AirPods Pro New $249 AirPods Pro launched October 30, 2019.

 

At a Glance

Apple has released redesigned AirPods Pro earphones with a new design, increased water resistance, and a $249 price tag incorporating noise cancelling technology.

Features

• New in-ear design
• Silicone tips in 3 sizes
• Active noise cancellation technology
• IPX4 water and sweat resistance
• H1 chip with "Hey Siri" support
• $249 price tag

AirPods Pro

The AirPods Pro, a higher-end variant of its current AirPods with a unique design, noise cancellation technology, improved sound, and a more expensive $249 price tag, was released by Apple in October 2019.

Apple says the company is taking the magic of the AirPods "even further with the AirPods Pro, with the new earbuds to be offered alongside the more affordable AirPods 2, which do not have noise cancellation features.

The Pro AirPods look similar to the original AirPods, but have a wider front design to accommodate silicone tips for comfort, fit, and noise cancellation purposes. In order to suit various ears, tips come in three sizes.

While we have heard reports saying that AirPods Pro could come in several colours, like the original AirPods, Apple only offers them in white.

Active Noise Cancellation is a key feature of the AirPods 2, using two microphones (one facing outward and one facing inward) along with advanced software to conform to each ear for what Apple claims is a "uniquely customised, superior noise-canceling experience."

Users have the option of listening to music with Active Noise Cancellation switched on while still listening to the ambient sound around them with a built-in Transparency mode that can be turned on.

There is a new vent mechanism within the AirPods Pro aimed at pressure equalisation, which Apple says minimises the discomfort typical with other in-ear designs for a better fit and a more relaxed wearing experience.

The AirPods Pro are wider than previous models of the AirPods because of the new silicone tips, requiring a broader charge case. The latest AirPods Pro case is longer than the previous AirPods case in the horizontal dimension, but still pocketable.

AirPods Pro are IPX4-rated water resistant, which means they can stand up to splashing water irrespective of the direction. This means that AirPods Pro should be protected from light rain and sweat, but they should not be submerged.

Apple says that for superior sound quality, AirPods Pro includes an Adaptive EQ feature. For a "rich, immersive listening experience." adaptive EQ tunes the low and mid frequencies of the music to the form of the ear of a person.

The AirPods Pro, like the AirPods 2 and the Beats Solo Pro, are operated by an H1 chip developed by Apple. Real-time noise cancellation, the Adaptive EQ feature and hands-free "Hey Siri" support are powered by the H1 chip.

With Active Noise Cancellation disabled, AirPods Pro offers up to five hours of listening time on a single charge, or four and a half hours when it is turned on. AirPods Pro also provides three and a half hours of speaking time with Successful Noise Cancellation.

Occasionally, Apple launches AirPods Pro firmware updates, and the latest firmware version is 3A283, which was released in September to add spatial audio and automatic system switching support.

Crackling Noise Repair Program

Apple introduced an AirPods Pro repair programme to address a problem that causes sound problems such as crackling or static or defective Active Noise Cancellation to occur in some AirPods Pro models.

Affected models have static or crackling noises that increase with bass loss, increased background sound, or street or aeroplane noise in noisy environments such as movement or while talking on the phone, or Active Noise Cancellation that does not work properly.

Before October 2020, the defective AirPods Pro models were made, and those having problems can take the AirPods Pro to Apple for service at no charge. To check that they are eligible for the programme, AirPods Pro will be tested prior to service.

Design

AirPods Pro have the same general design language as the original AirPods, but with new flexible silicone tips designed to fit securely into the ear to allow noise cancellation technology, they are noticeably different.

The silicone tips come in three sizes to ensure that most ears have a comfortable fit. Apple says the tips were built to conform to each individual ear's contours, providing both comfort and a better seal, which is important for noise cancellation.

The tips come in small, medium and big, and on the AirPods Pro, each tip clicks right into position, making them easy to switch out. To hold the AirPods Pro firmly in place, each tip is internally tapered to conform to the shape of the inner ear.

