Throughout the year, I evaluate various audio equipment, and whenever someone inquires about AirPods, I consistently recommend alternatives. It’s not that AirPods are lacking; in fact, quite the opposite. However, their price, particularly for the Pro model, often feels excessive given what they offer.
While they perform exceptionally well in noise cancellation and transparency, they fall slightly short in sound quality when compared to Sony’s WF-1000 and Sennheiser’s Momentum series earbuds. The difference in audio experience is minimal, but significant enough to mention. Plus, phrases like ‘price cut,’ ‘discounts,’ and ‘deals’ rarely align with Apple’s high-end image, making it difficult to find them at a reduced rate.
Today, however, I can enthusiastically recommend the second-generation AirPods Pro. During the ongoing Prime Day promotions, Amazon has reduced the price by an impressive $100, bringing them down to $149. This is an exceptional deal for Apple’s leading earbuds, significantly outpacing the competition.
So, why should you consider them? First, there are the obvious advantages of the Apple ecosystem, including easy detection and pairing, support for Find My tracking, and their functionality as hearing aid devices. Wireless charging is another valuable feature, along with the built-in speaker on the charging case and its IPX4 ingress protection rating.
However, it’s the overall performance that truly counts. The AirPods Pro 2 are consistently ranked among the best wireless earbuds available. With internal upgrades, Apple has remarkably enhanced the sound quality in this second iteration. “The AirPods Pro 2 sound so good, I can’t help wondering how much better they could sound if Apple actually supported higher quality codecs like Sony’s LDAC or Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive,” noted Digital Trends’ audio expert Simon Cohen after testing them.
While it’s accurate that Apple does not venture as deep into audiophile territory as some brands like Sony or Technics, the listening experience with AirPods Pro 2 is impressively balanced. Furthermore, the microphone quality on these earbuds is commendable. Although I cannot definitively attribute this to their stem design, the call quality surpasses that of stemless earbuds.
In terms of performance, AirPods Pro 2 compensates for any minor shortcomings in audiophile-grade quality with standout features in other areas. If active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency are crucial for you, the Apple earbuds excel. Based on my experience with top models from Sony and Samsung, I can assert that AirPods Pro ranks among the elite for ANC and transparency.
One of my favorite aspects is the absence of a hissing sound when the noise cancellation activates—it’s simply audio silence. Experiencing this convenience for $149 is remarkable, not just from a tech journalist’s viewpoint but also as a prospective buyer.
Additionally, Apple’s implementation of head-tracked spatial audio with personalization is impressive. As for battery life, I generally achieve approximately five hours of continuous listening with ANC enabled, which is commendable.
Lastly, Apple positions these earbuds as clinical-grade hearing aids, offering features like Live Listen to amplify ambient sounds through the phone’s mics, or Conversation Boost using the onboard mics. You can also utilize head gestures for managing calls and notifications and create custom actions with the Shortcuts app. After testing, Digital Trends labeled the AirPods Pro 2 as a “total no-brainer.” At just $149, they stand out as the best audio deal presently available.
Buy second-gen Apple AirPods Pro 2 at Amazon
