We lastly bought to overview Apple’s AirPods Professional 2 greater than six months after it was launched. On this full overview, I’ll share my sincere opinion about Apple’s wi-fi headphones that comes outfitted with ANC.
Good
- Ergonomic and cozy design
- Glorious energetic noise discount (ANC)
- Devoted audio signature
- Good battery life
- Very good spatial audio
- IPX4-rated wearable sensor
- Wi-fi charging supported
Dangerous
- Lossless audio isn’t supported
- No HD codec, solely AAC
- Customization is just too restricted
- Virtually unusable on Android
The Apple AirPods Professional 2 in a nutshell
The AirPods Professional 2 are offered for $249 on the official Apple Retailer. That is the equal worth of an honest mid-range smartphone. As a pair of wi-fi earbuds, it’s overpriced. Purchase hey, it is Apple. This is kind of the identical worth as Sony’s and Sennheiser’s flagships headphones once they have been launched. On Amazon, you will discover them on the identical worth.
If I needed to summarize my opinion concerning the Apple AirPods Professional 2 in a single sentence: Glorious ergonomics, fundamental sound high quality, ultra-efficient energetic noise cancellation, and common battery life.
Nevertheless, I discovered the quality-to-price ratio to be somewhat unbalanced at $249. I additionally assume it’s a disgrace that the AirPods Professional 2 are virtually unusable with an Android smartphone.
Design
The design of the AirPods Professional 2 has not modified from the earlier mannequin. Apple’s earphones are nonetheless very ergonomic in nature. They match very properly within the ear and are simply forgotten when worn accurately. The case is extraordinarily compact, however I am not a fan of the white coating.
What I preferred:
- Very snug to put on.
- IPX4 licensed.
- Compact and well-designed case.
What I disliked:
- The misplaced capacitive/tactile floor.
- The white shade will get soiled simply.
The AirPods Professional 2 is available in a basic hairdryer design. Nothing has modified from its predecessor. The earphones comply with the identical in-ear format, and Apple gives 4 silicone tip sizes: XS, S, M, and L.
They don’t seem to be waterproof however have IPX4 certification. This makes them sweat-resistant and you’ll contemplate sporting them for sports activities with none worries.
I am not a fan of the shiny, clean white plastic coating. It will get soiled simply and the blue from my denims pockets tends to stain them. However that is not an issue distinctive to Apple.
I discovered them actually snug to put on. They remained securely in place even whenever you transfer round actively. I didn’t really feel any discomfort even throughout prolonged listening periods. You’ll be able to even “sleep” with them on, or watch a film in your mattress with out the earbuds sinking too far into your ear whenever you place your head on the pillow.
The stem of every AirPods Professional 2 has each a tactile and capacitive floor. Mainly, you’ll be able to swipe up or down to regulate the quantity, and likewise press the stem to provoke sure actions.
Personally, I discovered the location of those contact/capacitive surfaces to be poorly thought out. They have been oriented to the entrance the place you may have the earbuds in your ears. This implies it’s important to “rub” the entrance of the stem to handle the quantity. It’s completely counter-intuitive and probably not sensible.
As for the case, it’s somewhat compact and straightforward to hold. Its design exudes a way of high quality manufacturing, with a strong hinge and clean opening and shutting mechanism. The case has an LED indicator to let you already know simply how a lot battery life stays. It even has a small speaker that performs an alert sound whenever you place the AirPods Professional 2 to cost and notifies you when the cost is accomplished.
On the fitting aspect of the case, there’s additionally slightly hook or latch (I seemed for the identify of this factor for an hour and could not discover it) that permits you to slide in a strap or lanyard loop. Apple sells this lanyard loop individually, in fact. It prices $12.95 a pop within the official retailer. I did not attempt to connect a lanyard loop from a third-party producer for worry that the AirPods Professional 2 would explode because of lack of compatibility.
Audio high quality & microphone
As at all times, Apple refused to supply any concrete details about its technical specs. I discover this to be simply plain silly and anti-consumer, however that is the best way it’s. Not like many reviewers, I did not discover the audio high quality of the AirPods Professional 2 to be distinctive, particularly so given their worth.
What I preferred:
- Spatial audio is extremely efficient.
- Head Monitoring nonetheless works properly on Apple Music.
- Devoted audio copy.
What I disliked:
- Solely the essential AAC audio codec is supported.
- No lossless music assist even on Apple Music.
I do not know what frequency vary the Apple AirPods Professional 2 is able to reproducing, and I additionally do not know what supplies Apple used to make its drivers.
Devoted audio signature with sublimated mids
The AirPods Professional 2 characteristic a reasonably flat audio signature. This interprets to comparatively correct audio copy that is still devoted to the supply.
The bass is flatter in comparison with its predecessor, whereas sound is barely punchier. The mediums stay clearly represented, with voices and devices being highlighted properly.