AirPods Pro are 21.8mm wide and 30.9mm long, so they are larger than the original AirPods (16.5mm), but they are not as tall as the stems are shorter (AirPods are 40.5mm tall).

The Wireless Charging Case that comes with the AirPods Pro is also larger since the AirPods Pro is wider than the AirPods. It is 60.6mm wide, 45.2mm high, and 21.7mm thick. The AirPods case is 44.3 mm wide, 53.5 mm tall, and 21.3 mm thick in contrast.

AirPods Pro, weighing in at 5.4 grammes per earbud, is a third heavier than regular AirPods. At 45.6 grammes, up from 38 grammes, the charging case also weighs in.

The case of the AirPods Pro is a little deal wider than the case of the AirPods, but it is also not quite as tall, so the dimensions and pocketability between the two cases are ultimately identical.

AirPods Pro was built with what Apple calls a "innovative vent system" that equalises ear pressure to minimise the discomfort typical in other in-ear designs. Apple claims it's supposed to make you feel like there's nothing between your ears with AirPods Pro.

There is also an extended mesh microphone port that is built in windy conditions to maximise call clarity.

Ear Tip Fit Test

Apple provides the AirPods Pro with an Ear Tip Fit Test to get the optimal fit and the best audio experience. Apple uses sophisticated algorithms and the microphones in each AirPod to calculate the sound level in the ear and equate it with what comes from the speaker driver after positioning the AirPods Pro in each ear.

Then the algorithm detects if the ear tip is the correct size and has a decent fit, or whether to establish a stronger seal it should be switched out for another size.

If you contact Apple Help, replacement tips for AirPods Pro are available and are priced at $4 for a pair. Owners of AirPods Pro who bought AppleCare+ tend to be able to get free replacement tips.

Water Resistance

AirPods Pro is resistant to sweat and water with an IPX4 water resistance rating. That implies that the AirPods Pro has been tested and can hold up from any direction to splashing water, so they should hold up well to sweat and light rain.

AirPods Pro should not be immersed in water, and exposure to water should be avoided as much as possible because water or sweat damage is not protected by Apple's warranty.

Apple notes that non-water sports and exercise are subject to sweat and water resistance scores, and that sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions and might decrease as a result of normal wear.

Active Noise Cancellation

AirPods Pro are the first in-ear earbuds from Apple that incorporate Active Noise Cancellation technology, although in their on-ear Beats headphones, Apple previously used ANC.

To adjust sound to the ear of each user, Active Noise Cancellation leverages two microphones and advanced software algorithms from Apple.

One microphone is outward-facing and is designed to detect external sound in order to enable ambient noise analysis by the AirPods Pro. A second inward-facing microphone is there that listens to the sound in the direction of the ear.

The first microphone allows the external sound of the AirPods Pro counter with anti-noise that cancels background noise before it reaches the ear, while the second microphone tunes the cancellation of noise by detecting any remaining noise. The noise cancellation feature continually adapts the sound signal 200 times per second, Apple says.

Transparency Mode

Apple provided a Transparency mode feature that allows users who are concerned about blocking out sound from Active Noise Cancellation to listen to the world around them.

Transparency mode uses the AirPods Pro vent system to tone down the Active Noise Cancellation so that owners of AirPods Pro can listen to trains, listen to train announcements, and more while still listening to music, podcasts, and more.

You can activate the Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes directly on the AirPods Pro or by pressing the Control Center volume slider on your iPhone or iPad to access the Control Center settings.
By pressing and holding the Force Sensor on the AirPods Pro stem, which switches between the Transparency mode and the Active Noise Cancellation, you can activate the Transparency mode.

Sound Quality

Thanks to built-in speaker technology and Adaptive EQ features, AirPods Pro offers superior sound than the original AirPods, according to Apple.

Adaptive EQ tunes the music's low and medium frequencies that play to the shape of the ear of each person, for what Apple says is a rich, immersive listening experience.

