If you are confused about making a choice between buying the Airpod Pro 1 and 2 (2nd generation) or just want to know the difference between the two for knowledge’s sake, then this should come as no surprise; the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are clearly the better buy. For one, it costs the same as its predecessor and has slightly better battery life and noise cancellation. Including the U1 chip in the charging case makes it more difficult to lose, which will no doubt appeal to anyone who has ever hesitated to spend hundreds of dollars on a piece of technology smaller than their wallet.
However, other factors beyond price, battery life or noise cancellation come into consideration when making a decision like this. So, let’s go over a detailed comparison, pointing out major differences and similarities between the Airpods Pro and 1 and 2 to help you make the best decision.
Difference Between Airpod Pro 1 and 2 At a Glance
| AirPods Pro 2 | AirPods Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | Roughly $150 |
| Wireless Charging Case | Yes (included) | Yes (included) |
| Battery Life | 6 hours(Stand Alone), 30 hours with charging case | 4.5 hours with ANC On, 5 hours with ANC Off, 24 hours with charging case |
| IPX rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Size and weight (buds) | 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches, 0.19 ounces Case: 1.78 x 0.85 x 2.39 inches, 1.79 ounces | 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches, 0.19 ounces Case: 1.8 x 0.9 x 2.4 inches, 1.6 ounces |
| Special features: | Active noise cancellation, Adaptive EQ, Touch control, Personalized Spatial Audio, automatic switching, audio sharing, announced messages with Siri, Enhanced Find My, “Hey Siri” voice-activated assistance, Live Listen, Lost Mode, MagSafe charging case with speaker and layered loop | Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio, automatic switching, Ear Tip Fit Test, audio sharing, announced messages with Siri, Enhanced Find My, “Hey Siri” voice-activated assistance, Live Listen, MagSafe charging case (2021 version) |
Difference Between Airpod Pro 1 and 2
Price
If you want the AirPods Pro 2, the price is still $249/£249, which is the same as the original AirPods Pro. Only if you intend to make a purchase on Apple’s official website.
While the AirPods Pro have always cost $249, many third-party retailers have reduced the price to well under $200, especially during big sales.
There are few options for first-generation AirPods Pro. Occasionally, new stock will appear. However, these will be inventory leftovers, as Apple no longer manufactures these. Most of the time, they will be refurbished and cost around $150, which is a great deal for what you get.
Design
If you liked the design of the AirPods Pro, you’d be glad to know it hasn’t changed much. However, there will be a few changes to the touch controls.
Apple was said to be working on making the AirPods Pro 2 smaller and more similar to the stemless Beats Studio buds. The AirPods Pro 2 are, however, nearly identical to their predecessors. The stems, on the other hand, have a few new controls thanks to the new Touch Controls. While you’ll still need to squeeze the tiny stems to play, pause, and skip forward or backwards, you can now adjust the volume by swiping up or down.
The addition of a silicone ear tip adds one more design change. The AirPods Pro 2 will now include an XS ear tip to accommodate more people.
The charging case, on the other hand, underwent a minor modification that made a significant difference. The first change is the addition of a small speaker near the bottom, which will play a loud sound when Find My is activated, making it much easier to locate the misplaced case. There’s also a new loop to attach a lanyard so they don’t get lost in the first place.
Audio Comparison
The audio quality, balance, and clarity of the AirPods Pro are already excellent, but the AirPods Pro 2 aims to raise the bar even higher. This is due to a number of enhancements, most notably the new H2 processor, which replaces the H1 in the previous-generation model.
The most significant feather in Apple’s cap is that active noise cancellation (ANC) is improving. More specifically, “2x more” ANC than the AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro 2 can detect sound and reduce its volume with noise-cancelling microphones and a rear vent.
The recently introduced Adaptive Transparency represents a watershed moment for transparency modes on any earbuds. In fact, this may be the best transparency mode in the category.
