In the end, the AirPods Professional 2 are right here, and they’re virtually excellent. It has been three years since Apple shook the wi-fi earbuds trade with the launch of the AirPods Professional, and since then, many have been craving second-generation Professional fashions, regardless of them already being one of many finest wi-fi earbuds round.
Introduced at Apple’s September occasion, the AirPods Professional 2 delivered on all fronts: an upgraded H2 processor, up to date contact controls, higher energetic noise cancellation, longer battery life, and extra. Heck, the AirPods Professional case even obtained an replace. Positive, we did not hear something about these rumored physique temperature sensors, and the stems are nonetheless intact, however these new earbuds are an improve via and thru.
Is it time for an improve? There are a variety of variations between the AirPods Professional 2 and AirPods Professional, regardless that they might look related in design. Should you’re contemplating giving the second-generation earbuds a whirl, we have outlined the variations beneath.
For an in-depth have a look at Apple’s new wi-fi earbuds, take a look at our AirPods Professional 2 evaluation (we have named them Apple’s finest wi-fi earbuds ever).
AirPods Professional 2 vs. AirPods Professional: Specs
| AirPods Professional 2 | AirPods Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | $249 | $249 |
| Wi-fi charging case | Sure (included) | Sure (included) |
| Processor | H2 | H1 |
| Battery life (rated) | 6 hours, 30 hours (with charging case) | 4.5 hours (ANC on), 5 hours (ANC off), 24 hours (with charging case) |
| IPX ranking | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Dimension and weight (buds) | 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches, 0.19 ounces | 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches, 0.19 ounces |
| Dimension and weight (charging case) | 1.78 x 0.85 x 2.39 inches, 1.79 ounces | 1.8 x 0.9 x 2.4 inches, 1.6 ounces |
| Particular options: | Lively noise cancellation, Adaptive EQ, Contact management, Personalised Spatial Audio, computerized switching, audio sharing, introduced messages with Siri, Enhanced Discover My, “Hey Siri” voice-activated help, Dwell Hear, Misplaced Mode, MagSafe charging case with speaker and layered loop | Lively noise cancellation, transparency mode, adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio, computerized switching, Ear Tip Match Check, audio sharing, introduced messages with Siri, Enhanced Discover My, “Hey Siri” voice-activated help, Dwell Hear, MagSafe charging case (2021 model) |
AirPods Professional 2 vs. AirPods Professional: Value
Fortunately, you will not should spend greater than the AirPods Professional in the event you’re after the AirPods Professional 2, as the worth continues to be $249/£249. Effectively, provided that you are planning a purchase order on Apple’s official web site.
Whereas the AirPods Professional have all the time been $249, loads of third-party retailers have dropped the worth nicely beneath $200, particularly throughout large gross sales. In truth, as of this writing, you will discover the AirPods Professional at $179 on Amazon (opens in new tab). The AirPods Professional 2 will not be dropping anytime quickly, seeing as they’ve simply been introduced.
The AirPods Professional 2 can be out there on September 23; pre-orders begin on September 8.
AirPods Professional 2 vs. AirPods Professional: Design
Should you loved the design of the AirPods Professional, you then’ll be delighted to listen to they have not actually modified. Though, you possibly can anticipate a number of updates to the contact controls.
There have been rumors that Apple was engaged on making the AirPods Professional 2 smaller and extra just like the stemless Beats Studio buds. Nevertheless, the AirPods Professional 2 are practically an identical to their predecessors. Nevertheless, the stems have a number of new controls, because of the brand new Contact Controls. Whilst you’ll nonetheless must squeeze the tiny stems to play, pause, and skip ahead or backward, now you can swipe up or down to regulate the amount.
One further design change comes with the added silicone ear tip. The AirPods Professional 2 will now include an XS ear tip to permit for a greater tip for extra individuals.
The charging case, nevertheless, underwent a small change that makes an enormous distinction. The primary is the addition of a small speaker close to the underside, which can play a loud sound when Discover My is activated, making it that a lot simpler to seek out the wayward case. Plus, there is a new loop so you possibly can connect a lanyard so they do not get misplaced within the first place.
AirPods Professional 2 vs. AirPods Professional: Audio
The audio high quality, steadiness, and readability on the AirPods Professional are already good, however the AirPods Professional 2 intention to intensify the standard to a different stage. That is via quite a lot of enhancements, specifically because of the brand new H2 processor over the H1 within the last-gen mannequin.
The largest feather in Apple’s cap is that energetic noise cancellation (ANC) is getting higher efficiency. Extra exactly, “2x extra” ANC over the AirPods Professional. With noise-cancelling microphones and a rear vent, the AirPods Professional 2 can detect sound coming in and scale back how loud it’s.
Adaptive Transparency can also be getting an improve within the AirPods Professional, as it’ll mechanically decrease the noise of harsh sounds coming in, like sirens or building work. And it is meant to work seamlessly, lowering noise at 48,000 instances per second.
There’s additionally personalised Spatial Audio and adaptive EQ, however the latter will not be something new in comparison with the unique AirPods Professional that boast the identical. In fact, this may increasingly work higher on the second-gen earbuds with the brand new H2 processor, however that is one thing we’ll have to seek out out as soon as we get our arms on them.
As for the previous, this might probably be a sport changer. “With iOS 16, you need to use the TrueDepth digital camera on iPhone to create a private profile for spatial audio as a result of the best way all of us understand sound is exclusive primarily based on the scale and form of our head and ears,” mentioned Senior Engineer of AirPods Firmware Mary-Ann Rau. In different phrases, primarily based in your ear form, the AirPods Professional 2 will be sure that sound experiences are completely tuned in your distinctive bodily options.
Talking of, that H2 chip is alleged to ship decrease distortion throughout playback, together with deeper bass and crisper highs. That is because of the H2 working with a brand new custom-built driver and amplifier.
As for the charging case, it is now suitable with Discover My with Precision Discovering because of U1 chip. Your iPhone will be capable to navigate to the place you final left it, and the speaker will emit a loud tone so you’ll find out the place it is hiding, too. Plus, the speaker will point out charging, pairing, and low battery. That is an enormous leap over the AirPods Professional case, which actually simply fees the AirPods and retains them good and cosy.
AirPods Professional 2 vs. AirPods Professional: Battery life
The unique AirPods Professional had a rated battery lifetime of 4.5 hours. Apple has prolonged the battery life to a much-needed 6 hours. Paired with the charging case, you recover from 30 hours of battery life, making it one of many longest-lasting wi-fi earbuds in the marketplace (an identical to the AirPods 3, in actual fact).
Sadly, the AirPods Professional 2 are nonetheless Lightning dependent. Nevertheless, now you can cost the case through an Apple Watch charger along with a MagSafe or a Qi charger.
Outlook
The AirPods Professional 2 presents engaging upgrades over their predecessors, and with the H2 chip, enhanced contact controls that allow you to swipe for quantity adjustment, higher ANC, and improved Transparency mode, these earbuds provide the upgrades many AirPods followers have been in search of.
You could find out extra about Apple’s new earbuds in our AirPods Professional 2 evaluation. And keep tuned for an up to date comparability.
Within the meantime, with the worth nonetheless sticking to $249/£249, those that have waited to leap on the AirPods Professional bandwagon can be getting one of the best model of the AirPods Professional but. Though, in the event you’re not too fussed about options like higher ANC and longer battery life, you can save a couple of dollars by sticking with the first AirPods Professional for round $180. (opens in new tab)
