Apple’s AirPods Pro in the test: are the new in-ear headphones worth it?

Apple’s AirPods Pro review
Are the new in-ear headphones worth it?

The second and latest generation of AirPods Pro has been on the market for a little over two weeks. Apple has given its highest-quality in-ear headphones a makeover and implemented a number of new features. The news agency spot on news has put the new headphones through their paces. Is it worth switching from the first to the second Pro generation and what is the difference to the conventional AirPods without Pro?

The designers from Cupertino don’t screw on the optics. At first glance, the new AirPods Pro look identical to their predecessors. Only minimal deviations in the arrangement of the microphones can be seen on closer inspection. The case gets a useful device for a strap and a small loudspeaker for the “Where is?” search function on the side. Both practical, otherwise: everything is the same.

AirPods Pro: Audio quality significantly improved

However, some new, very useful touch functions have been installed in the headphones. You can control rudimentary things such as start, pause, skipping or the different audio modes by pressing the well-tactile button on the bridge. If you swipe over the control panel, you can now adjust the volume without having to take your smartphone out of your pocket.

The creators rely fully on the inner values. The new and more powerful H2 chip ensures significantly improved audio quality – in all areas. That’s not to say that the first generation of AirPods Pro was some kind of guinea pig and delivered lousy sound. On the contrary, but: With this upgrade, Apple has managed to turn a very good quality product into an outstanding one.

In contrast to the conventional AirPods, the Pro variants are equipped with a noise-cancelling system. External noise is technically filtered out and suppressed or insulated, so that you can concentrate on the tones from the headphones without any annoying sounds. This is where the new AirPods Pro make a quantum leap. Whether in the subway, next to construction sites or at busy intersections: the ambient noise is filtered and contained very well. Sudden noises, such as a call or a horn, are also very pleasantly reduced. The predecessor still had a hard time with that.

Transparency mode provides very natural sounds

With the transparency mode, you can also technically bypass the inherent damping effect of all in-ear headphones. The microphones capture the outside noise and pass it on to the ear. So you can have a wonderful conversation despite AirPods in your ear. Here, too, the sound quality makes a good leap forward: Your own voice sounds normal, and all sounds are passed on very naturally. The artificially generated sounds can only be distinguished from reality in the very background and with high concentration.

The progress can also be heard immediately in terms of sound. The basses are significantly more voluminous and the trebles are perceived even more clearly and purely. The “Personalized 3D audio with dynamic head tracking” feature known from the normal third-generation AirPods has also been implemented for the Pros. You can use an iPhone to scan the arrangement of your ears. With this information, the spatial sound should then appear more natural. Admittedly, you can hear a difference with and without 3D sound, but it is so marginal that it can almost be ignored.

Conclusion:

With the second generation of the AirPods Pro, Apple has made a strong product even better on all levels. However, the company is once again paying a handsome price for this: the Bluetooth in-ear headphones are changing hands for 299 euros. In return, however, you get a top-class product that iPhone users can hardly avoid. If you don’t own AirPods yet, you should take a closer look at the pros. However, owners of older variants could also consider whether the 90 euros more between AirPods (3rd generation) and AirPods Pro might not be worthwhile when purchasing a new one.

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