Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro 1

Apple has made a habit of putting out new versions of the standard AirPods fairly regularly, but the Apple AirPods Pro has stayed remarkably the same for a few years. Now, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 is here, boasting new tech in the charging case and apparent improvements across the board, all for the same price. The AirPods Pro 1 has been a reliable active noise canceling (ANC) mainstay for a while, though. How big of a step up are we really looking at between the two AirPods Pro?

Editor’s note: this post was published on July 2, 2024, to include information about AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid compatibility. 

What’s it like to use the Apple AirPods Pro 2 compared to the Apple AirPods Pro 1?

Using the Apple AirPods Pro 2 is a lot like using the Apple AirPods Pro 1, which is to say, buttery smooth on an iPhone. The earbuds themselves look almost identical, and they feel the same to use too. Both maintain the now iconic stemmed design, all-white color scheme, and control layout. They both retain the silicone ear tips, which sets them apart from other AirPods models and makes them fit far more securely in your ear. However, the stemmed design still may catch on masks and longer hair if that’s something you struggle with.

Both the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods Pro 1 feature an IPX4 rating for the earbuds, which means they’re protected from splashes of water and sweat. However, the 2nd generation model also expands that rating to cover the case, too, so you won’t have to worry about pulling it out in the rain.

While the two AirPods Pro models seem very similar, and indeed they are, the 2nd generation model makes some changes under the hood with an upgraded H2 chip in the earbuds and a U1 chip in the charging case. The H2 chip offers improvements in the same areas as the previous AirPods Pro H1 chip, only more so — things like battery life, noise canceling, transparency mode, and connection stability are all improved. The U1 chip brings better location services to the charging case — it’s now precisely findable with the Find My iOS app and sports a little speaker to emit a sound that makes finding it even easier.

The new AirPods Pro is just as easy to use and far harder to lose. Oh, and it comes with one more pair of ear tips (sizes XS-L).

How do you control the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Apple AirPods Pro 1?

The controls for the Apple AirPods Pro 2 build on what was offered for the AirPods Pro 1. They also feature pressure-sensitive stems and now support swiping movements for adjusting playback volume.

AirPods Pro (2nd gen) controls:

The AirPods Pro 1 still offers a decent range of controls, but the lack of swiping means there are no volume controls.

AirPods Pro (1st gen) controls:

Of course, both generations of AirPods Pro also support hands-free controls using Siri, and in fact, it’s the only way to adjust the volume with the older model without pulling your phone out of your pocket. If you happen to use one of these with a non-Apple device, only the AirPods Pro 2 will have an onboard option for volume control.

Do the Apple AirPods Pro 2 have more features than the Apple AirPods Pro 1?

Both generations of AirPods Pro use the iOS Settings app for their primary software features. There’s nothing extra to download, and just opening the charging case near your phone will start the process of getting the earbuds hooked up (something made possible by the H2 and H1 chips of the respective earbuds). The two models share most of their software features, with useful inclusions like an ear tip fit test and the ability to customize some of the on-ear controls. They both gain access to personalized Spatial Audio and the Spatialize Stereo feature, which can turn digital stereo mixes into surround sound (to varying degrees of success).

The earbuds also support the Apple Find My app, which is meant to help you track down your Apple devices when you misplace them. However, AirPods Pro 1 doesn’t include the case in its support. The lack of a U1 chip means that if you lose it, you’re just out of luck, unlike the newest version. While you can connect either set of AirPods Pro to an Android device, you won’t have access to any customization or firmware updates.

You can now use the AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid, a feature not available with the first-gen AirPods Pro.

How do the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Apple AirPods Pro 1 connect?

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Apple AirPods Pro 1 both support Bluetooth connections and use the default SBC and AAC audio codecs. This makes sense, as AAC is the standard for Apple products and brings lower latency connections — it’s also the only non-SBC codec that works for them. However, while the original AirPods Pro uses Bluetooth 5.0, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 uses Bluetooth 5.3, which makes for more stable connections and better power efficiency. It also means the new AirPods Pro may one day support Bluetooth LE Audio — who knows when that’s coming out, though.

The AirPods Pro 2nd generation now features a USB-C port on the charging case, replacing the Lightning connector found on the 1st generation model. This change aligns with Apple’s move towards USB-C across its product line.

Is battery life better on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 or Apple AirPods Pro 1?

The Apple AirPods Pro 1 was never a showstopper when it came to battery life. In our testing of real music playback, peaking at 75dB(SPL), the older model lasted 4 hours and 20 minutes on a single charge with ANC on. This is pretty much middle of the pack when it comes to true wireless earbuds — not a great place to start given the rate at which AirPods batteries deteriorate.

