With better improvements on the AirPods Pro, it can get confusing to decide between the premium grade AirPods and the affordable Pods 2. The AirPods Pro offers water as well as sweat resistance which has been previously missing on other AirPods including the 2nd-gen Pods. The article contains many such comparison factors that will guide you to choose the best AirPods for you. The article will help you to decide if you should switch for an upgrade to AirPods Pro which offers premium features like noise cancellation and sweat resistance but at a steeper price point or settle for an affordable yet standard featured AirPods 2. Read along the article to find out.
AirPods 2 vs AirPods Pro – Battle of the Pods
Below you’ll find a detailed comparison of the two Pods over factors like design, fit, price, performance, battery life, controls, and much more. Without further ado, let’s begin the comparison. Check Out: Will Apple AirPods 3 Make it to The Markets in 2021?
1. Design and Fit
Who comes out on top in this section of AirPods 2 vs AirPods Pro? There is a slight difference in design between the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro earbuds. While the AirPods 2 come with a universal fit, at least that’s how Apple mentions it as; the AirPods Pro offers customizability to ensure a perfect and comfortable fit. With the AirPods Pro, you get three sizes of silicone tips (small, medium, and large) included in the box. To make sure which size fits best, you can try out the Ear Tip Fit Test, from Apple, to calibrate the AirPods and determine which size of tips are best for you. The AirPods 2 don’t come with customizable silicone tips, and hence, these earbuds come with a tendency to just sit outside the ear canal instead of nestling into it for an overall better fit. The AirPods Pro also features a new vent system in their design for equalizing pressure as well as a force sensor on their much shorter stems to allow for more controls.
2. Sound Quality
Who comes out on top in this section of AirPods 2 vs AirPods Pro? Even though the AirPods 2 came with extra loudness and sophistication than its preceding 1st-gen Pods, Apple’s idea and determination of providing its customers with superior sound quality is still intact and can be seen in the AirPods Pro. While the AirPods 2 offer great sound quality for its price, these get outshined by the newer AirPods Pro. The Pro buds offer more bass and treble enhancement than the 2nd-gen AirPods. The sound quality is also clean with richer texture and details on the AirPods Pro. Overall, the AirPods Pro is the best-sounding earbuds from Apple to date. If you can spend more, these Pods certainly take away the competition in this segment. Also, read: AirPods Max Alternatives: Similar Features in a Budget
3. Battery Life and Wireless Charging
Who comes out on top in this section of AirPods 2 vs AirPods Pro? While the AirPods Pro delivers 3.5 hours of talk time and 4.5 hours of listening time, they can offer up to 5 hours of listening period just like the AirPods 2, provided the Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes are disabled. Both the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro support similar-sized wireless charging cases. The cases are compatible with Qi-based wireless charging mats that will offer up to 2 hours of talk time and 3 hours of listening time in just 15 minutes of charging. With the AirPods 2, you get an option of a standard charging case like with the original 1st-gen AirPods, and also the wireless option with a price difference of about $40 between the standard and premium wireless charging modes. The Apple AirPods Pro comes with a wireless charging case as the standard mode. If either pair runs out of charge, you can get an additional 1 hour of listening with just a 5-minutes charge in the case.
4. Controls
Who comes out on top in this section of AirPods 2 vs AirPods Pro? While both the Apple AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro can be controlled with voice commands, the AirPods Pro offers more advanced on-device touch controls. With the AirPods Pro, a single tap on the stem will allow you to play, pause or answer a phone call. Two taps on the stem will allow you to skip forwards and with three taps, you’ll be able to skip back. A press and hold or a squeeze on the Pro’s stem will switch between the Active Noise Cancellation and the Transparency modes to allow yourself to choose according to the ambience. The AirPods 2, on the other hand, offer limited controls like play/pause music, skip to next and previous track, and a double-tap to answer calls.
5. Noise Cancellation
Who comes out on top in this section of AirPods 2 vs AirPods Pro? While the Apple AirPods 2 don’t provide any form of noise-canceling technology, the AirPods Pro offers Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to provide effective noise isolation. This is achieved with its 2-microphone (inward and outward-facing) system working in conjunction with Apple’s advanced software to completely tune out the world around you. The Pro Pods also come with a ‘Transparency’ mode on board to enable you to listen to other people while listening to your playlists or podcasts. This feature comes in handy while cycling, jogging or exercising in general. The new force sensor embedded in Pro’s stems easily lets you switch between ANC and transparency modes, without pausing the audio. The AirPods Pro works beautifully while offering a perfect blend of immersive listening with the outside world.
6. Price and Performance
Who comes out on top in this section of AirPods 2 vs AirPods Pro? The major point of difference between the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro is the price tag. While the premium Pods Pro comes at a hefty tag of $249, they are backed up with significant and advanced technologies for a superior listening experience. The 2nd-gen AirPods come with two variants – the $159 standard charging case option and the $199 wireless charging case option. Both these variants offer great hearing experience at relatively affordable price tags than the Apple AirPods Pro. Both the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro performance is backed up with Apple’s latest H1 chip that comes with 10 audio cores. What it means is that you get faster Siri responses in case of the 2nd-gen AirPods while also powering real-time noise cancellation in case of the AirPods Pro, without taking a toll on its battery life.
7. Other Features
Who comes out on top in this section of AirPods 2 vs AirPods Pro? Connectivity: Both these AirPods offer splendid wireless performance and quick pairing due to a combination of Apple’s power-packed H1 chip and Bluetooth 5.0 while delivering a flawless audio experience. Adaptive EQ: The Pro earbuds feature Adaptive EQ, which helps to automatically tune the low and mid-range frequencies of the music according to the individual’s ear shape. The AirPods Pro also boasts a custom-designed dynamic range amplifier and speaker on-board to optimize the audio quality. Siri Voice Control: Both the Apple AirPods 2 and Apple AirPods Pro come with ‘Hey Siri’ voice-enabled control to allow users to play music, make phone calls, change volume, and much more using only their voice. Water and Sweat Resistance: Apple finally launched the much-anticipated sweat and water-resistant pair of earbuds with the AirPods Pro. While the AirPods 2 are not rated for water or sweat resistance, the AirPods Pro offers a rating of IPX4 which makes them ideal for fitness freaks. Also, read: Best Music Apps for iOS 2021 For All the Music Lovers Wrapping Up This concludes our comparison of the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro. While the AirPods Pro comes out on top with its state-of-the-art features like active noise cancellation and an improved sound quality, whether it justifies its price tag is entirely upon you. If your budget doesn’t allow it, you can opt for the affordable yet great pair of buds with the AirPods 2. Let us know your choice of AirPods in the comment section below. Feature Image Credit: Twice
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