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Short Summary
Main recommendation: The AirPods Pro 2 are a significant upgrade, and the reviewer's main reason for being impressed is the new H2 chip, not the features Apple advertises most. The H2 chip powers much better noise cancellation, a new "Adaptive Transparency" mode that tames loud sounds in real time, and computational audio features, while the new case and sound quality add further value at the same price.
Key Points
- The H2 chip, the second generation of Apple's audio processing chip, is what the reviewer finds most convincing, enabling better noise cancellation and smarter audio processing.
- Active noise cancellation is much improved, with Apple claiming up to two times more background noise removed; the reviewer rates it on par with the Sony WF-1000XM5, just below the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and above the AirPods Max.
- Adaptive Transparency keeps outside sound passing through but cuts sounds above 85 decibels, so sirens or jackhammers stay audible without being harmful.
- The earbuds sound noticeably better, with more lows and mids, less high-volume distortion, and a new driver and amplifier, though they still lack lossless audio.
- The new case adds a lanyard loop, a speaker that plays a loud sound to help locate it, a chime when a mismatched earbud is placed in someone else's case, and an engraving option.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions: No step-by-step setup, dosage, or preparation instructions were given. The actionable guidance is to choose the right ear tip size: the new extra-small tip is for smaller ears the previous AirPods did not fit well, while medium tips come installed by default.
- Battery life is up 33%: six hours on a charge with noise cancellation on, and up to 30 total hours with the case.
- Volume control is now on the earbud stem, using a pinch-and-slide gesture that the reviewer says feels awkward at first but becomes natural.
- Personalized spatial audio uses a new ear scan that relies on the Face ID depth sensors; the reviewer says the soundstage seemed slightly wider afterward.
- The case remains IPX4 water resistant, and MagSafe charging works with Apple Watch chargers as well.
Bottom Line
The AirPods Pro 2 are less about a single headline feature and more about the H2 chip making noise cancellation, transparency, and audio processing better across the board, at the same price as the previous generation.