Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro, also called the AirPods Pro 2, are a massive improvement over the original model released in 2019.
The earbuds themselves look identical to their first-gen predecessors, but the meaningful upgrades come with how they perform. Apple's H2 chip significantly improves sound quality, noise cancellation, and battery life while enabling advanced features like "adaptive" transparency mode. Following a software update in 2024, the AirPods Pro 2 also now offer a suite of aural health features, including a hearing aid function and a hearing test.
While there are plenty of alternatives out there, Apple's flagship headphones are among the best wireless earbuds and are hard to beat if you own an iPhone.
The AirPods Pro 2 have been replaced by Apple's newer AirPods Pro 3, but they remain a great value if you can find them on sale. Although their audio quality, battery life, and noise-canceling capabilities may not match those of the newer model, they still support many of the same great features.
What we like
What we don't like
A familiar fit with a charging case that's easier to find
Aside from a few subtle tweaks to the positioning of the microphones and vents, the new AirPods Pro are nearly identical to their predecessor. If the fit of the original Pros treat you right, these will do the same.
In an effort to accommodate more ears, Apple includes four ear tips instead of three in the box. The added extra-small silicone ear tip should please anyone who found the fit of the first-gen AirPods Pro too cramped.
When it comes to design, the bigger headline is in the charging case. The case's new U1 chip enables "Precision Finding" with the Find My app, which gives you visual direction and distance indications to where it is. The charging case also features a speaker that plays a sound, so you get an aural indication, too. And as a little bonus, there's a new lanyard loop on the left edge of the case.
The charging case speaker gives you audio notifications for low battery, and it chimes when you start charging or when pairing is complete. It's now water-, sweat-, and dust-resistant. It's also compatible with MagSafe and uses a USB-C connection for charging rather than Lightning. (A version of the AirPods Pro 2 with a Lightning case was previously sold but is no longer available.)
While the case is great on its own, it still has some limitations. Mainly, it can't handle being submerged in water, and it only comes in one color. For added protection and style options, check out our guide to the best AirPods Pro 2 case covers.
Apple says the second-gen AirPods Pro can last for six hours of use, and the MagSafe charging case can hold up to 30 hours of charge. That's an improvement over the original AirPods Pro but about the same as other premium wireless earbuds.
Impressive active noise canceling and all-around better sound
The AirPods Pro 2 are the first Apple earbuds powered by the H2 chip, which brings improved sound and active noise cancellation (ANC), adaptive transparency mode, and the aforementioned longer battery life.
Compared to other premium wireless earbuds, the original AirPods Pro always sat at the bottom of the noise-cancellation performance chart. That's all changed with the second-gen Pros. Apple says the AirPods Pro 2 deliver up to twice the noise-canceling performance as the originals, and I'm inclined to agree. With ANC engaged, the world becomes much quieter, from the low hum of a commuter train and people chattering to higher pitches from cars driving in the rain.
But while ANC quality is close to that of top-tier competitors, like the Sony XM5 earbuds and Bose QuietComfort Ultra, I wish Apple would let users customize the way they sound, at least as an option. I'd argue that even Jabra's midrange Elite 85Ts offer a better overall sound experience because they allow you to customize the sound to your liking with equalizer adjustments, while the AirPods don't.
Instead, the AirPods Pro 2 use Apple's Adaptive EQ to automatically adjust the sound they produce based on the shape of your ears. This feature is useful, but I'd like to see an option that lets users adjust their own EQ settings.
The new AirPods Pro also support Apple's personalized Spatial Audio feature, a 360-degree surround sound mode that's designed to provide an "immersive" listening experience, especially when playing tracks encoded in Dolby Atmos. I can't say that I notice much difference with this feature on or off, even with songs from Apple's "Made for Spatial Audio" playlist.
But perhaps the best new feature powered by Apple's H2 chip is the "adaptive" transparency feature, which automatically reduces the volume of loud noises when using transparency mode. It does an amazing job of letting sound in but also blocking out loud noises, like a car horn. It's so good that the second-gen AirPods Pro are the only pair of earbuds where I actually use the transparency mode in earnest.
Taking this idea even further, Apple also now offers a suite of aural health features that you can activate when you pair the AirPods Pro 2 with an iPhone. These features include a hearing test, a hearing aid function, and a hearing protection mode that can reduce the decibels of loud environments like concerts. These features were launched via a free software update in the fall of 2024. You can learn more at the Apple website.
Onboard volume controls are a welcome addition
The original AirPods Pro came with pressure-sensitive controls for media playback functions and switching between noise cancellation or transparency modes, but they were notably lacking volume controls.
Apple fixed that with the second-gen AirPods Pro by adding touch sensors that let you swipe up or down the stems to adjust the volume. Now, you don't have to reach for your phone to adjust the volume.
Despite the short stems, it's surprisingly easy and intuitive to swipe up or down: Act like you're pinching the stems with your thumb and index finger, and simply swipe with your index finger.
Should you buy them?
The second-gen AirPods Pro are among the best headphones for buyers who want a pair of premium earbuds to use with an Apple device.
Alongside seamless pairing and switching between iOS devices, the AirPods Pro 2 are a no-brainer for Apple loyalists thanks to features like Precision Finding when used with an iPhone. Even if you own a pair of the original 2019 AirPods Pro, you'll notice a big difference from the improvements made to the second-gen model's overall sound and noise-canceling quality.
However, the AirPods Pro 2 aren't the best fit for Android users since many features are exclusive to iOS devices. There isn't even an Android app for AirPods. If you don't own an iPhone, check out our guide to the best AirPods alternatives for recommendations that offer similar features in a more Android-friendly package.
For more Apple headphone recommendations, check out our guide to the best Apple AirPods.
