long as an annoying noise is constant, the Airpods Pro filter it out almost completely.
You can no longer hear hissing on the train without music, the same applies to traffic under the window, the compressor of a construction machine or a loud extractor hood. But conversations or clattering keyboards also significantly reduce the ANC of the earphones. That’s impressive, because only the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II currently achieve the same level.
The adaptive transparency mode also works excellently. It lets outside noise through in such a way that you almost have the feeling of not wearing earphones. But it also prevents painful experiences by intervening when it gets too loud, for example when an emergency vehicle with a siren drives by.
Apple has also cranked up the endurance of the Airpods Pro. They should now last around six hours when listening to music with the ANC activated. This was roughly confirmed in the test. This also applies to the quick charge time, after five minutes in the box, the earphones have enough juice for around an hour of music enjoyment. The charging case offers reserves for 24 hours.
All in all, with the Airpods Pro 2, Apple again delivers the best overall package for iPhone users, even if they are expensive fun at just under 300 euros. Their sound is excellent and the noise cancellation is outstanding. In addition, they are extremely convenient and easy to use with the new volume control. As usual, Android users can only use the earphones with great restrictions. But you can find very good alternatives.
