AirPods Pro 2 Review: Earbud Nirvana

The AirPods Pro 2 may look very similar on the outside, but they're all-new on the inside.
Checkout the Apple AirPods Pro 2 here 👉: cnet.co/3LFlRJG
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How much better are they than the original AirPods Pro? Executive Editor David Carnoy gives you the full lowdown on Apple's next-gen noise-canceling earbuds and why they're hard to beat for Apple users.
Read full review on CNET: www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/appl...
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[@EricLooksLost]

Picking up my pair from Best Buy tomorrow. I’m so happy I’m getting them because my flight is Monday and I’ve been rocking the OG AirPods for years now 🙃

[@Fernando_1903]

You bought it for $249?

[@konokel]

@@Fernando_1903 the ogs the airpods first gen not pros I assume

[@fwxsl]

I tried to schedule pick-up closest was the 27th

[@Fernando_1903]

@@fwxsl amazon is pre-order it for $240 maybe is a better choice

[@leneil46]

Me too!!!! 😊

[@JimmyRittenborg]

I just received mine too and they are really worth the upgrade from the old Pro! Sound quality has noticeably been improved and now they don’t “scream” anymore, if you lay with them against a pillow, like the old ones did, that’s actually huge! - I can really tell that transparency mode (my preferred mode) has been improved too - and if you get them engraved directly from Apple, the engraving even show up in the 3D animation which shows every time you connect them to your iPhone 🤯😂 All in all, classic Apple magic!

[@costco_pizza]

I might go one further and claim Airpods Pro 2 to be the best consumer product ever made.

[@captaincrunch1062]

The old ones scream when you lay against a pillow? Explain

[@romeyrome3275]

Bruh haven’t I seen you on a few of the AirPod pro 2 vids 😂

[@JimmyRittenborg]

@@romeyrome3275 I got excited and rushed to spam it out there 🤷🏼‍♂️😂

[@JimmyRittenborg]

@@romeyrome3275 no reviewer talks about that thing 😅 So thought I would just chime in with it all the way around 😂😂

[@brianjuice]

I've tried a lot of different earbuds, Sennheiser MT3, Samsung buds 2/buds live, bose qc, and of course the airpods pro, but I always come back to the airpods pro despite it being 2 years old already. The main reason being they fit perfectly in my ear as well as the tactile touch controls. The other earbuds may have better noise canceling or audio quality, but something about the airpods just makes it so much more easy and enjoyable to use. Can't wait to receive my second gen air pods pro!

[@Harsasingh8796]

Mine are arriving tomorrow very much excited 😍

[@bobbyemccain5058]

Great review. I will get mine on tomorrow! Looking forward to using them.

[@fizzyfizx]

Preordered my Pros day 1, and just received it, and definitely agreed with you on the 2x ANC improvement in comparison to my original Pros. Not really a 2x general improvement, but one can assume it to be on the frequency levels as you mentioned. One of the few reviewers who pointed this out in a wide array of reviewers extrapolating the ANC improvements. Props to the reviewer

[@davidcarnoy961]

Thanks. Let me know what you think about the sound quality.

[@hrkvid]

Was waiting for your review, going to buy it now. Can’t wait to start using it.

[@dman2289]

Very informative and without bias. Appreciate the detail and comparisons to the competition as I was on the fence.

[@EsbjornWristwatchReviews]

Great rundown, thank you 👍

[@thecapone45]

4:35 wow thanks for that tip. Gonna use that song for testing from now on!

[@bloodshot6]

Thanks David for your reviews, been following your audio reviews for many years now. Much appreciate the content, made some great decisions on headphones because of it.

[@swansong04]

Agreed, I wish they had x-large tips also. I too use the comply ear tips on my APP'S 1 and they work great.

[@davidcarnoy961]

I told Apple directly I wish they included XL.

