Apple has finally unveiled the second-gen version of its premium earbuds. The AirPods Pro 2 offer an improvement in audio quality and a handful of new features that its 2019 predecessors don’t have.
The biggest improvement is that the AirPods Pro 2 pack Apple’s H2 chip.
AirPods Pro 2
The H2 chip offers an upgrade in performance from H1. Apple was light on the detail, but we know the H2 chip will come alongside support for new “high bandwidth connectivity,” improved active noise cancelling with a promised two-times performance boost and a dynamic transparency mode that will continue to cancel damaging high-frequency sounds (like jackhammers) while still allowing voices through.
Apple reckons this will allow for even more detail and clarity being sent down your ear canals.
The AirPods Pro 2 come with personalised Spatial Audio, which, as it says on the tin, allows you to create a personal profile for the feature, based on the size and shape of your head and ears. Apple promises this will deliver the “most immersive listening experience”.
Active Noise Cancellation (which, again, as it says on the tin, reduces unwanted noise) has also had an upgrade thanks to H2, about 50 per cent, in fact. They also come with an extra small ear tip, fixing that issue of feeling like there’s a cork shoved in your ear.
You can already play, pause and answer calls with the first-generation AirPods Pro, but the Touch Control on the ‘2’ adds a capacitive sensor layer to adjust volume with a light swipe up or down.
The AirPods Pro 2 seem to be more power efficient, not just more powerful, offering up to six hours of listening time from a single charge. The charging case will give you up to 30 hours of listening time (which is an increase of six hours). The charging case can also be charged using the Apple Watch charger.
The case also gets some smarts. Precision finding will allow you to find the case using Find My. A speaker has also been added to the bottom of the case to help you find it. Each headphone can also individually play a sound when Find My is activated.
That speaker will also help indicate pairing and charging.
AirPods Pro 2 Australian pricing and availability
AirPods Pro (2nd generation) will be available to order for RRP $399 from Friday, 9 September, with availability in stores beginning Friday, 23 September.
Head over here to check out everything Apple announced at its ‘Far Out’ iPhone 14 event.
This article has been updated since it was first published.