The microphones also captured vocals well, allowing you to hear and communicate clearly with others. The technology also appears to effectively reduce loud noises (such as jackhammers and sirens).
There’s also personalized Spatial Audio and adaptive EQ, but the latter is nothing new when compared to the original AirPods Pro, which has the same feature. Of course, the H2 processor makes responsiveness to head movement a little faster, but it’s good to know both are present.
This works with iOS 16 and your iPhone’s TrueDepth camera to create a personal spatial audio profile tailored to the size and shape of your head and ears. The end result is stunning.
Battery Life
The original AirPods Pro had a 4.5-hour battery life. Apple has increased the battery life to 6 hours, which is much needed. When used in conjunction with the charging case, it provides over 30 hours of battery life, making it one of the longest-lasting wireless earbuds on the market (in fact, it is identical to the AirPods 3).
Unfortunately, the AirPods Pro 2 are still Lightning-only (at least until the EU’s USB-C law takes effect). However, in addition to a MagSafe or a Qi charger, you can now charge the case using an Apple Watch charger.
Additional Features
Because of the U1 chip, the charging case is now compatible with Find My with Precision Finding. Your iPhone will be able to navigate to where you last left it, and the speaker will emit a loud tone to help you find it.
Furthermore, the speaker will indicate charging, pairing, and low battery life. That’s a significant improvement over the AirPods Pro case, which essentially just charges the AirPods and keeps them warm, with none of these useful features.
Outlook
As a result, this is a foregone conclusion. If you must choose between AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2, go with the latter.
The improvements in audio quality and user-friendliness are significant enough to make these an obvious purchase. These earbuds provide the upgrades that many AirPods fans have been looking for, including the H2 chip, enhanced touch controls that allow you to swipe for volume adjustment, improved ANC, and improved Transparency mode.
Furthermore, with the regular discount bringing them down to less than $200, the $150 purchase of a refurbished pair of Pro 1s becomes much less appealing.
What Should You Replace the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) And Apple AirPods Pro (1st Generation) With?
If you’re an Android user, don’t get the Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) or Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) — you’ll miss out on all the benefits of the H2 (or H1) and U1 chips, and the older model won’t even let you adjust volume with on-ear controls. Instead, look for something like the Sony WF-1000XM5 — it’s a little more expensive than the AirPods Pro, but it has some of the best noise cancellation (and passive isolation) on the market for a pair of true wireless earbuds, as well as tons of software features like an ear tip fit test and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio — the Sony Headphones Connect app works the same on iOS and Android.
Check out the Beats Fit Pro if you’re looking for something a little less expensive than the AirPods Pro. These vibrant true wireless earbuds feature stabilizing ear wings, which runners will appreciate, as well as good ANC and audio, all for $50 USD less. The older H1 chip is used here, so you get personalized Spatial Audio and many of the same features as the AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
Will the old AirPods Pro be available for purchase now that the new one is available?
The AirPods Pro (1st gen) are available for $179 USD from retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy. Interestingly, the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) appear to be quickly replacing the first-generation in Apple storefronts. Apple no longer sells the first-generation model on its website.
What is the distinction between AirPods Pro 1, 2, and 3?
The H1 chip in the AirPods (3rd Gen) and Apple AirPods 2 replaces the W1 chip in the original AirPods. However, the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) include the H2 chip, which is claimed to provide twice the noise cancellation of the H1 and longer battery life than the original AirPods Pro.
How can you tell if the AirPods Pro are genuine?
Start by checking the packaging and here are things to look out for:
- The serial number (which will be blacked out here) will be on the side of the box beneath the UPC.
- The Lightning and USB-C connectors are similar in shape, but they are not interchangeable.
- The serial number of the AirPods and AirPods Pro can be found on the inside of the charging case lid.
Is the AirPods Pro 2 Water-Resistant?
Yes, it is. While the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are not completely waterproof, they do have an IPX4 rating for water resistance. This means that the earbuds should be able to withstand sweat and the occasional splash of water fairly easily.
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