[@trixr4kids693]

@@davidcarnoy961 I'm in the same boat as you! I submitted feedback on their website a year ago asking them to include XL eartips on the AirPods Pro 2 whenever they were released. But alas, they didn't listen.

[@Dreadpirateflappy]

I really appreciate the way David Carnoy actually responds to some of these comments, one of the reasons I rate him highly as a review. Got mine coming tomorrow, can't wait. loved the originals, other stemless buds never seem as comfortable in my ear, XM4's and the bose always feel too heavy in my ear and seem to pull down due to the weight. main reason Pros are my go to.

[@hanschenklein7990]

no weight, no bass

[@alextracy9542]

Such an info-packed, thoughtful, and informative review. Subscribing because of this. Thank you and more plzzz!

[@davidcarnoy961]

Thanks for the support!

[@deancostello14]

I love my first gens, using them right now to watch this video. But damn I've hammered them hard in the past 2 years, excited to upgrade to some new ones!

[@quinoa5073]

life hack start a apple repair claim tell them your earbuds are making a rattling / static noise they will ship you a box you mail your airpods pro for free they send you a fresh pair profit

[@bombjelly5795]

Got mine today. And yes much better than the first ones.

[@applehead252]

Just placed my order. Great review! Can’t wait to receive them !

[@JorgePille]

Yeah, I was hoping for lossless audio support, but they still sound damn good and all the new features make ‘em with the upgrade from my first gens.

[@sargenmi]

I really loved the 1st generation, cannot wait to use these one! great review.

[@kingrobert7246]

Sad

[@thepurpleman119]

Sad

[@SecretOfMonkeyIsland784]

Not sad

[@LoveLisaKal]

@@thepurpleman119 your mother is sad for not getting abortion my love

[@darkreunion244]

sad

[@jamesmchugo9422]

Cool, good review. I do wish Apple would do something with the Silicone tips. These appear to have the same material as the old tips, which after a few weeks become less grippy and will awhile the earbuds to come loose, even fall out of my ears sometimes. It’s a common complaint you’d think Apple what have addressed this issue. Also, I wish Apple had a customizable EQ like BOSE or Soundcore, with their apps you can tune the sound to your personal liking. Soundcore’s EQ is very good. I don’t understand why Apple hasn’t added this feature, their EQ on their devices is OK, but just let us tune the earbuds to our personal liking. I have the the first generation of the Apple Pro and the BOSE QuietComfort and Sound Core X10. What I find the Apple Pros tend to be my go to earbuds. Partly because the case fits in any pocket and it uses the same charger a my phone. But it’s the hands free voice commands with Hey Siri that I really like and use. Also, I find the Apple phone sound and function nicer sounding. The BOSE noise cancellation is better then the original Apple Pro, but I find voices are easier to hear and are more live like with the Apple hear buds. If Apple has improved music sound depth and added deeper bass with the Pro 2 I’m in.

[@kevinleighuk]

Thanks for an informative review. I have a pair on order. I was especially interested in their use for calls and how it sounded to the person on the other end. A problem with the current Pro version is that in wind or street traffic the other person still hears a lot of background noises. It sounds like this has been improved listening to the call with your colleague. And the fact you have also got a pair of the new Bose Quiet Comfort II ear buds and didn't suggest they are better for calls suggests the new Apple product is better for calls.

[@davidcarnoy961]

Yes, I think the AirPods Pro 2 are probably better for calls. Bose have improved though from previous version for voice calling.

[@whitemailprivilege2830]

@@davidcarnoy961 oh yeah???

[@peytonperrineii9564]

Waiting for my pair to arrive tomorrow. Been waiting to buy a new pair for about a year. My wife has the OG Pros so I am curious to compare.

[@marclopez7503]

I watch this video before buying the AirPod pro 2 and once I finish this awesome and complete review I went straight to Apple website and purchase those AirPods, and I have to say I was blown away but how much better they sound and the phone calls are also a big improvements

[@ErnstDetailing]

I had the first gen pros since they came out and just got the 2nd gen. Great upgrade!

