AirPods Pro (2022) review: Big improvements, everything inside | gadget

Three years ago, Apple finally gave people what they wanted: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). That first-generation model retained the general look of the company’s classic headphones, but added an ear tip for noise isolation along with a better fit. After a total redesign last year and the introduction of a few in 2020, Apple has finally introduced its latest premium earphones alongside the iPhone 14: the second-generation AirPods Pro ($249).

, Apple has not totally rewritten the formula. If you were expecting an updated design for the new AirPods Pro, Apple surely disappointed you. Instead of a complete overhaul, the company focused on the internals, adding several new features and refining what was already there with the help of new silicon. So while Apple hasn’t abandoned its aesthetic, these they are still very different from the previous edition.

Design

We’re now on our fifth set of headphones from the company and it’s only tweaked the look of the “regular” AirPods so far, and that wasn’t until the third generation. Even then, the company kept its stickbuds look, a polarizing design element that has become the hallmark of Apple’s true wireless lineup. Expecting the people of Cupertino to abandon the stem at this point is probably an exercise in futility, but hey, I welcome Apple to prove me wrong.

Even with the familiar look, there are some small but significant changes. First there’s something you can’t see: the new swipe gesture. The stem of AirPods Pro is still clickable for the main controls (play/pause, skip tracks, sound modes, and Siri), but now the side of that panel accepts swipes. This touch gesture is used to control the volume and is mirrored on both sides. Unfortunately, you can’t just slide it on or the earpiece will fall out of your ear; you have to use your thumb to grip the stem, just as you would if you were going to press the main button. One addition you may see is the extra small (XS) ear tip size which will improve the fit (not to mention passive noise reduction) for even more people. It’s notable that Apple is tweaking these AirPods for small ears in an effort to improve overall performance and comfort.

The other key design changes have to do with the AirPods Pro charging case. First, this time it has a built-in speaker, making it easy to hear pings when you search for your earbuds or turn on tones for low battery, charging, and pairing. . Consequently, the grid is now visible at the bottom edge. The case is IPX4-rated just like the AirPods Pro, which means it’s also sweat- and water-resistant. Also, there is now a drawstring loop on one side. In true Apple fashion, there isn’t one included in the box, so the added convenience will cost you more money. The company currently sells a lanyard in its Incase online store but you can expect other accessory manufacturers to offer alternatives soon enough.

Software and features

All the features of AirPods Pro are built into iOS, so there’s no need to download a separate app to make changes. For this reason, the earphones pair perfectly with your phone when you open the case and touch the pop-up window on the screen. As before, you can quickly access noise cancellation, transparency, spatial audio, and head tracking with a long press on the volume slider in Control Center.

In iOS 16, there’s now a shortcut in the main view of your iPhone’s settings, saving you the extra taps through the Bluetooth menu. Once you get to the AirPods Pro settings page, you’ll see battery figures for both the earbuds and the case (one number for both). Noise control options for ANC, transparency and off are just below with the ability to reconfigure the long press to activate Siri instead of toggling between those sound modes. Apple’s Eartip Fit Test is also found in this menu, as are sliders to disable adaptive transparency, in-ear detection, charging case, sounds, optimized charging, and Find My .

Apple has offered Adaptive EQ before, but a new feature for the second generation AirPods Pro is Adaptive Transparency. This helps when in ambient sound mode by applying a level of noise reduction to loud noises like a siren or jackhammer. When you sync AirPods Pro with your Apple Watch, the Noise app will show you how many decibels the headphones are suppressing in real time. Additionally, that information is sent to the Health app so you can track your hearing exposure levels. In fact, AirPods Pro let you still hear these things (you’ll want to know about an approaching siren, after all), but it noticeably reduces their harshness in the best interests of your ears.

Another new feature that Apple introduced to the AirPods Pro is custom spatial audio. From this main settings menu, you can start the process of adjusting the device to your ears, which Apple says will enhance the immersive quality of Spatial Audio with more precision and clarity for directional elements in movies, TV shows, and videos. To set it up, create a personal profile with the front-facing TrueDepth camera on an iPhone. After scanning your face and ears, your phone does the rest.

It’s similar to setting up FaceID, only it also captures the sides of your head. Sony does something similar to tailor 360 Reality Audio to each person with a phone camera and a quick scan. Custom Spatial Audio will also be available on the first generation AirPods Pod, in addition to the third generation AirPods and AirPods Max. And once you set it up, the sound profile syncs across your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

The updated charging case houses a U1 chip that enables precise searching in Find My. Until now, you had a general location for a lost AirPods case. But with AirPods Pro, Apple offers direction and distance information like it does with AirTags. As an update, U1 is the company’s ultra-wideband chip that’s been in every iPhone since 11 for pinpoint location capabilities. The component does the same thing it does with the new AirPods Pro case in AirTags.

H2 microprocessor

Apple’s H1 chip has been powering its headphones and earphones, including Beats products, for years. The component handles all the adaptive equalizer and active noise cancellation for hands-free Siri. However, every good piece of technology takes its course and in the new AirPods Pro, Apple introduces the H2. The company says that the new chip not only offers better sound quality and improved ANC, but also handles new features like Adaptive Transparency.

H2 is more powerful, but also more efficient. With Adaptive Transparency, for example, the chip is capable of processing on the device 48,000 times per second to recognize and silence any loud noises it may encounter. For ANC, Apple says the H2 can run algorithms that were previously not possible in devices as small as AirPods. So when combined with the drivers, vents, and microphones, AirPods Pro cancel twice as much noise as the first-gen model. H2 also augments the adaptive equalizer with algorithms for improved and more consistent audio performance and works to help you sound more natural when listening to speech in transparency mode.

I know, it’s various claims of performance increases in a variety of areas. But all you really need to know is that the new H2 chip makes everything Apple has added, improved or refined since the 2019 model possible.

Sound quality

Inside the new AirPods Pro, Apple says new algorithms, amplifier, driver and transducer combine for “richer” sound, greater clarity and consistent performance at all volumes and frequencies. It’s a lot of audio jargon, but what you need to know is that the overall sound quality of the second-gen model has vastly improved since the first version. Apple wasn’t lying when it promised music would sound better at lower volumes. Even when I turn down the levels, The Darling Fire’s space shoegaze and post-hardcore riffs still come through clean. The band’s atmospheric sound remains intact rather than being reduced to a muffled murmur. It’s really impressive what this new model can do with a lower volume, right down to the bass.

What Apple has done with regular volume is also great. In fact, the overall sound is richer with more depth, clarity and a wider soundstage to create a more complete listening experience. The snapping echo and low, rumbling synth sustain of Lorde’s “Royals” are on equal footing, but at opposite ends of the frequency range. This keeps the track airy and dimensional, showing subtle nuances in both sounds. The sound is not only immersive, it is also more detailed.

When it comes to personalized spatial audio, I actually prefer what AirPods Pro offer out of the box. Once I scanned my face and ears, the custom sound profile was too high-pitched for my liking. Music sounded a bit less immersive, and thumping or bombastic movie elements were slightly muted. Still, Spatial Audio benefits movies and shows more than music, unless you’re listening to one of Apple’s live concerts that was captured specifically for the format. Turn on dynamic head tracking and Luke Combs’ recent Apple Music performance sounds much more realistic. Songs are noticeably louder and clearer in Spatial Audio even without head tracking, but the directional element gives things a more “live” feel with a band on stage.