I’ve Been Using the Apple AirPods Pro 2 Since 2022, But They’re Still My Top Earbuds Pick for All My Apple Devices

Back in September 2022 (which is basically the dark ages when it comes to consumer technology) Apple released the AirPods Pro 2, the upgraded, second generation of the company’s most powerful in-ear Bluetooth earbuds. 

Since then, Apple has continuously released firmware updates for these earbuds and introduced new features and capabilities for them. Today, the AirPods Pro 2 continue to be Apple’s top-of-the-line wireless earbuds. In fact, they were the first consumer-oriented earbuds to be approved by the FDA for use as over-the-counter (OCT) hearing aids, but more on that later.

The AirPods Pro 2 are designed specifically for Apple iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iMac, and MacBook users, but can be used with any device that transmits audio via Bluetooth. Once they’re paired with a user’s iPhone for the first time, they’ll automatically pair with whichever other Apple device that user switches to in real-time. And if either AirPod or the wireless charging case get lost, Apple’s Find My app can be used to locate them.

These Bluetooth earbuds are comfortable to wear, offer an impressive battery life, and are rated IP54 for water resistance. This makes them perfect for using while working out, or if you happen to be walking your dog outside in the rain. 

What you need to understand about the AirPods Pro 2 is that their list price is $249, which is on the pricier side. However, Amazon and most other retailers now typically have them on sale for as little as $169. And at this lower price, they’re an absolute bargain.

I’ve been using my AirPods Pro 2 in conjunction with all of my Apple equipment since they were first released. They’ve always been extremely reliable and make whatever audio I’m listening to sound crisp, clear, and immersive. They are loaded with features like adaptive noise cancellation, adaptive audio, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and more. All work flawlessly thanks to Apple’s proprietary H2 chip, in conjunction with each earbud’s driver, amplifier, and built-in microphones.

No matter which Apple devices you currently use, the AirPods Pro 2 make the perfect audio companions, and while they continue to gain new and innovative features, they’re more affordable than ever. Keep reading to discover why now is the perfect time to upgrade your Bluetooth earbuds to the AirPods Pro 2s.

What’s the Difference Between the AirPods Pro 2 and Other AirPod Models?

At the moment, the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 make up Apple’s in-ear earbuds product line. The list price of the AirPods 4 without active noise cancellation (ANC) is $129, but with ANC, the price jumps to $179. Sure, you can find them on sale for less, but when you consider the more powerful and better sounding AirPods Pro 2 earbuds can easily be found on sale for $169, I suggest not even bothering with the inferior AirPods 4 option.

The AirPods 4 (with or without ANC) include a handful of impressive features, but the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds provide even more features and utilize better technologies. As a result, users experience superior sound quality – whether listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks, audio from games, or using them to hear the audio when streaming TV shows or movies. The AirPods Pro 2s also provide clear sound when participating in hands-free phone calls or video calls. As you’d expect, they work seamlessly with FaceTime.

Only the AirPods Pro 2 offer high enough audio quality that allow them to be used as over-the-counter hearing aids. But even someone with no hearing impairments will appreciate the pro-level adaptive noise cancellation, adaptive audio, personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, compatibility with always-on ‘Hey Siri’, an impressive voice isolation feature, and a longer battery life than other AirPod models.

The AirPods Pro 2s only come in white and include a wireless (MagSafe and Qi wireless compatible) charging case. This case has a tiny built-in speaker (used to help you locate it if it goes missing under a seat cushion of your coach or at the bottom of your purse, for example). The case also has one built-in USB Type-C port. Using this case, the AirPods can be recharged multiple times without needing an external power source (giving the earbuds up to 30 hours of playback time). 

Who Are the Apple AirPods Pro 2 For?

This answer is simple. The AirPods Pro 2 earbuds appeal to anyone and everyone who’s already an iPhone user, and perhaps owns an iPad, Apple Watch, iMac, and/or Macbook, too. These earbuds can be used indoors or outdoors, while you’re working out, during a commute to work (as long as you’re not the driver), on an airplane, in a busy office, at home, or just about anywhere else. 

