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This has nothing to do with USB-C which has been great on my Mac and iPad.
It has everything to do with the mandate. Apple could have waited until AirPods Pro 3 was ready. It's clear once someone gets an iPhone with USB-C, they'll wait until AirPods gets updated to USB-C too so Apple was forced to update one AirPods segment or else a massive sales decline will happen.
 
Does it work with the lightning version?
The case is irrelevant because lossless playback doesn't use the case. It's no different from Apple saying it only works with the wireless charging case AirPods.

Regardless, Apple told me over chat that the Lightning case APP2s will support it.
 
I hope this can be clarified soon by Apple... it's unfortunate that such an issue arises... surely someone must have predicted this.
 
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This is just dumb. The only difference is the case. The Airpod Pro 2 in the USB C case are the exact same ones in the Airpod Pro 2 with the Lightening case you could get the day before.

Are they? Someone should test this. Take some out of the Lightning case, pair them with a USB-C case. If that’s even possible, step one. Then try it with the Vision Pro, step two. Step three, see if anyone can even tell the difference vs the new gen in a “blind” test.

I’m having a hard time caring even though it does sound like a strange and hostile move on the face of it. Might just wait for APP3. Already waited for these so either way I’m good. Sucks for those that bought the original APP2 though.

Then again I bought an iPad 3 and the very last Intel MacBook Air so I’m watching for these traps now.
 
Assuming they still sell the remaining stock of AirPod Pro 2 at not only Apple Stores, this sounds like a mess
Yeah, they don't sell the version with Lightning cable, at least not from Apple. Other resellers might.
 
These are AirPods Pro 2 (with a different connector, oh and different features, and improved dust ingress protection, and different battery life (maybe)....)
So why only the usb-c version supports lossless audio with the vision pro, but the lightning version does not. Something changed under the hood.
 
Apple used to be simple... There was one device targeting each customer... and each device did it well.. they could focus on making each one the best it could be.

But now when you walk into an Apple Store it is a confusing mess.. and this decision just makes it worse.

Truthfully, sometimes Apple has been very simple and sometimes very complicated. In my recollection, the most confusing times were back in the Centris and Quad Mac era along with the clones. Do you know how many Centris and Quad Macs there were in where there were also Performa and LC models that were iterations of similar things? That period was way more confusing. Yes, when Job returned, he made the product line very simple. Currently, the product lines are mostly pretty simple with some exceptions, including what I find as confusion in the iPad line.
 
So very “green” of Apple to do this. Create more E-Waste so they can make more money off the die hards. Mother Nature would be so proud…
I guess I don't understand how this necessarily creates more e-waste, unless you're indicating that Apple shouldn't revise so often?
 
Do most people use their AirPods Pro for music? I only use them for listening to podcasts or watching TV shows. If I’m listening to music I use better headphones.
 
It has everything to do with the mandate.
no it doesn't.
Apple could have waited until AirPods Pro 3 was ready.
How would that change whether Lightning APP2s are supported?
It's clear once someone gets an iPhone with USB-C, they'll wait until AirPods gets updated to USB-C too so Apple was forced to update one AirPods segment or else a massive sales decline will happen.
Irrelevant as far as backwards compatibility is concerned.

But Apple told me over chat that the Lightning APP2s will support it.
 
I know it sounds crazy, but you don’t have to throw your old AirPods in the trash. You can still keep using them.
Tell that to someone who already owns last year’s AirPods Pro 2nd gen. I’m rockin’ the 3rd gen AirPods and don’t give a crap about lossless audio.
 
That’s a big F U to customers. Might actually be one of the most pathetic things they have done, especially considering the size of the company. Now there is no denying they intentionally do this with other products - limiting tech, being careful to not over improve a product or include obvious features when able to do so. Couldn’t miss this opportunity either. Even the biggest fanboys out there have to be irk’d with that move.
 
Don’t get me wrong, improvements are good and this sucks for those who bought the Pro 2 with lightning. But let’s be real, no one will be able to tell the difference in audio quality anyway.
I mean I can. When I plug corded headphones and listen to Spotify vs Apple Music, there is a clear difference... which is a shame, because Spotify is a clear winner app, and interface-wise, Apple Music is terrible in comparison but the sound quality is clearly superior on AM because of Lossless.
 
Of course it does.
The mandate affects the charging case, not the headphones.
How do you know there is zero changes to the hardware? They list the left and right buds with new model numbers.
The hardware has changed, if for no other reason than the new IP-rated sealing; hence the new model numbers. There's probably other slight differences, but those do not necessarily have to do with the lossless support.
 


Alongside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models, Apple yesterday debuted a new version of the AirPods Pro 2 with a USB-C charging case. The swap to USB-C instead of Lightning is the primary new feature, but Apple also updated audio quality in a way that may upset some of its customers.

AirPods-Pro-Case-With-USB-C.jpg

As we highlighted yesterday, the new AirPods Pro feature additional dust resistance and support for 20-bit 48kHz lossless audio when connected to the Vision Pro headset. At the time, it seemed unusual that Apple would limit a key audio feature to the new AirPods Pro 2 when the original version is just a year old, but that's exactly what Apple has done.


According to the latest PowerOn newsletter from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple confirmed that Lossless Audio will not be available on the AirPods Pro 2 with Lightning charging case, and it is indeed a feature limited to the new USB-C AirPods Pro 2.

Apple in a press release announcing the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C charging case touted the new audio feature, calling it the "perfect true wireless solution" for Vision Pro.
Customers who want to be able to use Lossless Audio with Vision Pro for this audio experience will need to purchase the new AirPods Pro 2, which are available for $249. The Vision Pro headset itself is set to be priced at $3,500.

Article Link: Lossless Audio With Apple Vision Pro Will Be Limited to USB-C AirPods Pro 2
TOTAL dick douche bag move, douche bag in chief, TIM COOK.. He's doing all he can to remove any semblance of humanity from Apple. Maybe I'll put off getting Vision Pro anytime soon.. How do you like them Apples, Mr Cook ?
 
The mandate affects the charging case, not the headphones.
You're completely ignoring or misunderstanding what I said.

The hardware has changed, if for no other reason than the new IP-rated sealing; hence the new model numbers. There's probably other slight differences, but those do not necessarily have to do with the lossless support.

Not interested in your guesses.
 
I bet they are using a modified version of Bluetooth that requires very close distance to the transmitter. Hiper stable connection.

That’s why it’s only avaiable to the headset. It’s basically one inch away.
 
I guess I don't understand how this necessarily creates more e-waste, unless you're indicating that Apple shouldn't revise so often?
The new AirPods Pro with USB C charging case is such a minor update that they’re still considered the 2nd gen, yet they supposedly are the only AirPods that can provide lossless audio on the Vision Pro.

For those who want the Vision Pro and the best audio experience, they’d be encouraged to replace their current AirPods even though they’re technically the same generation AirPods?

Seems wasteful to me, but yes, of course Apple is not forcing anyone to upgrade their devices. It just seems in this case that they are artificially handicapping the nearly identical model in favor of the “new” model.

They should at least call them the 3rd gen AirPods Pro to make it seem like less of a ploy. But if in actuality the lightening charging case versions also support lossless audio, this is all a non-issue.
 
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