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Apple surprised many of its fans with its decision to release two new pairs of AirPods within a year. The AirPods 2 came out in March, and in the weeks leading to the fall season, rumors were rife that Apple was developing the AirPods 3. The reported upgrades and designs were later confirmed, but for a new pair of earbuds officially called AirPods Pro.
It may not be obvious because of the earbuds’ names, but the AirPods that dropped in late October appears to be more like a next-generational release than the AirPods 2. The AirPods Pro is a total overhaul of the design on the first two AirPods launches, and it was announced with much more advanced features that were not available on its predecessors.
AirPods Pro vs. AirPods 2 specs
At its core, the AirPods Pro and AirPods 2 are the same as both are powered with the H1 chip. This component was reportedly what made the always-on Siri voice commands possible, better Bluetooth connectivity, and faster overall performance. And this is pretty much the only similarity that these devices have.
AirPods Pro features draw a significant line of comparison vs. AirPods 2
AirPods Pro’s next-generational feel should be attributed to the array of new features that are exclusively available in this device. One of the earliest rumors about AirPods 2’s successor was that it would launch a noise-cancellation system.
It was confirmed at the announcement of AirPods Pro that it is equipped with several microphones to cancel out sounds emitted from outside and inside the ear that is not coming from the audio source of the AirPods. The device also supports Transparency Mode, which works like a less aggressive version of the active noise-cancellation feature.
What does not seem to get much attention when comparing the two is that the AirPods Pro is the first of its kind to have IPX4 certification. It means this pair of earbuds are sweat- and water-resistant. Apple also completely redesigned it as the earbuds take on an in-canal form factor with a customizable fit.
AirPods Pro vs. AirPods 2 price
It goes without saying that the AirPods Pro has a more expensive price tag. Before taxes and other fees, it is priced at $249 compared to the 2019 AirPods that costs $199 per pair. There are varying reviews on whether the price increase is worth it, especially when considering its noise cancellation feature. But at the end of the day, the decision to upgrade to more expensive earbuds depends on every user’s needs and preferences.
