AirPods 2 vs. AirPods Pro 1 Buyer's Guide

[daleckyz]

Could you please focus on the calling functions, too?
I would specifically be interested to find out if Apple did (at last) implement the possibility to mute/unmute a call on the airpods pro.
Thank you!

 

[spinedoc77]

At the rate they are going hopefully in 2 years they can shorten the stems to look normal and like other headphones. I still hate the look of them sticking out, and find that functionally it causes them to come out if I brush them against something or if I'm laying down on them (I read audible books to go to sleep). Also when will we ever escape from white? Would love these in matte black.

How is the transparency mode? I am returning my Amazon buds because the transparency mode doesn't let in voice, even if I have it maxed out. What I would like is a pair of headphones that allow me to converse with someone without having to take them off. Does the transparency mode on the airpods pro allow voices to come through loud and clear?
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The seal helps with the sound. I am impressed with the active noise cancellation. Transparency is interesting. It is “louder” than no noise cancellation since it is actively letting in ambient noise. It is better for phone calls since you can hear your own voice better.

Can you have a conversation with someone else using transparency mode? I would love to not have to take these off every time I needed to speak to someone.

 

[MattX123]

I´ve got my Airpods Pro since wednesday and I´m pretty happy with them. The sound is a little better with slightly more pressure and bass. The silicone tips are ok but the best fitting ones in my case create a pressure feeling in the ear when wearing the pods for some time. The ANC (noise cancellation) is good but here is a little room for improvement, but I dont know how the other in-ear competitors are in this discipline. A comparision with Sony WF-1000XM3 would be interesting. The transparency mode is really cool because you dont have to put the airpods out when you want to do a little conversation with the outer world, eg. with the cashier in a grocery shop 😉
I like that siri can be activated without any tipping or pressing but thats the case since gen. 2 I think. I have often missed this with my first generation Airpods. But its a pity that you cant activate ANC via siri. Only transparency mode can be switched on and off via siri. So at least not in german language. Does this work in english? Hope that apple will add this yet 🙂

Here a little update for the german fellows:
You dont have to say "Geräuschunterdrückung aktivieren", even when it is called like that in the menus. It works with "Rauschunterdrückung aktivieren" There was probably the translator guy too literally at his work 😜

 

[windywalks]

I received them this afternoon and after a lot of messing around I'm going to return them.I have the first version of airpods to compare and I expected that the sound would be much better and is imperceptible. Only better bass is appreciated but surely it's because the rubber seals the ear and closes the ear canal. The noise cancellation is minimal, and the most surprising is the transparency mode that is only curious because it gives the effect of not having them in the ear but the feeling of the rubber in your ear all the time ruins the experience. A pity because I wanted them so badly. I would emphasize the design, I love that the rod where the battery goes is smaller and thanks to the angle more closed, looks like glued to the cheek not as in the 1/2 versions that is sometimes pointing out. The case I like it more, more horizontal surface helps to put them back in the case... such a pity ;(

The battery isn't located in the stem any more. It's in the earpiece.

 

[MadRed]

I’m having a hard time deciding. I have 2nd generation and I’m very happy with them. The Pros are cool but not sure if the cost is justifiable. Regular AirPods are just simple. Put them on and go. I can hear the music or radio show and if someone talks to me I can hear them. Just simple. With Pros I am tempted to use noise cancellation mode but then if someone talks to me I have to fumble in search of way to quickly switch them off or take them out. Just not sure I need all these options. If I need music quality or real noise cancelation I can use my over the ears headphones.

Still confused.

 

[Weaselboy]

I’m having a hard time deciding. I have 2nd generation and I’m very happy with them. The Pros are cool but not sure if the cost is justifiable. Regular AirPods are just simple. Put them on and go. I can hear the music or radio show and if someone talks to me I can hear them. Just simple. With Pros I am tempted to use noise cancellation mode but then if someone talks to me I have to fumble in search of way to quickly switch them off or take them out. Just not sure I need all these options. If I need music quality or real noise cancelation I can use my over the ears headphones.

Still confused.

I have the Airpods 2 and just bought the Pro mainly for the noise cancellation. I take a morning walk each day and I wanted the ANC to cut down on the background traffic noise, and they work well for that. But if I did not have that specific need for the ANC, I would have happily just kept using the Airpods 2 model.

So IMO unless you think your usage pattern will really benefit from the ANC, there is little reason to upgrade.

 

[Berek]

Not really loving these. I will stick to the AirPods 2 for running because those stupid rubber tips make your feet ‘thud’ in your ears.

 

[JWD]

Thanks for the response, this is encouraging. Have you ever used the old Apple in-ear headphones?

Apple in-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Hear every detail of your music every time you tune in with the Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. They offer pro audio performance and impressive sound isolation, and convenient buttons let you adjust the volume, control music and video playback, and even answer or end calls on your iP...

www.amazon.com

(I think they're discontinued. I remember buying them a LOOONG time ago.)

I wonder how they compare in fit and quality to those. I had a bad experience with them, which is why I wouldn't buy the AirPods Pro unless they are MUCH better.

EDIT: I just dug them out and wowww, the rubber earplugs have totally degraded and are all yellow and sticky now. Couldn't even give them another try because there's no way I'm putting those in my ears.

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I drank the kool-aid as well. After watching the impressive keynote years ago on these headphones, I had to buy them. I felt tricked, never been satisfied with them. My older Sony in-ear way outperformed them. Mine aren’t yellow and sticky like yours but they have been in storage with little to no use. I used to really value Steve Jobs’ keynotes and believe what he said; but these new keynotes I take with a grain of salt.

I do like the AirPods compared to wired options for convenience, but I cannot trust the Pro is worth it unless you want noise cancellation.