AirPods Pro 2
Better noise-cancelling and much more
Thanks to the significant upgrade to the H2 chip, the AirPods Pro 2 now boast twice the Active Noise Cancellation effectiveness as the originals. The Spatial Audio (with dynamic head tracking) has been improved, with a personalised profile fit for each ear. This is coupled with a low distortion driver and custom amplifier for “more detail and clarity across a wider range of frequencies”. The addition of a pair of XS silicone ear tips should also improve passive noise cancelling for smaller ears.
Apple has stated that personalised Spatial Audio profiles and Find My support (see further on) will be available with iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura in October. Oddly, at the time of going to press, it doesn’t reference a need for iOS 16.
The overall appearance of the headphones has not radically changed, although the new gen features a slightly thicker stem to accommodate the impressive battery upgrade – the AirPods Pro 2 can now run for up to six hours, or up to 20 hours with the charging case. The larger stems now also accommodate touch controls, enabling you to control music playback volume and take calls.
The AirPods Pro 2’s charging case now has Find My support, and its new rectangular design incorporates a speaker in order to play a sound to find your headphones (if they’re in the case…). There’s now a built-in lanyard loop, but no change in price, with Apple sticking to the £249 price point. The new headphones will be available from 23 September (although you can already pre-order).