With Apple’s recently launched AirPods Pro 2, some people are willing to splurge on the upgrade, while others are wondering if it’s better to buy the original AirPods Pro at a lower price.
Truthfully, choosing between the two products is beneficial for iOS users. It really depends on your preference.
If enriched audio, improved Active Noise Canceling (ANC) and more features mean a lot to you, AirPods Pro 2 is the way to go. Otherwise, the first-generation AirPods Pro could suffice as everyday buds, offering similar performance on several fronts (for example, connectivity, fast charging, iOS integration) and even outperforming its successor in one specific category.
This comparison breaks down both models to help you choose the right AirPods for your noise canceling and budget needs.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Specs comparison
| Apple AirPods Pro 2 | Apple AirPods Pro | |
| price | $249 | $249 (originally); $179 (currently) |
| Wireless charging case | yes | yes |
| chip | H2 | H1 |
| Battery life (rated) | 5.5 hours (spatial audio and head tracking) 6 hours (ANC playback); 7 hours (ANC off); 30 hours (charging case with ANC turned on); 34 hours (charging case with ANC off) | 4.5 hours (ANC on), 5 hours (ANC off), 24 hours (with charging case) |
| water resistant | IPX4 (headphones and charging case) | IPX4 (buds only) |
| size | 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches (per bud); 1.78 x 2.39 x 0.85 inches (charging case) | 0.9 x 0.85 x 1.2 inches (per bud); 1.8 x 0.9 x 2.4 inch (charging case) |
| Weight | 0.19 ounces (per bud); 1.79 ounces (charging case) | 0.19 ounces (per bud); 1.6 ounces (charging case) |
| Special Features | ANC, Adaptive Transparency Mode, Adaptive EQ, Custom Spatial Audio, Auto Switch, Ear Tip Fit Test, Volume Controls, Voice Sharing, Messages Announced with Siri, Find My (AirPods), “Hey Siri” voice activation assistance, Listen Direct, MagSafe Charging Case with Built-in Speaker, Apple Watch Charging, Cord Ring Support | ANC, Transparency mode, Adaptive EQ, Spatial audio, Auto switching, Ear tip fit test, Share audio, Announced Messages with Siri, Find My (AirPods), “Hey Siri” voice-activated assistance, Live listening, MagSafe charging case (2021 version) ) |
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Price and Availability
In a surprise announcement, Apple has unveiled AirPods Pro 2 for the same original launch price: $249 (with free engraving). You can buy a pair at Apple website (Opens in a new tab) Or at major online retailers like Amazon (Opens in a new tab)which is currently available for $10 less at launch.
Anyone hoping to get standard AirPods Pro with a MagSafe charging case for much less can pick them up at Amazon (Opens in a new tab) or better buy (Opens in a new tab) Priced as low as $179. Take advantage of the discount because all signs point to the original release being discontinued; Apple no longer lists the Pro on its website. This means that they will likely not be available once retailers run their inventory.
Both are a great investment in noise canceling, and the added perks on the AirPods Pro 2 justify the MSRP (which is $50 less than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 – a close competitor to ANC).
Bookmark our best AirPods deals and best headphones deals pages to stay up-to-date with the latest wireless earbuds sales.
winner: AirPods Pro
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Design
They look identical to each other and share many of the same details.
Regarding the buds, note that the aluminum accents, angled audio ports, black grilles, force sensors, and small stems are untouched. The only difference is the sensors that detect the skin on the AirPods Pro 2, which were previously on the AirPods 3. Build quality remains sub-par, with the entire plastic exterior still easily cracking if dropped or pinched.
Design changes have been made to the MagSafe charging case for AirPods Pro 2 and it’s big. A lanyard loop is placed on the side and a built-in speaker is on the bottom. What is he talking about? A beep plays loudly to indicate charging, low battery, or pairing states, or to help locate the case when it’s been misplaced via Find My’s precise search feature. Like both AirPods sets, the cases are not very durable and get a lot of scrapes and scrapes. One thing we noticed is that the AirPods Pro 2 case has stronger magnets.
Comfort and fit are equally great, although Apple’s new ear tips give AirPods Pro 2 a tighter grip around the canal. That’s about it. Both models offer gentle abrasion, and the ear tip fit test continues to provide accurate results for a perfect fit.
winner: AirPods Pro 2
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Controls
The force sensors and “Hey Siri” voice activation work flawlessly on both AirPods Pro and Pro 2. Expect responsive input when performing single/double/triple or long-acting gestures. Saying a Siri Alert word phrase out loud instantly triggers the AI robot to use, while Apple microphones precisely pick up every verbal request and syllable, producing accurate responses.
Wear detection works slightly faster on AirPods Pro 2 due to the skin detection sensors. Apple also introduced state-of-the-art touch volume controls, which can be activated by sliding up or down on either force sensor — the feature works very well.
winner: AirPods Pro 2
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Sound Quality
Apple showed us the audio capabilities of AirPods with AirPods Pro. Adaptive EQ creates clearer, more consistent sound. The sound stage is wider and warmer than AirPods 2, and the frequency range is better. Additionally, this release introduced the world to Spatial Audio, Apple’s 3D audio format that does a convincing job of delivering immersive sound on Dolby Atmos-enabled music and movies.