[@nicholashennessy6740]

Waiting for the comparison between these and the Bose QC gen 2 (I think Bose has the upper leg here since I’ve been using the new Bose for almost a week now)

[@Insanemusifan]

Im waiting too for a comparison He is not really telling a detailed opinion About it but ofc i understand that Im waiting a week or two to have some tests for which is the better How do you like yours

[@rocrab]

I'm ready to break out of apple eco-systtem and have ordered Bose qc 2 buds

[@stevenoconnor5693]

You get my respect for the StreetFighter2 arcade cabinet behind you lol

[@Windows98R]

Finally finally, these are here. My original Pros are still going strong but the right one was going weirder and weirder so Apple really saved me here with this timing.

[@dtannenb]

I am going on a long flight in a couple of weeks and wondering if the improvement in the new AirPods are good enough to use instead of my over the ear Bose headset. My old AirPods pro didn’t work for me at all. It would be nice to save the packing space of the bulky over the ear set.

[@onair141]

Yea the swipe for volume was all I missed with the 1st gen

[@vtownsend30]

I have the AirPods Pro 2 and I have noticed a difference from the original Pros and the AirPods 3. However, the base isn’t all that’s cracked up to be but the sound quality is through the roof as always. I guess there are some trade-offs with ear buds these days. Some have amazing sound but little base or the base in some a incredible but lack call quality. Honestly, I think Apple even though has done a good job with their lineup on AirPods, Beats is their secret weapon. Ear buds like the Beats Fit Pro are a perfect example of having the balance of call quality of an AirPod but still having some of the traditional Beats Base that we all know.

[@eastmanwebb5477]

Nice review. Thanks

[@Memog78]

It would be great if you could to a more in depth comparisson between these and the new bose qc earbuds. Thanks for the review!

[@pariahgaming365]

I was excited a hit these and I even get a veteran’s discount at the Apple Store for them but I don’t feel there anything that’s all that special to make me really want to upgrade from the original pros.

[@69Muscle]

I’ve never owned AirPods. I just bought these online last week. Really excited to get these to use with my 14 Pro.

[@KentuckyRanger]

I moved up slightly, from Temu Air Pods, so the upgrade was pretty noticeable, LOL! They really do sound awesome, and make mowing the lawn a pleasure, by cancelling out almost all the noise, from my zero turn.

[@ranganathanvinod123]

It's Indeed remarkable to hear that the ANC is twice as good as the original, it will be interesting to at how this stacks up against BosevQC2.

[@dheniesijaya9061]

Hi, do you think this Airpods pro 2 is the best for call quality? I used to have Airpods pro 1 but it's very hard to call on the windy and noisy street. I changed to Sony WF XM4 and it's pretty much the same. How about this Airpods pro 2 compare to Bose QC earbuds ii for call quality? Thanks in advance

[@jasoncy31]

Partially (about 40%) deaf in my right ear as a result of a flu infection three years ago. I lost about 20% in my left ear as well. My experience with the Airpod Pro 2's this afternoon: I almost don't want to take them off. For some reason, the note cancellation knocks down the tinnitus in my right ear to almost inaudible levels, and my ears don't fell as "stuffy" with the ANC on. It took me a bit to get used to the squeeze control (as opposed to my old Airpod tap controls). Overall, I think I like them. time will tell.

[@0123vegeta]

Cool, good for you 👍

[@jblaze600]

Will the hearing come back over time? 🙏

[@darkstepwarrior88]

Love the small info like the u1 chip and better battery life

[@86Figs]

AirPods Pro 1 does the same with showing the battery charger with the new update. And AirPods Pro 1 also does the customized spatial audio with the new update. Noise cancellation is even better on the AirPods Pro 1 with $20 foam tips from Amazon. I had the second gen in my right ear and first gen with a foam tip on it in my left ear yesterday with noise cancellation turned on in both and the seal of the foam tip makes it’s 5x quieter than the second gen.