They’re designed to fit rather snuggly in your ears, so they won’t accidentally pop out while you’re participating in action-oriented activities. Yet, they remain comfortable if you need to wear them for marathon music listening sessions, long hands-free phone calls, or when binge watching your favorite TV series. 

I have found the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds stay in place within my ears, but if you plan to engage in activities that involve a lot of powerful movements, there are accessories from third parties that can help keep them in place even better. Three options include the Tapper Hematite Black Plated Rope Chain for AirPods ($60 on Amazon), the WC HookZ Over Ear Hooks ($15.95 on Amazon), and the Multaich Magnetic Anti-Lost Lanyard for AirPods ($10 on Amazon).

The Best Features of the Apple AirPods Pro 2

What you can expect from the AirPods Pro 2 is a truly immersive listening experience. For example, I often wear my AirPods Pro 2 on flights. While the active noise cancellation almost entirely eliminates the noise of airplane engines, babies crying, and the endless announcements from the flight crew, they also make audio from TV shows and movies I watch on my iPad Pro sound as if I am directly in the middle of the action and it’s happening all around me. And if I turn my head, the audio automatically adjusts to maintain the immersive quality.

This and more is possible because the AirPods Pro 2 offers more powerful adaptive noise cancellation, personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and better three-dimensional sound capabilities than all other AirPod models, both past and present. 

The proprietary Apple H2 audio chip in each of these earbuds uses adaptation algorithms to process sound in a way that renders it specifically for the shape of the user’s inner-ear. The chip works seamlessly with each earbud’s driver and amplifier to provide deep bass and clear highs, while eliminating distortion even at louder volume levels. 

When it comes to both noise cancellation and making your voice sound clear during hands-free calls, each earbud relies on three microphones, including one that’s inward facing and designed to enhance and clarify your voice. My experience participating in hands-free calls both indoors and outdoors, and in quiet and loud environments has proved to me countless times that this feature works really well.

The noise cancellation function analyzes sound 48,000 times per second and makes adjustments in real-time. As a result, even if the ambient sound around you gets louder or softer, there’s no need to manually tinker with the volume, since compensation happens automatically to provide a consistently smooth listening experience. 

A Perfect AirPods Fit Is Essential

Since the AirPods Pro 2 are designed for all Apple users, they come with eartips in four sizes to ensure a snug and comfortable fit. This is essential for allowing the earbuds to provide the best possible listening experience while compensating for whatever ambient noise is happening wherever you’re using them..

To take full advantage of the sound quality these earbuds can provide, it’s essential that when you pair the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds with your iPhone for the first time, you select and attach the appropriate size eartips (you have four sizes to choose from). 

As you can see from the selection of iPhone screenshots below, to ensure you’ve selected the right size eartips, launch Settings and select the Accessibility option. Next, tap on the AirPods option. From the AirPods menu screen, tap on the Ear Tip Fit Test option. Place the earbuds in your ears and begin the test. If there’s a good fit, a message that says “Good Seal” appears in green under each earbud photo.

AirPods Control Is Built Into iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS

Unlike other popular Bluetooth earbuds, the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds do not require a proprietary mobile app to customize your listening experience. All of the controls are baked into Apple’s operating systems for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iMac, and MacBook. Once the AirPods are paired with a specific Apple device, access the Control Panel. Next, press and hold down the AirPods volume slider. This is shown in the screenshot sequence below.

As shown above, it’s now possible to turn on/off the adaptive noise cancellation or transparency mode, and the spatial audio feature with or without the dynamic head tracking turned on. This is done using a series of on-screen icons. One notable thing that the AirPods Pro 2 does not allow is for a manually adjustable EQ.

New AirPod Pro 2 Features Are Coming with Apple MacOS Tahoe 26, iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and WatchOS 26

Each time Apple does a major update to the MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, and WatchOS operating systems, these updates have included a firmware update for the AirPods that introduce new features. This Fall, a new version of each operating system will once again be released, and with it, two new AirPod Pro 2 features will be unlocked.

First, the microphones built into the AirPod Pro 2 earbuds and their Voice Isolation feature will be upgraded via a firmware update to allow for studio-quality audio recording to further enhance call quality when participating and recording hands-free phone calls or FaceTime calls. This enhanced recording feature is also being set up to work with the Camera app, Voice Memos, and for voice dictation in Messages when using the iPhone, iPad or a Mac.

