AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro are Apple’s in-ear headphones that were first introduced in October of 2019. AirPods Pro feature a more customizable design with high-end features, such as Active Noise Cancellation and more.
Table of contents
Design
The design of AirPods Pro is far more versatile than the “universal fit” of Apple’s regular AirPods. The AirPods Pro go in your ear, rather than resting on the edge of your ear. As such, Apple also includes three different sizes of customizable ear tips in the box with AirPods Pro.
On the stems of AirPods Pro are force sensors, which allow you to control playback of what you’re listening to. The force sensor makes it easy to play, pause or skip tracks, and answer or hang up phone calls.
The AirPods Pro design is also sweat- and water-resistant and rated for IPX4, which Apple says makes them perfect for active lifestyles.
Features
The two primary features of AirPods Pro that set them apart from regular AirPods are Transparency mode and Active Noise Cancellation.
Transparency mode is a technology created by Apple that lets users simultaneously listen to music while still hearing the environment around them. Outward- and inward-facing microphones enable AirPods Pro to undo the sound-isolating effect of the silicone tips so things sound and feel natural, like when you’re talking to people around you.
Meanwhile, Active Noise Cancellation serves the opposite purpose. This feature will block out your environment so you can focus on what you’re listening to. Again, Apple uses two microphones to create this noise cancellation environment. Apple also says that the AirPods Pro will continually adapt to the geometry of your ear and the fit of the ear tips to ensure noise cancellation is as accurate as possible.
Finally, AirPods Pro feature an Adaptive EQ functionality that Apple says “automatically tunes music to the shape of your ears for a rich, consistent listening experience” that offers “superior sound quality.”
All three of these features are exclusive to AirPods Pro, which means you won’t find them on the more affordable AirPods models.
Battery life and charging
AirPods Pro feature five hours of listening time per charge, but if you enable Active Noise Cancellation, that drops to four and a half hours. AirPods Pro also includes a charging case that delivers over 24 hours of listening time or 18 hours of talk time.
The AirPods Pro charging case can also be recharged via Qi wireless charging. This means you can just drop the case on a wireless charger to gain some added power.
AirPods Pro release date
AirPods Pro were announced by Apple on October 28, 2019, and subsequently began shipping on October 30th. They were widely sold out when first released, but Apple has now caught up with demand in most areas.
Pricing and where to buy
AirPods Pro retail for $249, making them notably more expensive than regular AirPods. But again, you get a handful of exclusive features in exchange for that higher price.
You can find AirPods Pro on the Apple Store as well as from Amazon.
Best AirPods Pro accessories:
- Native Union Drop wireless charger
- Anker PowerWave wireless charger
- Seneo 2 in 1 Wireless Charger for iPhone and AirPods
- Apple MagSafe Charger
Best AirPods Pro cases
AirPods Pro review
We had quite a bit of praise for AirPods Pro in our full review:
I’ve been using the AirPods Pro for the last several days, and one thing is immediately clear: these are easily the best headphones that Apple sells, and as you’ll see in our AirPods Pro review, some of the best headphones that you can buy today.
AirPods Pro present an incredible mix of convenience, comfort, and features, making them well worth considering, even if you already own regular AirPods
Future upgrades
AirPods Pro 2 are expected to be released sometime in 2021. This update is currently rumored to bring a major redesign to the product. Bloomberg has reported that the second-generation AirPods Pro will feature a “more compact” design that removes the stem that current sticks out from the bottom of the AirPods Pro.
Bloomberg also reported that AirPods Pro will gain new fitness tracking capabilities. These features would come thanks to new motion sensors. The new AirPods Pro were reportedly scheduled for a release in 2021, but have been delayed until 2022. This means it is likely safe to buy AirPods Pro right now, knowing new updates are likely around a year away.
