APPLE AIRPODS PRO II - REVIEW
The release of Apple’s new Airpods Pro almost went unnoticed a couple of weeks ago, drowned somewhat by the hype tsunami created by the new iphones and Apple Watches.
That’s a shame, I say – I’ve tried them and they are far and away the best earbuds I’ve used so far. They look almost identical to the first Airpods Pro, but inside these little white marvels are all new.
We should start with the new chip that powers it all – the H2. This brings much better performance, allowing some transformative new features.
The audio quality is better, noticeably better on the low end, but the noise cancellation improvements are next level.
Not only is the standard active cancellation much improved, there’s also now adaptive noise cancellation when the Airpods are in transparency mode – this allows limited outside noise in so you can still listen to audio while remaining connected to your surroundings.
The adaptive processing cycles 48,000 times a second, and can reduce the volume of sudden noise, like a jackhammer or police siren, in almost real-time.
It’s a game changer, especially when combined with the magical spatial audio features.
There’s also a big bag of other improvements – there’s now a speaker in the charging case to notify you of things like low battery and to help you find it when it’s lost, a new smaller ear tip, so it’ll fit more people, Magsafe charging, and a lanyard loop so you can attach the case to something to keep it safe.
The case now also features
precision finding, so if you misplace it, you can be guided to its location in the Find My app on iphone.
Even the control system has changed – you can now adjust volume by swiping on the stems.
Battery life has also been improved – six hours listening is now possible on a single charge with ACN on. The charging case extends that to 30 hours.
It’s an incredible package in such a tiny device – an upgrade in all ways and still setting the standard for others to follow.
The new Airpods Pro are out now and cost £249.