Inside the AirPods, along with a custom high-excursion low-distortion speaker driver that optimises audio quality and reduces background noise, there is a custom high dynamic range amplifier to produce pure, clear sound. In addition to detailed mid- and high-frequency audio, the driver provides rich bass down to 20Hz.

The AirPods Pro improved Bluetooth latency compared to other wireless headphones on the market, including the original AirPods and the AirPods 2, based on measuring the time it takes for a user to activate a sound and when it is detected in the earbuds.

Spatial Audio

Spatial audio, introduced in iOS 14, is designed to give the AirPods Pro a movie theatre listening experience. Spatial audio is available on AirPods Pro with the introduction of the 3A283 firmware as of September 14. Firmware updates and a system running iOS 14 are necessary for the use of spatial audio.

For an immersive surround sound-like experience, Spatial works by adding directional audio philtres and subtly changing the frequencies each ear receives to position sounds virtually anywhere in space.

The feature uses the AirPods Pro and iPhone gyroscope and accelerometer to monitor the movement of the head of a person as well as the location of their device, compare the motion data and reshape the sound field so that it stays anchored to your device even as your head moves.

On the iPhone 7 and later, spatial audio is available and is not compatible with earlier versions. We have a how-to for directions on using spatial audio with guidance on activating it.

H1 Chip and Internals

The AirPods Pro and the Beats Solo Pro use the same 10-core H1 chip as the second-generation AirPods. Apple says that the chip's Device in Package design is "meticulously arranged" for superior comfort, fit, and stability with the positioning of each part centred on the shape of the human ear.

The H1 chip powers Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive EQ, and supports "Hey Siri" requests that are hands-free.

As with AirPods, AirPods Pro automatically connects to your iPhone or Apple device, while the H1 chip also allows iCloud to move between your Apple devices easily. Automatic device swapping has been allowed with iOS 14, so AirPods can switch between iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch automatically when you use them with no need to access Bluetooth device swap controls.

AirPods Pro also works with Audio Sharing, an iOS 13 feature that allows a single iOS device to be connected to multiple AirPods or Beats headphones so that more than one user can listen to the same music, watch the same movie, and more.

Audio Sharing is limited to iPhone 8 and later, iPad Air and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 5th generation, all iPad Pro models, and iPod touch 7th generation.

There are two optical sensors, the above-mentioned microphones (dual beamforming and one inward-facing microphone), a motion-detecting accelerometer, and a speech-detecting accelerometer, all of which have power features such as detection of "Hey Siri" pause music when the AirPods are separated from the ears, and more.

AirPods Pro will connect to Apple devices using Bluetooth 5.0 technology.

AirPods Pro Motion API

There is a Motion API from iOS 14 that enables developers to access the AirPods Pro's orientation, user acceleration, and rotational speeds, which can be used in fitness apps, games, and more.

Force Sensor

There's a new Force Sensor on the stem of the AirPods Pro that supports different gestures, with a list of options below:

• Press once to play or pause music
• Press once when a call is incoming to answer the call
• Press twice to skip forward on a track
• Press three times to skip back on a track
• Press and hold to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode

For options like placing a call, playing a specific song, getting directions, sending messages, and more, Siri voice commands can be used.

Battery Life

Like the AirPods, the AirPods Pro can last for up to five hours, but only when Active Noise Cancellation is disabled. AirPods Pro offers four and a half hours of listening time and up to three and a half hours of talk time on a single charge in Active Noise Cancellation mode.

Inside each AirPod, there is a 1.98Wh watch-style button cell battery, which is not replaceable as it is attached to a soldered cable.

More than 24 hours of listening time and over 18 hours of talk time are provided by the Wireless Charging Case. After five minutes of charging, there is a fast charging feature that offers one hour of listening time or around an hour of talk time.

It is possible to charge the Wireless Charging Case using a wireless charging mat based on Qi or via the included Lightning port. For speedier charging, Apple ships the AirPods Pro with a Lightning to USB-C cable.

Notifications of the battery, added in iOS 14, let you know if you need to charge your AirPods Pro so that you can still keep them topped up. Battery Health features for AirPods have also been introduced by Apple, which will maintain the durability of the battery by limiting the amount of time that AirPods Pro spend on charging at 100 percent battery level.

