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Apple Airpods Pro 2 vs Airpods Pro: What’s Different?

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Apple Airpods Pro 2 vs Airpods Pro: What’s Different?

Key Points:
  • The AirPods Pro 2 has a higher audio quality, a better balance, and a clearer voice quality than the original AirPods Pro, thanks to the AirPods Pro 2’s new H2 chip.
  • AirPods Pro has dual optical sensors which help it detect if it has been inserted into a user’s ears. AirPods Pro 2 has skin-detect sensors which help it detect if it has been inserted into the ears.
  • Apple has discontinued the AirPods Pro, and it can no longer be purchased on its website.

AirPods were a game-changer when they launched in December 2016. Their compact design, ease of use, and affordable pricing made them an instant hit with consumers. After the original AirPods, Apple launched the AirPods Pro in 2019, and it was also successful. Almost three years after the AirPods Pro was launched, Apple unveiled the AirPods Pro 2 alongside the iPhone 14 series. Can they go to-to-toe? What makes the AirPods Pro 2 different from the original AirPods Pro? Read on to learn how Apple AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods pro stack up against each other.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Side-by-Side Comparison

AirPods ProAirPods Pro 2
What it isWireless earphones developed by AppleSecond-generation of the AirPods Pro
Year released20192022
Price$179$249
ChipH1H2
Size1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches1.8 x 0.9 x 2.4 inches
Battery life4.5 hours6 hours

Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: What’s the Difference?

Apple AirPods Pro

Apple AirPods Pro

©Fadhli Adnan/Shutterstock.com

Audio

The AirPods Pro 2 has a higher audio quality, a better balance, and a clearer voice quality than the original AirPods Pro, thanks to the AirPods Pro 2’s new H2 chip. Of the two, AirPods Pro 2 has a much better active noise cancellation (ANC). It’s two times better than the AirPods Pro’s ANC. Synced microphones with a vent on the back of the AirPods Pro 2 can detect the sounds and reduce their volume.

AirPods Pro has a transparency mode, but the new H2 chip allows the AirPods Pro 2 to have an Adaptive Transparency mode which would minimize the intensity of loud noise such as sirens and heavy construction tools in a seamless manner. 

Both devices have personalized spatial audio which tailors sounds to fit your physical profile. This feature gives you a more precise, personalized, and immersive sound experience. It uses your iPhone’s camera to scan the shape and size of your head and ears then improve your audio experience by tailoring sounds to suit your physical profile. The personalized spatial audio feature works better on the AirPods Pro 2 which offers a more immersive experience than its predecessor thanks to its new H2 chip.

AirPods Pro 2 also has a lower level of distortion during playback than AirPods Pro. Its H2 chip combines with an amplifier and a low-distortion driver to deliver crisp and bright sounds with minimal distortion. Using touch volume controls, you can adjust the volume by simply sliding your finger across any of the sensors on either bud.

Features

AirPods Pro has several features that helped it dominate the wireless earphones market since its release in 2019. However, the newly-released AirPods Pro 2 has more features than the AirPods Pro. 

  • Processor: One of the new features of the 2nd generation AirPods Pro is that its processor is the new H2 chip which is more efficient than the AirPods Pro’s H1 chip. The new H2 processor powers AirPods pro 2’s adaptive transparency.
  • Bluetooth: AirPods Pro is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 while AirPods Pro 2 has an upgraded Bluetooth version. It comes with Bluetooth 5.3 which delivers high bandwidth connectivity, reduces interference, boosts signal quality, processes audio faster, and offers lower distortion.
  • Sensors: AirPods Pro has dual optical sensors which help it detect if it has been inserted into a user’s ears. However, AirPods Pro 2 has skin-detect sensors which help it detect if it has been inserted into the ears.  The enhanced skin-detect sensors in AirPods Pro 2’s buds help them know the difference between when they are in your ears and when they are on a surface. Audio automatically pauses audio whenever they are on a surface instead of your ears. 
  • Size: AirPods Pro 2 has four silicone ear tips — XS, S, M, and L, unlike its predecessor which only has 3 ear tips — S, M, and L. The new XS size provides a better fit for people with smaller ears.
  • Charging:  Unlike the AirPods Pro which can only be charged with the MagSafe charger, AirPods Pro 2’s charging case is compatible with an Apple Watch charger. 

Design

AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro have similar designs. They both have force sensors and aluminum accents. However, the AirPods Pro 2 has skin-detect sensors.

Apple made substantial changes to the AirPods Pro 2’s MagSafe charging case and now features a lanyard loop on the side and a built-in speaker at the bottom. The speaker alerts you when the battery is low, so you can locate your charging case. 

Best for iPhones
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
$219.00
  • Apple-designed H2 chip
  • Low-distortion, custom-built driver
  • Up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous AirPods Pro
  • Personalized spatial audio
  • Up to 6 hours of battery life or 30 hours with the charging case
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/30/2023 07:23 am GMT

Price and Availability

AirPods Pro 2 is currently listed at $249 on Apple’s official website. AirPods Pro listed at $249 when it was newly released. After the release of the AirPods Pro 2, Apple delisted the AirPods Pro from its website. However, the AirPods Pro is still available on popular e-commerce websites such as Amazon and Best Buy, and it starts from $179.

Battery Life

Apple AirPods Pro has a listening time of 5 hours with Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency off. With its wireless charging case, AirPods Pro provides up to 24 hours of listening time. A single 5-minute charge provides around 1 hour of listening time.

The newly released AirPods Pro 2 comes with upgraded battery life with 6-hours listening time. With the MagSafe charging case, you can get up to 30 hours of battery life on the AirPods Pro. AirPods Pro 2’s charging case has a U1 chip that allows you to locate the charging case easily with ‘Find My’ and ‘Precision Tracking’.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: 7 Must-Know Facts

  • AirPods Pro was released two days after they were announced by Apple in 2019.
  • AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 also work on android and windows devices.
  • AirPods Pro 2 can be charged with Apple Watch chargers.
  • Apple has discontinued the AirPods Pro, and it can no longer be purchased on its website.
  • AirPods Pro was manufactured by Luxshare on contract.
  • AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 are water resistant, but not waterproof.
  • AirPods Pro has four ear tip sizes.

AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro: Which One is Better? Which Should You Buy?

AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 have a lot in common. However, the new AirPods Pro 2 has much more features than AirPods Pro. The new AirPods have better sound and quality. Aside from this, AirPods Pro 2 has a better battery life, and improved Bluetooth. It uses an H2 chip as its processor, which provides a better and more immersive listening experience. Because of its features and superior audio quality, AirPods Pro 2 carries the day. No doubt about it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does AirPods Pro 2 cost?

AirPods Pro 2 is listed at $249 on Apple’s official website.

Is AirPods Pro 2 waterproof?

No, AirPods Pro 2 is water-resistant but not waterproof. It can get damaged if left in water for a long time.

Does AirPods Pro have skin-detect sensors?

No. Skin-detect sensors are only available on the new AirPods Pro 2.

What is the difference between AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2?

One of the main differences between them is that AirPods Pro has an H1 chip while AirPods Pro 2 has an H2 chip which helps it process audio better. AirPods Pro 2’s Active Noise Cancellation is also two times better than AirPods Pro’s ANC.

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