While it may not seem like there are any major changes in the second generation of AirPods Pro, the hardware has improved, and more features have been added. You’ll also get better battery performance, the ability to detect the AirPods case, and new Transparency noise canceling audio modes. But is it enough of an upgrade from other generations of AirPods Pro? Read on to find out.
New setup tools for customization
AirPods Pro 2 can be customized more than the previous model. Ear Tip Testing, Hearing Test and Personalized Spatial Audio fine-tune the AirPods to your ears and head.
The AirPods Pro 2 comes with four pairs of ear tips. This generation has added an extra small size for narrow ear canals. The ear tips should fit snugly in your ears for the best sound quality—deep bass, deep low frequencies, and thorough noise cancellation.
During setup (which can also be done later), a connected iPhone can automatically test itself to see which ear tips are the best size for your ears. If it’s not completely sealed, iPhone will tell you that the AirPod needs to be adjusted or use a different size ear tip. You may need to move the AirPod around in your ear.
Similarly, you can customize the spatial audio experience. Spatial audio creates a virtual surround sound that sounds like the music is coming from different parts of the room. Enabled movies and TV shows with spatial audio mimic the home theater experience.
Personalized Spatial Audio uses the iPhone’s camera to create a 3D map based on the shape and size of your head and ears. Set up requires a front scan and holding the phone against the side of your head to see the shape of your ears. The data is used to create a listening experience unique to you.
Also, in AirPods > Accessibility Settings, you can choose whether you want to show spatial audio from the iPhone (good for watching movies or listening to music on the phone), or follow the iPhone setting if you want the sound turned off. Do it Follow the movement of your head.
For people with hearing problems, including damage caused by years of listening to headphones at very high volumes, there are audio accessibility settings to boost the sound. If you have an audiogram from your audiologist, you can take a picture of it and upload it during the fitting.
Even if you don’t have any hearing loss, you may prefer these settings that boost vocals, mid-range, and more. Music is brighter, and instruments have better separation.
To adjust audio, go to Accessibility > AirPods > Audio Accessibility Settings > Headphone Housing. Turn on the Headphone housing, tap Custom audio setup, and then follow the onscreen instructions.
First, it will play sounds and ask if you can hear them. If you’re pressing to hear them, tap “No”. This will create a new profile with balanced tone, vocal range or brightness. It will then compare the original audio and the converted equalization. Be sure to complete the comparisons.
The audio was brought to life when it ended; Not so dull and disorganized.
With audio personalization, you can customize various features. To hear who’s calling before answering a call, go to Settings > Siri & Search > Announce Call. Below that setting is Announce notifications, where you can choose which apps can interrupt you with notifications.
Sometimes you may want to avoid wearing both AirPods but want to hear music or audio clearly. Turn on noise cancellation while wearing One AirPod by going to Settings > AirPods > Accessibility and turn on noise cancellation with One AirPod.
Adaptive Noise Cancellation
AirPods Pro 2 takes noise cancellation to a whole new level. And the adaptive transparency mode is noteworthy.
Adaptive Transparency reduces any noise above 85 decibels, like jackhammers or sirens, but lets you hear the environment, like cars passing by or people talking. It’s possible that wearing the Pro 2s at a concert will drown out the ear-damaging sound from the loudspeakers but let you listen to the music.
But the technology isn’t unique to the AirPods Pro 2. The Bose QuietComfort earbuds, Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, Sony Wh-1000XM5, and Google Pixel Buds Pro, Jabra Elite Active 75t, Jaybird Vista 2, and Beats Fit Pro also have their own version of adaptive transparency mode.
background sound
Alpha wave background noises help you relax or focus, and Pros 2 offers a choice of 6 background sounds including noise, ocean, rain, or stream sounds. These sounds are available when you’re not listening to anything, and can be set to play in the background while you play media.
After enabling Background Sound in Settings, the Hearing ear icon appears in the iPhone’s Control Center. Here you can choose a sound, check the headphone sound level, and make other adjustments.