Many of the audio features of AirPods Pro are available on AirPods Pro 2. Headphone fittings allow users to adjust audio for balance, range, and brightness, as well as enhance or reduce the presence of soft sounds. Headphone sound customization scans your ears and creates an audio profile based on your hearing preferences. Let’s not forget about EQ in iOS to choose from 20 different presets that cater to different music genres.
Custom spatial audio is the killer feature that Apple is aggressively promoting on the AirPods Pro 2, although it’s also available on the original AirPods Pro. Like Headphone Audio Personalization, which uses a series of tests to create an audio profile, this feature does this by scanning the size and shape of your head and ears using the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera. iOS 16 does the rest. The feature works best on AirPods Pro 2, along with dynamic head tracking.
But it’s not about 3D audio in AirPods Pro 2. A new low-distortion driver and dedicated tweeter are placed in the buds to pump out deeper, louder bass. Highs are also more present, especially on orchestral tracks with complex arrangements.
winner: AirPods Pro 2
AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Active Noise Cancellation
We tested the AirPods Pro’s ANC on several settings, before and after the pandemic. Our experiences have been mostly positive, with the buds neutralizing common noises such as birds chirping, coworkers chattering, landscaping tools, loud televisions, and the roar of an airplane engine. Apple claims that the AirPods Pro 2 have twice the noise cancellation. We won’t go as far as saying it, but it blocks outside sounds better, especially higher frequencies.
That’s where AirPods Pro 2 receive a major boost in ambient listening. Adaptive Transparency is a major achievement for Apple, as it reduces loud environmental noise and keeps it clear enough without compromising audio quality. The results were impressive. We also like the AirPods Pro’s Transparency mode, but the newer version makes a huge difference when going through very high settings.
winner: AirPods Pro 2
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Special Features and Apps
AirPods Pro 2 inherits all the special features of its brother. On the menu: Toggle ANC, Adaptive EQ, Auto Switch, Voice Sharing, Announced Messages with Siri, Conversation Boost, Ear Tip Fit Test, Find My, “Hey Siri,” Headphone Fittings, Headphone Levels, Live Listen, And instant communication with iOS/macOS devices.
As for what’s new and exclusive to AirPods Pro 2, you’re looking at a few attractive additions. The new H2 processor is at the center, powering the new ANC/Adaptive Transparency engine and amplifier. It also works with Bluetooth 5.3 to provide high-bandwidth connectivity and improved audio processing. Apple even put the U1 processor in the AirPods Pro 2 case to locate your device in the Find My app.
Neither group of shoots is considered platform neutral. However, we noticed two things: the first generation version is easier to pair with Android devices and shows more stable audio performance. For some strange reason, AirPods Pro 2 mutes after 30 seconds of playback when using streaming apps (like Spotify and YouTube) on smartphones operated by Google.
winner: AirPods Pro 2
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Call Quality
Call it a controversial name, but we prefer the original AirPods Pro as a calling speaker. Voice and video calls sound louder and clearer, plus the microphones do a better job of reducing accidental sounds. Muffle is popular on AirPods Pro 2 during audio and video calls, and wind resistance is weaker as well.
AirPods Pro 2 have one advantage here: FaceTime call tracking. Since this feature is unique and serviceable, we prefer less background interference, which AirPods Pro provide.
winner: AirPods Pro
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Battery Life
The original AirPods Pro had some of the worst ANC playback times at around 4.5 hours. Turning off the ANC extends battery life to about 5 hours, while the charging case lasts a maximum of 24 hours. Thankfully, Apple has increased the portable power usage of the AirPods Pro 2 and the new earphones keep 5.5-7 hours, while the charging case stores up to 34 hours on a full charge.
A 5-minute charge results in 1 hour of playing time on both models. The charging cases also support Lightning, MagSafe, and Qi-enabled charging, while Apple Watch owners can also use their smartwatch charger to top up their AirPods Pro 2.
winner: AirPods Pro 2
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Verdict
There’s a new heir to Apple’s true wireless throne: AirPods Pro 2. Updates to ANC, ambient listening, battery life, controls, spatial audio, and a MagSafe charging case (now with precision search compatibility) make the latter entry even more appealing to iOS users.
| Apple AirPods Pro 2 | Apple AirPods Pro | |
| price and value (5) | 4 | 5 |
| design (15) | 12 | 11 |
| controls (10) | 10 | 9 |
| sound quality (20) | 18 | 17 |
| Active Noise Cancellation (20) | 17 | 16 |
| Special Features and Applications (15) | 13 | 12 |
| call quality (5) | 3 | 5 |
| battery life (10) | 8 | 6 |
| total score (100) | 86 | 82 |
We’re still fans of the original AirPods Pro, (especially if Apple continues to roll out iOS updates that expand functionality) and they’re currently at a great value discount across online retailers while stocks last. Ultimately, even though AirPods Pro 2 are more future-proof, and with the older version already removed from Apple stores, a smart choice for any potential AirPods Pro buyer would be to get the second generation version with a longer shelf life.
next one: Check out the best noise-canceling earbuds to see where each rank compares to the rest of the models we’ve reviewed.
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