The AirPods Pro 2 sports the H2 chip, which is supposed to help expand battery life. In our testing, the AirPods Pro 2 lasted 5 hours and 43 minutes on a single charge with ANC turned on, which is a worthy improvement. However, it’s not going to significantly impact the environmental reality of constantly charging tiny lithium batteries.

Does the Apple AirPods Pro 2 block noise better than the Apple AirPods 1?

Here’s where that H2 chip really starts to show off. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 features consistently improved ANC over the Apple AirPods Pro 1, with up to 20-30dB of noise reduction across various frequencies. This puts it on par with some of the best ANC earbuds on the market.

The previous generation model is still plenty capable and, at some frequencies, features superior isolation in the very high range, but that’s not enough to counterbalance roughly 5-10dB improvement from the low end through the mid-range. The newer AirPods Pro will do a much better job with the kinds of sounds ANC is built to handle — things like the rumble of a car engine or the din of a crowded cafe. ANC performance like this isn’t just nice for quieting the distractions, it will also help you keep the volume below levels that will cause noise-induced hearing loss.

The 2nd generation introduces Adaptive Transparency mode, which uses the H2 chip to minimize the intensity of sudden loud noises while still allowing awareness of your surroundings.

Does the Apple AirPods Pro 2 sound better than the Apple AirPods Pro 1?

Both models of AirPods Pro sound great, with frequency responses that stick very closely to our in-house curve. In our testing, there are mostly small differences between the two, except in the low end, where the Apple AirPods Pro 2 is a little louder than our target up to around 200Hz. Conversely the AirPods Pro 1 undershoots it in the same stretch of the frequency spectrum quite a bit. This means sub-bass sounds will sound a lot louder coming out of the AirPods Pro 2, but otherwise the spread between the new model and the old is less than 5dB in most places, and the difference between either and our target is even smaller than that.

Basically, the AirPods Pro 2 may sound a little nicer to you if you’re accustomed to audio products that have a little extra bass. However, the difference is small enough that you may not notice a difference very often. If you listen to music with a lot of sub-bass content, the new AirPods Pro will definitely have a little more oomph.

Does the AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 1 have a better microphone?

Both models of Apple AirPods Pro have decent microphones for a pair of truly wireless earbuds and, for the most part, sound pretty similar. The AirPods Pro 2 is a little louder and sounds just a tiny bit clearer in ideal conditions. The newer model also rejects external noise a little better, though neither does all that well in this regard. Excessive noise, like what’s on display in our Office test conditions, can cause voices to drop out for a moment. If you’re looking for a pair of earbuds for Zoom calls while working from home, either of these should sound totally fine, though.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Apple AirPods Pro 1 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Apple AirPods Pro 2 microphone demo (Office conditions):

Apple AirPods Pro 1 microphone demo (Office conditions):

Should you get the Apple AirPods Pro 2 or Apple AirPods Pro 1?

This shouldn’t come as much surprise, but if you’ve got the option of getting one or the other, it’s pretty obvious that the Apple AirPods Pro 2 is the better buy. It’s the same price as its predecessor, it has slightly better battery life, and better noise canceling. The inclusion of the U1 chip in the charging case makes it harder to lose, which is no doubt attractive to anyone who’s ever felt nervous spending hundreds of dollars on a piece of tech smaller than their wallet. You can also only use the AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid.

However, while it’s pretty clear-cut whether you should opt for the new generation AirPods Pro over the old one, it’s not so easy to decide if it’s worth the upgrade. If you’ve already got the AirPods Pro 1, you’re looking at $250 USD for a notable ANC increase, about 40 minutes longer battery life, and a charging case that’s harder to lose. The sound differences are pretty minimal, the software differences are non-existent, and the wireless charging options are almost the same (especially if you don’t have an Apple Watch). That’s a lot of money for a pretty marginal update, especially when you can find the first-gen AirPods Pro for less than $200.

What should you get instead of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Apple AirPods Pro 1?

If you’re an Android user, you shouldn’t get the Apple AirPods Pro 1 or Apple AirPods Pro 2 — you lose out on all the benefits of the H2 (or H1) and U1 chips. You won’t even be able to adjust volume with on-ear controls with the older model. Instead, look for something like the Sony WF-1000XM5 — it’s a little more expensive than the AirPods Pro, but it’s got pretty much the best noise canceling (and passive isolation) on the market for a pair of true wireless earbuds, plus loads of software features like an ear tip fit test and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio — the Sony Headphones Connect app works the same on iOS and Android, too.

If you’re on the hunt for something a little cheaper than the AirPods Pro, check out the Beats Fit Pro. These colorful, true wireless earbuds come with stabilizing ear wings, which runners will love, and sport good ANC and audio, all for $50 less. There’s the older H1 chip here, so you get personalized Spatial Audio and a lot of the same features as the AirPods Pro 2.

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