Second, the AirPods Pro 2 touch controls on the stem will be able to remotely control the Camera app to start and stop video recordings or take photos. We can also expect enhancements to be made related to other AirPod Pro 2 features and functions.

The AirPods Pro 2 Earbuds Work As Affordable Over-The-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids

In October 2022, the FDA began allowing for over-the-counter hearing aids to be sold in the United States. Initially, while offerings from Bose, Sony, Jabra, and other brands looked like standard wireless earbuds, these OTC hearing aids were more expensive and relied on more advanced technology. 

Meanwhile, working closely with the FDA, Apple received approval for the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds to be sold and used as OTC hearing aids in September 2024. This added functionality was made possible through a free operating system update for the iPhone and a firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds.

Before someone can turn on this functionality, it’s necessary to participate in a multi-step hearing test using their iPhone. If this test reveals the user could benefit from OTC hearing aids, they can then turn on and fine-tune this functionality from within Settings on their iPhone. At no point is it necessary to consult with an audiologist, but doing so is highly recommended.

The iPhone screenshot sequence shown above depicts the main steps involved with the hearing test and activating the OTC hearing aid functionality when using the AirPods Pro 2. 

To access the hearing test feature that’s now part of the iOS operating system for iPhones, place the earbuds in your ears (after they’ve been paired with your iPhone) and launch Settings. Next, tap on the AirPods Pro 2 option. From the AirPods Pro 2 menu screen, tap on the Take a Hearing Test option and follow the on-screen prompts. This process takes about 15 minutes and must be done while you’re in a quiet location.

The actual test is rather simple. After answering a few basic questions, the iPhone will play a series of tones, first in your left ear, and then your right ear. Whenever you hear a tone, tap anywhere on the iPhone’s screen. Once both ears have been tested, the results are displayed. If the results indicate you could benefit from turning on the hearing aid functionality, tap on the Set Up Hearing Aid option located below the Done button on the iPhone’s screen.

While working as OTC hearing aids, you can use your iPhone to fine-tune what you hear and what’s picked up and played by the AirPods Pro 2 using a series of menu options. For example, you can adjust the microphone sensitivity and level of noise cancellation, clarify speech, and handle other tasks in real-time. 

This means you can use these earbuds to hear better during in-person conversations (as voices will sound clearer and at the volume you choose). This also works when participating in hands-free calls using your iPhone, while you’re watching TV at home, watching a movie in a theater, dining in a noisy restaurant, attending a party, or speaking with someone outside in a noisy environment. 

Not only are the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds as capable as any other OTC hearing aids and many traditional hearing aids provided by audiologists, but this option is available at a fraction of the price, which means hearing aids are now more affordable than ever. While I am not personally impacted by hearing loss, I have participated in the hearing test and experimented with the hearing aid functionality offered and discovered it works extremely well. 

Someone who is not tech savvy could benefit from having someone who is to help them participate in the hearing test and set up the hearing aid functions of the AirPods Pro 2 using the iPhone. Once this process is completed, using the earbuds as hearing aids becomes a straightforward process. Again, I suggest consulting with an audiologist if you find hearing aids are necessary for yourself or a loved one. 

My Final Thoughts: Are the Apple AirPods Pro 2 Worth It?

Yes, there are premium wireless (Bluetooth) earbuds available right now that cost more and that offer even higher quality audio. However, the AirPods Pro 2 from Apple are designed specifically to work seamlessly with all popular Apple devices and services, including Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and Find My. 

Now that their price has dropped rather significantly from their original $249 price, the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds represent a really good value and can be extremely useful for all Apple enthusiasts. I personally use mine several hours per day, everyday while participating in phone calls via my iPhone. 

Also, anytime I walk my dog or travel, I use them to enjoy premium quality sound, including music, and audiobooks, or sound from the TV shows and movies I watch on my iPad Pro on airplanes or trains. I also love that when I simply place these earbuds in my ears and turn on the noise cancellation feature, but with no audio playing, they drown out ambient noise and allow me to experience near total silence anywhere I happen to be. So yes, these earbuds are a worthwhile investment if you already use other Apple gear.