I still remember when Apple announced the original AirPods in 2016 and how split people’s reactions were at the time. Some thought they were great, others compared them to mini electric toothbrush heads.
When the AirPods Pro launched in 2019 with their slightly shortened stems compared to the original AirPods, they certainly looked less like something you’d pop on your Oral-B. They also added silicone ear tips for a more secure fit, along with introducing extra features like active noise cancellation (ANC).
By the time the 2nd generation AirPods Pro earbuds were announced in 2022 — succeeded a year later by the USB-C version that I am focusing on here — Apple’s AirPods design was completely normalised.
The various models of these little white earbuds are now a regular sighting on a commute or when walking down streets, and whether you like the designs or not, there’s no denying AirPods have had a huge impact on the wireless earbuds market.
They’ve also become the tech device I won’t leave home without. So much so that if I have left home and I get the Find My notification (which can be a little enthusiastic at times) to tell me I’ve left them behind, I will turn back to get them, even if that means getting the next train or being 10 minutes late.
This may sound a little extreme, but once you have used AirPods, it’s very hard to go back to not using them.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation): At a glance
Cons
- Some features restricted to iOS
- Find My Notifications can be a little excited
- Conversation Awareness mode could be better with audiobooks
Key specifications
| Type | In-ear wireless headphones |
|---|---|
| Battery life | 6 hours of listening time, 30 hours with charging case |
| Water resistance rating | Yes, IP54 |
| Noise-cancelling | Yes |
| Colours | White |
| Weight | 5.3g per earbud (61.4g with the case) |
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) review
Many of the AirPods models offer the same convenience features for Apple users — quick one-tap set-up, easy control, notification announcements from Siri — but the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) USB-C are my AirPods of choice.
The AirPods (3rd generation) are good too, but I love the ANC on the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) — it will block out plane engines, train clatter and the hustle and bustle of busy streets and coffee shops for a lovely peaceful commute, sit or walk.
There’s a Conversation Awareness mode that I love for my dog walks. It comes in exceptionally handy when another dog walker stops to tell me I have a huge dog (it happens multiple times in an hour) while the “Adaptive” mode is a healthy compromise between the transparency mode, where you can hear what’s happening around you, and the ANC that blocks most of it out.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation): Sound quality
The sound performance is great. It’s balanced with clear vocals and a good dose of bass without being too much. There are other wireless earbuds out there that will deliver better sound quality, but there are few that offer the convenience features for Apple users that you’ll find with AirPods, whether you use an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac or have them all.
If you have more than one Apple device, the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) also seamlessly switch between any connected to your Apple ID, so you can switch between a call on your iPhone and a work call on your Mac without disconnecting and reconnecting the earbuds.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation): Features
Apple’s 2nd generation AirPods Pro are virtually identical to the older Lightning AirPods Pro (2nd generation), so they’re comfortable, secure and sweat-resistant. There’s a touch sensor on the short stem which you squeeze for various controls, from playing and pausing audio, answering and ending calls, muting yourself during a call, and skipping and rewinding tracks.
You can also swipe up and down for volume control and while that gesture takes a little bit of practice, it does mean you don’t need to get your phone out at all really.
I’d like Conversation Awareness mode to acknowledge when you’re listening to audiobooks so it pauses the audio rather than only reducing volume, and the Find My notifications could be more accurate.
Those are very minor complaints for what is otherwise a really great pair of wireless headphones though, because while the Find My notifications are sometimes a little trigger happy, I would rather have the notification so I can go back for my AirPods Pro, rather than not have them at all.
There’s a speaker on the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) case too, so you can trigger a locating sound from the Find My app before you go back.
Good Housekeeping’s verdict on the Apple Airpods Pro (2nd Generation)
If you’re an Apple user and you’re looking for headphones to use with your iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch, the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are genuinely excellent and second to none for convenience and ease of use.
There are some brilliant features on board, but the fact that I can take them out of their charging case, pop them in my ears and have them connect instantly to my iPhone or Mac with no faff is the reason why I never leave home without them.
There is not a day that has gone by since these launched in September 2023 that I haven’t used them (and for several hours a day too), and I don’t have any plans to stop either.
You won’t regret owning them, trust me.
Britta O’Boyle has been a technology journalist since 2003. She’s covered everything from phones, tablets and fitness devices, to smart home, and beauty tech. You’ll find her name on reviews, explainers, roundups and expert tips, covering Apple, Google, Samsung, Sonos, Dyson and many more.
She’s always tried to take a more simplified approach to products, focusing on what she thinks actually matters in use, rather than getting caught up in the jargon. She was one of the first journalists in the world to try Apple’s Vision Pro headset, she’s gone behind the scenes at Peloton and she can give you more than 40 fun facts about Mac.
Britta has a First Class Honours degree in Fashion Journalism from the University of the Arts London and prior to a 10-year stint as deputy editor of Pocket-lint from 2013 to 2023, she wrote about interiors for 3 years, covering the rise in technology in the home.
As a freelance journalist, she co-founded The Disconnekt and she’s Editor-at-Large for The Ambient. You’ll also find her byline on several prestigious titles including The Telegraph, British GQ, The Express, The Mirror, TechRadar, T3, Stuff, TechAdvisor, Trusted Reviews, Expert Reviews, Wareable and iMore.
She’s also been a guest on several radio stations, including BBC Radio, Siren FM and Academy FM, discussing features to implement on devices to keep children safer online. You’ll never find her without her Apple Watch on (usually alongside another fitness tracker she’s testing), aiming to complete her rings so she can justify the extra bar of chocolate. When she’s not recording the dog walk as an Outdoor Walk, she’s trying to keep up with her two young children.
