Go to YouTube now and watch videos of online interviews conducted with popular celebrities, political analysts or politicians who are invited to address current issues. In 80% of situations, you can definitely see white earphones with long stems on their ears.
Arguably the Covid-19 pandemic is the best free advertisement for Apple AirPods as popular sportsmen became free ambassadors for Beats By Dre during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
For those who have never used AirPods their popularity must be confusing. What we often hear is that AirPods sell style rather than audio quality just like Beats by Dre.
In 2022, the Gen 3 AirPods that we reviewed earlier seem to confirm the theory above. But with AirPods Pro Gen 2, now we finally understand why AirPods Pro is popular among global TWS users.
Specifications
Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2
In-ear TWS type
Dual 11mm driver
Microphone 6 microphones
Battery 6 /30 hours with pod with ANC
Lightning charging port
Qi/MagSafe wireless charging
CODEC AAC
All operating systems are supported
Yes/Siri virtual assistant support
Yes 2X touch pad
IPX4 waterproof capability
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.3
Offline Audio None
Pulse scanner None
Selling Price RM 1099
AirPods Pro Gen 2 (will be written as Pro 2 from now on) retains the same audio bud and storage pod design as the original Pro. The already iconic design does not need to be changed because it is well known by many people now. Oval ear buds with silicone tips come with a stem that protrudes from the ear when worn.
There is an air hole on the audio bud to reduce pressure in the ear when worn. The black skin detection sensor is also retained. On the stem there is a pressure pad that is used to control the music and activate the ANC/Ambient mode when needed. The difference this year is that the pad also now has a touch sensor to control the audio volume level by scrolling up/down.
The provided silicone tip is comfortable in the ear. By default a medium size (M) silicon tip is attached to the audio bud. Apple also includes additional silicone tips in sizes XS, X and L for owners to find the size that is most compatible with the ear hole. This comfort is important to ensure that the Pods 2 can be worn in the ear without feeling like they are stuffed with fingers.
The body of the ear bud and charging pod is white. After six years on the market, Apple still refuses to offer AirPods in colors other than white. If color is important to you, only the AirPods Max come with more diverse color options at this time.
The charging pod also looks the same at a glance. The changes made are small but have a big impact on how the Pro 2 is used. There are three holes below next to the Lightning charging port that are for the built-in speaker that beeps when the Pro 2 tries to be tracked using Find My.
Also added is a hole for tying the lanyard on the right side. The physical tethering button on the back and the LED light are also still in the same place. As the saying goes, if the old design is good enough, there is no reason to be a mouse that repairs pumpkins.
The audio bud finish and storage case of the Pro 2 indeed continue the high quality tradition of AirPods over the past six years. Despite being made of plastic it still looks premium. The lid is tight enough to prevent the audio bud from accidentally falling out but not so tight that it's difficult to open. The magnetic strength on the inside is also good because the audio buds are easily removed without having to pry hard like we experienced with Huawei FreeBuds Pro before.
The pod is not waterproof but the audio bud passes the IPX4 standard which allows it to be taken for exercise. The level of durability is lower when compared to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro which passes the IPX7 standard.
Overall, the design of the Pro 2 is very neat, comfortable, beautiful, ergonomic and does not bother the user. There is still the old issue of the shiny plastic body being used. The Gen 3 AirPods we reviewed a few months ago are already scratched and we can expect the same fate to befall the Pro 2. If you want the Pro 2 to stay shiny, there are plenty of silicone and rubber cases on the market that can provide an extra layer of protection.
Usage
The Pro 2 is the most comfortable TWS with silicone tips we've reviewed so far. When placed in the ear it does not feel like the ear hole is constantly being drilled. This allows the Pro 2 to be worn for hours without being noticed. The experience is the same as AirPods Gen 3 only with better ANC features. If comfort is what you're looking for in TWS, the Pro 2 can be put on the short list to consider purchasing.
On Apple ecosystem devices the process of tethering to iPhone, iPad, and MacBook is as simple as opening the charging pod cover. The 3D Pro 2 model's animated notification for tethering an audio accessory appears on the iPhone/iPad screen and tap tether and it's done. No need to download additional apps just for AirPods. On the MacBook, a small notification will appear graphically without animation. Again just press and tethering is done automatically.
For users of the Apple ecosystem, the Pro 2 is smart enough to recognize the devices you own. Without having to do anything, phone calls can be answered using the Pro 2 even at the time it is tethered to the MacBook/iPad. The multi-device switching process worked well throughout the review period.
Without a special app, Pro 2 settings are changed via the device settings screen or the Bluetooth screen. The owner can only change the Spatial mode (Stay or track the position of the head), change the pressure sensor (turn off ANC, Ambient mode or call Siri) and perform an ear tightness test (Ear Fit Test). There is no option to change other settings. In this regard, Apple does not give freedom to users such as Jabra, Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi and Huawei to change the user's TWS settings.
On Android, HarmonyOS, and Windows and the tethering process requires the additional step of pressing the tether button on the body of the charging pod. After pressing for a few seconds and the light turns blue, the Pro 2 will appear in the list of Bluetooth devices. Press the Pro 2 name in the list and only then it can be used.