I discovered the AirPods Professional 2 to lag slightly on the highs. We have now the benefit of not having sibilance with whistling sounds which have “s”, “f” or “ch” in them.
Apple depends on an computerized equalizer, utilizing microphones in every earpiece to investigate the sound in your ears and ambient noise to regulate decibels throughout the frequency vary.
Within the Apple Music settings, you too can select from a number of EQ presets. Do keep in mind that’s unique to Apple Music, and in the event you use one other streaming music service, you’ll be able to overlook about doing so.
No lossless audio, even on Apple Music
The AirPods Professional 2 doesn’t assist “generic” HD audio codecs like aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC. We’re restricted to only AAC and that is that. To make issues worse, they do not even assist lossless audio regardless of being obtainable in Apple Music’s settings.
What’s mistaken with that? It is the flagship of Apple’s audio catalog, together with the AirPods Max. Why do not they work with lossless audio? It is a disgrace, as a result of with lossless audio, you’ll be able to obtain bit charges of 24 bits at 48 kHz. You’ll be able to go as much as 24 bits at 192 kHz with Hello-Res lossless audio. However the AirPods Professional 2 fail to allow you to get pleasure from that.
Because of this, the identify Professional loses its relevance in my eyes.
Spatial audio works very properly
The AirPods Professional 2 not less than helps spatial audio. Apple Music gives playlists that have been specifically designed for this mode with Dolby Atmos sound in tow.
It really works very properly, too, the place the spatialization is superb and the sound rendering is far more encompassing. For suitable films and collection, the expertise can also be a really nice one.
It is actually prime when it comes to immersion and we even rediscovered sure items in a special mild, having unearthed particulars that we by no means seen earlier than. Briefly, it really works very properly and it is easy to make use of.
For now, third-party platforms like Spotify don’t supply spatial audio simply but. With Apple Music, you’ll be able to even make the most of Head Monitoring, which lets you regulate the spatialization of the audio scene based on your head actions.
You may also “pressure” spatial audio to be used with common stereo songs. All it’s important to do is to press and maintain the quantity bar from the Management Middle of your iPhone. Personally, I discovered the influence to be imperceptible.
Mic high quality
Apple doesn’t differ a lot from the competitors in terms of the standard of microphones for calls. Indoors, the rendering may be very clear and your voice is at all times intelligible.
If you head outdoor or in case of ambient noise, the attenuation isn’t efficient sufficient. It drowns out your voice, which then turns into too quiet. It’s hardly higher than utilizing your smartphone’s microphone.
Microphone high quality AirPods Professional 2
Lively Noise Discount (ANC)
The AirPods Professional 2 supply one of the best energetic noise discount available on the market in my view. Apple’s ANC, although computerized, is superb. The adaptive Transparency mode is much less so.
What I preferred:
- The perfect ANC available on the market.
- Obvious Transparency mode.
What I disliked:
- ANC isn’t manually adjustable.
- The “adaptive” transparency not convincing.
Apple nonetheless will not supply a manually adjustable ANC at this level. That is so annoying for me, a lot so you can’t even think about. You’ll be able to merely select between ANC, regular mode, and transparency mode.
If in case you have an iPhone, you’ll be able to swap between them through the AirPods settings within the telephone settings. That is not possible to do on Android. However you too can make this swap with an extended press on the stem of the earbuds, and it really works on each iPhone and Android.
The perfect energetic noise discount available on the market
Returning to the ANC high quality of the AirPods Professional 2, it’s merely glorious. I am 99% satisfied that it is the finest energetic noise discount out there in the intervening time.
All structure-borne noise (that outcomes from contact with a floor) is extraordinarily properly attenuated. Fixed noises equivalent to automobile engines are dealt with properly. Even different occasional noises like human voices, laptop keyboard faucets, or the clatter of subway trains are correctly muffled.
That is fairly spectacular. I actually felt like I used to be in a bubble. Within the workplace, I used the AirPods Professional 2 with out listening to something, simply utilizing ANC, to be quiet and fortunately ignore all my different colleagues and surrounding distractions.
The audio signature stays very devoted regardless of having ANC. The sound of the AirPods Professional 2 doesn’t change drastically whenever you activate the energetic noise discount.
The Transparency mode touches one ear with out shifting the opposite
The AirPods Professional 2 additionally gives a Transparency mode that means that you can amplify ambient noise to stay “conscious” of your surroundings.
This mode additionally works very properly. The readability of reproduced sounds nearly gave me the impression of not sporting them. It will get fairly complicated at occasions, I admit this. Apple even included a characteristic that routinely attenuates sudden and really loud noises. The thought is to keep away from blowing out your eardrums in case of a door slamming or one thing.
Personally, I discovered this “adaptive” transparency characteristic to be somewhat gimmicky. I attempted to scream like loopy to see if the headphones would routinely attenuate my voice. Actually, I can not inform you if it actually labored. I additionally tried dropping objects on the ground, however the outcomes weren’t any higher.