[@whitemailprivilege2830]

Oh yeah???

[@adrians.6875]

Hello! Nice review! I was wandering what is the name of your Iphone case? It is pretty nice!

[@davidcarnoy961]

Speck Presidio2 Pro

[@KillerTacos54]

Always appreciate these videos from you guys

[@danielsaudi9121]

Good to the point video. I have been using the AirPods Pro since the beginning with no issues. I did order the Pro 2s but don’t expect any Wow factor, just slight improvements. Since technology evolves quickly, you can’t expect much. Since the passing of Steve Jobs, gone are those super exciting Apple releases. Remember those long iPhone lines? Now we just pre-order and wait for the delivery…..

[@davidcarnoy961]

Some truth to that :)

[@dyright-1414]

Yes & no. Comparing phones to the earbuds isn’t the best comparison. Phones get released every year. Because of this, you can’t expect to be “wowed” each year. If you want that wow factor, don’t upgrade for 4 years and you will get your wow.

[@juananjuanan7089]

Which brand is the orange case? It looks great 😎

[@davidcarnoy961]

Speck

[@Motion_God]

I just preordered from Amazon I loved the 1st generation

[@njdnjdnjd]

I have the jabra elite 65t, which don’t have anc, but are very good by design for reducing noise. I have a sound sensitivity to noise, would the AirPods Pro 2 offer better noise reduction/ cancellation than my non anc jabra’s?

[@Bimluva72]

Did you use the voice isolation mode when you did the audio/call test? I find this is only available on wifi calls like FaceTime, Whatsapp but not cellular calls.

[@davidcarnoy961]

I did not. Just tried it with noise canceling on and then transparency on.

[@rajatsharma9704]

Really helpful video! I’ve been waiting for it since launch.

[@mmo5366]

Are these a notable upgrade from AirPods 2nd Gen? The reviews are all very positive.

[@nateeaton1]

Would you please compare Beats Fit Pro to AirPods Pro 2?

[@MrToasty4]

Sold my first gen, and my new ones come in next week. Can’t wait.

[@swiese84]

Are the tips exactly the same so 3rd party tips for the OG AirPods Pro mount on the new gen 2?

[@davidcarnoy961]

Yes.

[@arjunpt9077]

Please do the comparison with sony xm4

[@keithmoore6334]

I just purchased a pair of these. I caught them on sale, and I am blown away. Apple has done it again.

[@ThetrueVanquisher]

I've had mine for exactly a week now. The only reason customer support sold me on them is because of the complaint I was making about calls. Long story short my wife said she said I sound muffled with the first gen Pros. Customer support said they enhanced the phone call experience and my wife agrees, but its not the same experience as the wired Pods to which said my voice was "in my head". That is what I am going for of course. But I do like the enhanced noise canceling.

[@Qlorck]

Just got the Bose, very happy

How can you tell the mic voice is excellent? It is far from it in your sample video. My biggest issue with Airpod Pro1 was the mic quality. Expected that it was improved, but hear it is still crap.

[@jrrichards9392]

Nice job as usual. You do a great job in reviewing earbuds/headphones.

[@davidcarnoy961]

Thanks for the support!

[@kishanmaiyadahir]

Wow 🤩 really amazing product very impressive

[@briangreene4277]

how do the airpod pro 2 stack agains airpod max?

[@XwytreX]

How is it compared to the Sony or Sennheiser

[@OmerKhan1]

Thank you David, do they worth the price tag? Should I wait for them to go on sale? Can you put the link of your aftermarket tips?

[@davidcarnoy961]

Added link to tips (Comply). Are they worth it? I always like to get everything I buy at a discount but if you want a better deal on these you'll have to wait. As I said, they compare well to other premium earbuds in this price range (and are better in some ways). That's all I can tell you. I don't think you'll feel ripped off at all but I also understand $249 is a bit pricey.

