First Listen: Tuning Out Noise With the AirPods Pro 2
The biggest news coming from Cupertino might be the iPhone 14 lineup, but Apple also updated its AirPods Pro with a second-generation replacement for the 2019 originals. The first AirPods Pro represented a huge step forward not only for Apple’s personal audio products—they implemented an in-canal design that created a seal for optimal audio performance—but also for true wireless earbuds in general, as they delivered reliable, impressive ANC (active noise cancellation) to the relatively new form factor. Within a few short years, ANC of a reasonable quality level is now ubiquitous, and several models have surpassed the 2019 AirPods Pro. The $249 second-gen AirPods Pro need to step it up, and from what we experienced in out time with them at Apple's launch event, our outlook is promising.
They're subtle, but the new AirPods Pro feature a few physical changes. A newly designed, inward-facing mic allows for better call clarity, and the new swipe up/down on-ear controls are a welcome addition to the somewhat spartan on-ear control options the AirPods previously offered.
On the show floor, I had trouble finding the sweet spot to adjust the volume at first; an on-screen volume icon appeared and adjusted in real time with my motions. In practice, one ear was hard to adjust, while the other instantly and seamlessly raised and lowered the volume. Most likely, it was my clumsy fingers. It’ll be interesting to see how the volume swipe function performs when we get a pair in for review.
It’s hard to say how much better the new AirPods Pro are without putting them through some real tests, but on the noisy showfloor, I was impressed. Enabling the ANC immediately took out a wide swath of noise—and that room, with lots of reflective
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