Software & connectivity
The Apple AirPods Professional 2 doesn’t work with any companion software. Even on the iPhone, you solely have a devoted submenu within the Settings of your smartphone. On Android, you’re completely hamstrung.
What I preferred:
- Wearable sensor is included.
- Bluetooth 5.3.
- Quick switching from one Apple system to a different.
What I disliked:
- No devoted software.
- The settings are too restricted.
- No equalizer choice.
- ANC can’t be adjusted manually.
- No true multipoint Bluetooth connectivity.
The AirPods Professional 2 settings are too restricted in my view. There isn’t a equalizer and it’s not possible to regulate the depth of the ANC.
The contact/haptic controls may also be fairly inflexible. You’ll be able to merely reassign the lengthy press gesture and select between 2 actions (noise management and Siri).
It is fairly irritating to have so little freedom when it comes to customization. That is whenever you’re with Apple. On Android, customization is just about non-existent. I do know, Samsung does the identical factor, however I feel it is actually lame to shut its ecosystem like that.
The AirPods Professional 2’s wearable sensor may be very environment friendly and dependable. You should utilize the earbuds in mono and the energetic microphone for calls, routinely switching from one earbud to a different relying on which one you take away out of your ear. You may also make this alternative manually, whether or not the energetic mic is at all times in the fitting or left earbud.
The AirPods Professional 2 can routinely swap between Apple gadgets, nevertheless it’s not true multipoint Bluetooth connectivity. Extra importantly, with non-Apple gadgets, it would not work and it’s important to disconnect the earbuds from one supply to attach them to a different. We’re in 2023 now, it is onerous to just accept that reality.
Although we’re on the Bluetooth 5.3 commonplace, I seen important latency on my Home windows PC once I was taking part in movies. I would not advocate the AirPods Professional 2 for cellular video games both, given the latency.
Battery life
In accordance with Apple, the AirPods Professional 2 have a battery lifetime of 6 hours per earbud with out ANC or spatial audio, and 5.5 hours with each enabled. With the charging case, the AirPods Professional 2 can obtain as much as 30 hours of battery life.
What I preferred:
- 6 hours of battery life is first rate.
- Wi-fi charging through MagSafe.
- As much as 5 recharges through the case.
What I disliked:
The battery lifetime of the AirPods Professional 2 is clearly not top-tier materials, however it’s thought of common. Six hours with out ANC is greater than sufficient time for a traditional workday.
The case permits for as much as 5 full recharges, which is nice. Personally, I at all times had the ANC enabled, however I did not use the spatial audio characteristic on a regular basis.
I used to be at all times capable of squeeze out simply over 5 hours of battery life. Charging through the case takes two hours. In accordance with Apple, 5 minutes of charging is sufficient to acquire the equal of 1 hour of listening time.
The field itself could be charged through Lightning (wired) or wirelessly through MagSafe in roughly two hours. The charging case will emit a sound to substantiate that the charging course of is ongoing. It should additionally emit one other audio alert as soon as the charging course of is full. It is actually handy, and I actually preferred this characteristic. If it annoys you, you’ll be able to disable this sound through the settings (on iPhone solely).
Technical knowledge
| Technical knowledge | |
|---|---|
| Machine | |
| Picture |  |
| Design | Format: Intra | weight 250 g | Port detection | Contact controls |
| Weight per earbud: 5.3g | Case weight: 50.8g | |
| Case dimensions: 45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7 mm | |
| Audio | 11 mm driver | H2 chip | Spatial Audio |
| Frequency Response | Not indicated |
| ANC |
|
| Bluetooth |
Bluetooth 5.3 |
| SBC and AAC codecs | |
| No multipoint (however can swap between Apple gadgets) | |
| Battery life |
|
|
|
| Value | $249 |
Conclusion
The AirPods Professional 2 are one of the best Apple headphones for listening to music in your iPhone through Apple Music together with your Apple account. Briefly, in the event you’re properly inside Apple’s ecosystem, this overview will not change something for you. Purchase the AirPods Professional 2, it is the best and most obvious answer.
When you may have an iPhone, the person expertise may be very seamless. Pairing is computerized, the equalizer is computerized, energetic noise cancellation works like magic. The whole lot is completed for you. It is simple. It is plug and play.
With this level, non-Apple producers are means behind. Simply have a look at the implementation of Google Quick Pair or Microsoft Swift Pair which has not been properly carried out.
Nevertheless, I discovered the remainder of the expertise far too restricted. Why spend $249 on a pair of earbuds if they do not assist lossless audio? Why pay $250 to take heed to MP3s on Apple Music or Spotify with a fundamental AAC codec?
Aside from the energetic noise discount which is superb and the spatial audio which is admittedly cool, I discovered the AirPods Professional 2 to be means too fundamental at this worth. If in case you have an Android smartphone, I don’t advocate shopping for them.