Another new feature that we personally feel is the most important is the feature to find the Pro 2 when lost using Find My on Apple devices. The position can be tracked and when lost the owner can make it ring. The ringing sound is loud enough that it can still be heard even when hidden between cushions.
The pod has a U1 chip that allows its location to be tracked using the Ultra Wide Band system. In Find My, Pro 2 directions with estimated distance will be given in real time. To use this feature an iPhone with UWB support is required. Another thing we found interesting is that after the Pro 2 is first tethered to an Apple ID account, ownership cannot be deleted without the owner typing in the password. So even if the Pro 2 is stolen, its location will be traceable to the original owner. This anti-theft system is quite effective.
Audio Quality
The audio quality reviews we felt needed to be separated into two with one for the Apple ecosystem and one for the non-Apple ecosystem. This had to be done because there were quite significant differences.
The Apple ecosystem
There is spatial audio support and supports audio at a good quality through Apple Music. There is still no lossless support due to the lack of bluetooth technology at this time. By default the AAC codec is used by the Pro 2 to stream music. Spatial audio support that moves according to the head is also provided. Currently as far as we know only AirPods and HomePod support Apple Music spatial audio.
The soundstage is open, aided by ear buds that don't feel like stuffy ears. The strength of the Pro 2 in our opinion is the deep bass with bright treble. Bell-like high notes are clearly heard but will be lost in songs with a large amount of instruments. The sound is also clear without being drowned out.
The deep bass thump was not so strong that it drowned out other instruments. There is a balance in the sound especially if music with Dolby Atmos mix is played. The audio performance is very good, good for a TWS but once (and some people say it may be unfair) not as good as headphones.
The ANC system is also one of the best for TWS we've ever used. The whirring of desk fans, air conditioners, children talking in the living room, movies playing on TV and ambient noise can be brilliantly blocked from piercing the ears.
The Pro 2's breakthrough mode is also the best on a pair of TWS. The audio that is heard is like a direct ear not wearing the Pro 2. As close as possible to nature. We put the Pro 2's penetrating mode against the Sony WH1000-XM5, which is also excellent.
Detection when ear buds are removed is also fast. Immediately after uninstalling the music pauses and resumes automatically when installed. The touchpad is responsive enough when scrolled to change the volume of the audio being listened to.
Outside the Apple Ecosystem
If you pay RM1099 for a TWS you definitely hope that all the features can be used but Spatial Audio, Find My, Ear Fit Test, changing the physical button settings and updating the firmware cannot be done. The features that make the Pro 2 attractive in the Apple ecosystem cannot be used at all, making it not worth owning.
This is the same experience we had on the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Huawei FreeBuds Pro. The most interesting features are exclusive to ecosystem users only. A disappointing result but with AirPods dominating the world's TWS market, Apple may feel that perfect support for their product alone is enough.
Microphone
The microphone on the Pro 2 is also very satisfactory. Phone calls were clear and in teleconference sessions our voices sounded natural and not robotic like other TWS pads even with ANC enabled. You can see this for yourself in dozens of interview videos that were conducted during the pandemic and AirPods were used. What Apple's secret is we don't know but clearly the microphone on the AirPods Pro 2 offers excellent audio recording.
Battery
The battery is advertised to last up to 30 hours with the help of a charging pod or 6 hours with ANC/Spatial enabled. In real world users it's actually closer to 5/25 hours as we like to listen to music on high audio settings. Battery life is satisfactory for medium long trips.
Recharging takes around two hours using a Lightning cable. Recharging can also be done using MagSafe or the Apple Watch charger. This is a useful feature for iPhone owners who may not have an extra charging cable and an Apple Watch charger to use. This charging is however slower.
In the box
Here's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x Apple AirPods Pro 2
1x USB-C to Lightning charging cable
3x Attach additional silicone tips.
1x Manual.
Conclusion
For users of the Apple ecosystem, AirPods Pro 2 is the best TWS because of its good audio performance, best-in-class ANC, best-in-class breakthrough mode, spatial audio support and the most compatible with all Apple products. It is a much better and worthwhile option than AirPods Gen 3 which lacks interesting extra features. In short if you want to use everything Apple, AirPods Pro 2 is a choice that does not require you to think long.
For users outside the Apple ecosystem, the experience is not the same because spatial audio is not supported on Android or Windows devices. Button controls cannot be changed directly. When many features are not supported it feels like a waste to pay RM1099 to only access some of the features that make AirPods Pro 2 unique. This is an issue we also have with Samsung, and Huawei products. It's not fair if we criticize other manufacturers but don't criticize Apple for the same issue.
Bottom line for this conclusion is buy it if you are a die-hard Apple user. If you are not in this group, there are other TWS on the market with similar sound but with access to more features such as Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Technics EAH-AZ60 and Jabra Elite 7 Pro.
Pro
Neat and very comfortable companion in the ear.
Satisfying audio experience.
Best in class ANC.
Best in class penetration mode.
Spatial audio support
IPX4 waterproof.
The Find My feature makes it easy to find when lost.
Cons
The most interesting multi-feature support is only on the Apple ecosystem.
There is no LDAC on Android devices.
Still using Lightning.
Still only offered in white.