Apple released the new AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) back in September, with a stronger, more individualised, and more convenient audio experience. As an avid Apple fan, I was really excited to add the all-new AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) to my current Apple ecosystem.
With Apple, I feel like they have a way of elevating users’ experience with their products. The seamless connection made it simple and fuss-free. What’s new about the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) is its H2 chip, compared to the previous H1 chip for all other AirPods. The H2 chip allows the AirPods Pro to deliver the greater audio quality, with enhanced Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency. I tested this out with my top 3 favourite genres of songs, Acoustic, Pop, and EDM.
When I am at work, I enjoy listening to acoustic music so that I am not distracted. The transparency feature has also been very useful in cases where I work from the office and give online Zoom presentations, with the need to occasionally tune in to conversations with my colleagues. There is also an auto-switch function between my iPhone and MacBook.
The quality of music for Pop and EDM was exceptionally clear with richer bass. When I am travelling home, I like drowning out the ambient noise from crowded public transport so I would turn on the Noise Cancellation feature. The new Touch Control feature also allows me to control media playback and change the volume with just a slide of my fingers. To switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency, just press and hold. I can also do this through the settings menu on iOS 16. With the addition of a new built-in skin-detect sensor, it can detect when I remove my earbuds and pause the music, improving battery life.
Another new feature is Personalised Spatial Audio, which for the first time accurately tunes sound to my ears and offers the most immersive listening experience. This feature works with the iPhone and AirPods. The set-up takes less than a minute, and the iPhone camera captures the shape of my ears to provide a customised listening experience.
The AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) also comes with four adjustable ear tip sizes, which was very thoughtful for a better fit. After changing to the smallest tip that suits me the best, I was able to enjoy all-day comfort. I made use of the Ear Tip Fit Test to make sure I had the best listening experience.
Whenever I leave my AirPods behind in any location, my iPhone will send me a notification to let me know its last seen location. The clumsiness in me really appreciates this feature as I tend to misplace my earbuds frequently. Precision Finding with U1 technology now enables me to find the MagSafe Charging Case in the event that I misplace it. The newly created charging case has a lanyard loop and is sweat- and water-resistant.
I brought the AirPods out with me, listening to music and being on calls the whole day. I did not have to charge it, and the battery without the casing lasted for more than 6 hours. It allows for up to 30 hours of total listening time with ANC on when using the charging case. For even greater versatility, I can charge my AirPods Pro with an Apple Watch charger in addition to a MagSafe charger, a Qi-certified charger, or a Lightning connector.
Overall, the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) has provided me with next-level audio experience and convenience. A cute feature now is that we can even personalise the AirPods Pro with Memojis for free! I love how the AirPods have features integrated with the iPhone to provide a better listening experience for users. It retails at S$359, and for more information, check out the official Apple store.
