Expert review of the Apple AirPods Pro 2
Apple AirPods Pro 2
- Active noise canceling mutes distracting ambient noise and noise.
- The new H2 chip provides higher sound quality, better noise canceling, and a stable connection.
- Thanks to the USB-C input, you can also charge the AirPods with a charging cable from a different brand.
- The earbuds are water-resistant instead of waterproof, so you can't clean them under the faucet.
First impression
I notice right away how small the charging case is. It's almost the same size as a match box. This makes it smaller than the case of the JBL Tour Pro 2, for example. The earbuds are small and feel sturdy. Because the charging case is comfortable to hold, it's easy to take with me. Apple provides 4 sizes of silicone earbud tips to test which size fits your ear best. In addition, Apple provides a USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
Great wearing comfort
The earbuds fit snugly in my ears, so they also stay in during a heavy workout. That's because the earbuds are sweat and water-resistant. Thanks to the Apple fit test, I know right away which earbuds fit my ears best. During the fit test, I put in the AirPods and they play a sound. This way, the AirPods determine if the earbuds fit well.
Spatial audio nice experience
Just like the AirPods Pro 1, the AirPods Pro 2 have a spatial audio function. This provides spatial audio. Music doesn't sound like it's playing in your ears, but all around you. Videos sound like you're at the movie theater. The spatial audio also has head tracking. This makes the sound move along with the movements of my head. During a podcast, I got the sense that I was at the table with the presenters.
High-end noise canceling
The AirPods Pro 2 have 4 settings for noise suppression. For example, I can choose to still hear ambient noise through the noise canceling. In Transparent mode, I can hear my surroundings even better but still hear the music. With the Adaptive function, the noise canceling adjusts itself to my surroundings. In Noise Canceling mode, I almost can't hear my surroundings anymore. I can concentrate on my work very well. With the combination of Spatial Audio and Noise Canceling, I can completely immerse myself in the music.
Compatibility with iPhone
Unlike other brands, Apple doesn't provide a separate app to adjust settings. On the iPhone, I can adjust a few settings via the settings screen. This can be setting up noise canceling, Spatial Audio, and the controls of the earbuds. Unfortunately, I can't adjust the equalizer, so I have to do with the standard settings Apple provided. If I ever lose the AirPods, I can find them via the 'Find my' app on my iPhone.
Overall good sound quality
The noise canceling and spatial audio provide a spatial and immersive sound experience. This is amplified because the sound quality of the earbuds is already good without these additions. I can hear clear audio with many details. The bass is clearly present and balanced. Compared to the AirPods Pro 1, the sounds are deeper and more spatial.
AirPods as a hearing aid
With an iPhone with iOS 18, I can use the AirPods as a hearing aid. I can do a hearing test via the iPhone and that way, my AirPods can measure my hearing loss. If I have mild hearing loss, I can use the AirPods as hearing aids. The AirPods help me understand voices, music, and other sounds around me. The AirPods will enhance these sounds, so I can hear them more clearly.
Conclusion
The AirPods Pro 2 has a high wearing comfort and clear sound quality. I could close myself off from my surroundings with noise canceling, so I could concentrate on my work. I also had high-quality phone calls. It was easy to adjust my preferences for noise canceling and spatial audio on my iPhone. If you had AirPods Pro 1 before, this is a good successor with the improved sound quality and the noise canceling.