[@mikea8294]

I still wish there was some way to mute the mic using the airpods themselves. I also wished they had USB-C and came in other colors, such as black. I may stick with my Beats Studio Buds for now.

[@kNiV3Z]

Nyc train is a great test for noise canceling thanks

[@FadedG2000]

I am not an earbuds guy. Grew up over the ears as I want the most out of the music and movies I listen to and watch respectively. I bought the AP2s as I needed a daily driver for work and working out. I must say, I am blown away of the quality of these buds and the ANC that I never thought would be possible with earbuds these small. I am 100 percent satisfied with the audio quality. Some of the best quality I’ve ever experienced in earbuds.

[@canturkcivelek4896]

If someone recently bought the APP First Gen, would you recommend to sell them, and buy these? Are they "clear as day and night" improvement over 1st Gen?

[@davidcarnoy961]

If you could get decent money for them, yes!

[@ArnelZapataJr]

Would these be good for the gym? I currently have the AirPods 2nd Gen and the fit doesn’t stay in my ears.

[@davidcarnoy961]

Yes. They should fit your ears better.

[@mrisdabest2]

Will definitely buy them now.

[@Boog_masskway]

I’m definitely jonesing for more battery life from both the pods themselves and the case.

[@whitemailprivilege2830]

Oh yeah???

[@cecicestmoi]

David, which foam tip replacements do you recommend?

[@davidcarnoy961]

I use Comply and CharJen Pro. The one's in the video are Comply.

[@christian7824]

i like the fact that i heard "you hear better sound" i like datttttt alot im still getting airpods pro 2 i been waiting on these reviews

[@jolness1]

I’m bummed thee isn’t even an option to order an XL. The Larges work most of the time well but a smidge larger would help

[@nategaebel650]

I use these for cycling outside and wind noise is much worse on the second generation. There must be a new vent that allows in wind noise. ANC doesn’t help either. The 1st generation work much better outside in the wind.

[@NecroMorrius]

If you struggle with the included tips, try Comply foam tips. For me they’re the difference between usable and unusable.

[@cordovanhobbyist895]

I have a Samsung S10+ which has Bluetooth 5.0. Does that mean I won't experience the better sound quality?

[@jskaggs8188]

I agree with your 40%improvement assessment. Good review.

[@andysinger4147]

Day two with mine, about as perfect as can be-sound quality and noise cancellation without peer.

[@user-em5ky3ob5b]

Is the sound quality so clear and satisfying?

[@andysinger4147]

@@user-em5ky3ob5b yes, very much so,

[@minigiant8998]

@@andysinger4147 Is the sound quality orgasmic and gender affirming?

[@bigchief2331]

wow , this professional ear buds looks really fabulous , i must purchase it

[@gumtree7177]

I haven’t got my gen 2 ear buds yet. Can we update firmware in the EarPods ? So better noise cancelling with a firmware update and any other update upgrades can the earbuds do this ? Has Apple enabled this ??

[@davidcarnoy961]

No. Gains are from new hardware components.

[@diatribe114]

I’ve washed and dried my pros twice and they still work great . I’m sold for quite some time .

[@whitemailprivilege2830]

Oh yeah?

[@thinkkhera]

Super reviews - I am buying it , after listening to you 👍

[@minigiant8998]

well aren't u made of money?

[@cojo65691]

Torn between these and the sennheiser momentum true wireless 3

[@alaskaaksala123]

I just got the momentum 3’s a few weeks ago . I love my AirPods Pro but when I really want to hear some serious music, I use my Momentum 3’s! The momentum’s have a really nice EQ in the app. I can really get the bass to pop and the overall sound is really deep and rich.

[@RishiKumar-jj1bb]

Name of the phone case you used?

[@davidcarnoy961]

Speck.