Headphone Accommodations

Headphone Accommodations, introduced in iOS 14, is a new accessibility option that can amplify soft sounds and change certain hearing frequencies to make music, movies, phone calls, and podcasts with AirPods Pro sound more crisp and simple.

AirPods Pro headphone accommodations work with the Transparency mode to make silent voices more audible and to adjust the sounds of the world to the hearing needs of each person.

Software Requirements

AirPods Pro require Apple devices running iOS 13.2 or later, iPadOS 13.2 or later, watchOS 6.1 or later, tvOS 13.2 or later, or macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or later.

AirPods Pro How Tos and Guides

• Top 14 Airpods Pro Tips and Tricks

• How to Control the Noise Cancellation Feature on AirPods Pro

• How to Customize the Force Sensor Gesture Functions on AirPods Pro

• How to Perform an Ear Tip Fit Test on AirPods Pro

• How to Control the Transparency Feature on AirPods Pro

• How to Use Audio Sharing on iPhone and iPad

• How to Buy Replacement AirPods Pro Ear Tips

Original AirPods

In various configurations, Apple continues to market its second-generation AirPods. The Regular Charging Case AirPods are still available for $159, while the Wireless Charging Case AirPods are available for $199.

AirPods vs. AirPods Pro

The AirPods Pro have a higher price tag, a different design with silicone ear tips and a shorter stem, active noise cancellation, and enhanced sound compared to the traditional second-generation AirPods.

AirPods Pro vs. Powerbeats Pro

We also have a dedicated guide for comparison that looks at the variations between the Powerbeats Pro and the AirPods Pro.

The AirPods Pro have Active Noise Cancellation and a slimmer design compared to the Powerbeats Pro, while the Powerbeats Pro provide longer battery life and earhooks to help hold them in place during vigorous exercise.

Issues

Some owners of AirPods Pro have complained of decreased noise cancellation and crackling or static noises, and Apple has published a support document to alleviate these problems with some guidance.

Apple recommends that owners of AirPods Pro instal the latest software updates for linked iPhones, iPads, and Macs, to ensure that AirPods Pro is debris-free. When debris or earwax builds up on the mesh region of the AirPods Pro, noise cancellation can be affected.

Apple suggests ensuring that there is no wireless interference or interruption between the AirPods and the system for which you use them for crackling. To make sure the problem is not caused by an app, Apple also suggests checking different applications. Apple says customers can contact Apple Support if these solutions do not work.

How to Buy

The AirPods Pro can be bought for $249 from the online Apple Store or from Apple retail stores. The AirPods Pro is often sold by third-party retailers and also offers discounts.

For AirPods Pro, AppleCare+ can be bought for $29, covering two accidental injury accidents for a $29 charge.

AirPods Charging Cases can be etched with Apple when bought, allowing either text characters or an emoji to be added.

Apple sells AirPods Pro replacement tips on its website for $7.99 each in the United States, in sets of two small, medium or large ear tips.

There are a few firms making foam tips, like Comply, for those who don't like Apple's own tips.

What's Next for the AirPods Pro

Apple is working on an AirPods Pro edition of the second generation that could feature a more lightweight interface and a new wireless chip. By cutting the short stem that sticks out from the rim, Apple is looking to make the AirPods Pro smaller, according to Bloomberg. Apple is said to be testing a more rounded shape that fills more of a user's ear," which would be equivalent to Amazon and Google designs.

Apple has reportedly found it difficult to fit features, antennas, and microphones of AirPods Pro into such a small package, so there could eventually be modifications to the design. AirPods Pro will be launched by the end of 2021.

AirPods With Health Sensors

Light sensors that could be used for health monitoring functions could be used in future AirPods. The new sensors could be used in AirPods in one to two years, DigiTimes has proposed.

Health monitoring features will allow the AirPods to monitor, as well as detect head movements, heart rate, step counts and health conditions.