[@gabrielll7392]

Ahhh bose quiet comfort ll is better, anc is better? That’s all I really need

[@RyanF91W]

For some reason mine has a background hiss and I’m not impressed with the noise cancelling.

[@nativerambler9818]

I have airpods 3, and i love them. I liked the airpods 2 also. I liked the pros for the noise cancellation. I cant wait to order the airpods pro 2. The noise cancellation is really nice

[@theunboxer3964]

I want them to get extra features that are worth the upgrade. IMO it's totally worth it.

[@legendarytaj2054]

I am still on the very first apple airpods that were released. Not the pros , so I am excited for these airpods.

[@kiqikimquy8838]

My buds’ve been arrived today but when I checked them, scrolling up and down doesn’t work :((( Does anyone know why?

[@deepalwije]

Hi, i have one question.Can you see the same huge difference(sound quality of airpod pro vs airpod pro 2) when connected to macbook pro 2021? Reason is iphone 14 have bluetooth 5.3 chip while MBP 2021 have bluetooth 5.0 chip. Hope reply from you

[@R1Willem]

No. Bluetooth 5.3 is just better for the battery

[@davidcarnoy961]

I do not think you will be able to tell a difference (with sound quality) when using a MacBook.

[@alvzcizzler]

These are the update the AirPods Pro needed and they still have the best transparency mode out there , Sony and Bose still have superior ANC, battery life and probably sound quality though that's more subjective but still these are the best for Apple users obviously.

[@AN6370]

I’m getting them tomorrow

[@Dreadpirateflappy]

same. can;t wait.

[@MyDogSteppedOnaBeee]

Question for everybody if you don’t have Bluetooth 5.3.on any of your devices, will you not get all the sound quality and benefits of these new AirPods?

[@Zitrolika]

I am getting Bose QC buds 2 just for its better noise cancellation!

[@davidcarnoy961]

Nothing wrong with that ;)

[@bobtabler6076]

I just received my bose today. There awesome all around

[@thriftyagar4205]

I’ve been wearing my new Bose for 2 days now. Wow. Silence. Pure silence around me. I’m surprised

[@Zitrolika]

@@thriftyagar4205 Hi there, got my Bose qc 2 as well. ANC is indeed impressive, however it got more hissing noise compared to AirPods Pro 1st gen. It's mainly noticeable in a quiet room tho

[@cbdaytona675]

Does anyone have small ear canals that can speak to if the XS tips allow the AirPods Pro 2 to stay in their ear better? I am the rare use case that requires custom ear molds bc of my small ear canals.

[@elementneon]

Question: Do the memory foam tips affect the ability to charge in the case from time to time depending on how they are seated? Great video David.

[@_ebrq]

The old Comply memory foam tips could do that. The second revision of them doesn’t do that anymore.

[@davidcarnoy961]

Thanks. Mine closed in the case ok (and charged ok with the foam tips on). I use the Comply and CharJen Pro.

[@jeywig]

I like the AirPod Pros but they made my ears itch. I assume these use the same materials for the tips?

[@watchmanexpert]

Same like me

[@DigitalicaEG]

Word of advice, get Apple care for these new ones. I had 6 pairs break on me, all replaced under Apple warranty.

[@MOHAMEDISSAM]

Im selling my airpods pro 1 to get the 2 hoping will fix my calling quality problems.. Because everyone im calling using the original airpods pro always complain about calling quality.. And now im listening to your calling quality and still not good at all.. That is not acceptable from Apple while samsung buds giving much much better mic quality during the calls

[@TipsMedsos]

Air pod pro i like it. Nive info and revew

[@DefinitelyNotMyRealName]

Why isn’t anyone talking about that AirPods Pro 1st gen have adaptive transparency? When using transparency at work, the transparency is constantly adjusting.

[@snowpeaker]

Ikr, I think it’s less “smart” hearing protection that activates reduction on loud noises. Rather than adaptive transparency, they call it hearing protection that you can turn on in the settings.