We knew that the Apple AirPods Pro 2 would be announced sometime in the second half of this year, but we didn’t expect they would be revealed alongside the new flagship iPhone 14 models and the Apple Watch 8. And yet a last-minute rumour popped up earlier this week, with an insider spilling on how Apple would be announcing the AirPods Pro 2 at this morning’s Apple Far Out event, which was streamed live from the Steve Jobs Theatre. As such, here’s everything you need to know about the Apple AirPods Pro 2, including when these high-end wireless earbuds are coming to Australia and how much they will cost.
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AirPods Pro 2 – Table Of Contents
- Release Date In Australia
- Price In Australia
- AirPods Pro 2 Summary – Everything You Need To Know
- Design
- Features & Sound
- Battery Life & Charging Case
- Our Thoughts
- Other Apple Announcements
- Apple AirPods Pro 2 – Frequently Asked Questions
Release Date In Australia
First, let’s get the release date out of the way. You can expect the Apple AirPods Pro 2 to arrive in Australia on Friday, September 23. Pre-orders for Apple’s new high-end wireless earbuds open on Friday, September 9.
Price In Australia
As expected, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 will be priced at $399 in Australia. This bumps down the AirPods (3rd Generation) to a nice $279, which should be great news for anyone who was waiting for a price drop for the lower-tiered AirPods.
AirPods Pro 2 Summary – Everything You Need To Know
- The design remains pretty much the same as the previous generation, contradicting rumours that suggested Apple would be including wing tips for better stability.
- The AirPods Pro 2 is now powered by the H2 Chip, which should help with better processing and enhance the new low-distortion driver and amp to cover a wider range of sound frequencies.
- Apple has updated Spatial Audio, working with the TrueDepth front-facing camera on an iPhone to create a customised profile based on the shape and size of your ears.
- Active Noise Cancellation has been improved with better computational audio and optimal mic placement, with Apple claiming that the mics are two times more efficient at working to cancel background noise in real-time.
- The newest mode for the Apple AirPods Pro 2 is called Active Transparency which listens to and cancels high decibel noise based on how close you are to that noise. This means that transparency will get clearer the further you are from the noise.
- Battery life is rated at 6 hours initially and then 30 additional hours with the charging case.
- The all-new charging case is compatible with Apple Find My, meaning that it includes an onboard speaker that can play a high pitch sound to help you find it. A bit like Apple AirTags.
- The charging case can be charged both via the Lightning port or wirelessly via any Qi Charger, MagSafe charger or Apple Watch charger.
Design
Initial rumours suggested that Apple would try something different with the design for the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation). But those were quickly shot down at the Apple ‘Far Out’ event, which revealed a design that looks pretty much identical to the previous generation, with in-ear silicone tips and stems on the side.
That being said, Apple is promising a new ear tip size option in the box which should satisfy users with smaller ears.
Disappointingly, Apple hasn’t done much else in terms of waterproofing. You’ve still got an IPX4 rating which only really protects the buds from light splashes. This is especially short-sighting now that other brands are continuing to pull off more impressive IP ratings for lifestyle earbuds.
Features & Sound
Under the hood is where the AirPods Pro 2 buds have seen the most change. Apple has most notably improved Spatial Audio with help from the new H2 chipset, using an iPhone’s front-facing camera and depth technology to create a customised audio profile based on the user’s distinctive features. This should adapt the sound to you and you only.
Apple says the new H2 chip is able to cancel up to twice as much noise when compared to the previous generation, which should help build a better overall noise cancelling experience and lock listeners further into their own world, as well as bringing them out just as fast depending on the situation.
A new low-distortion audio driver and custom amplifier mean the AirPods Pro 2 should offer richer, more well-rounded bass without toppling the mids and highs. We’ll be able to actually test this out when we get our hands on a pair but for now, there’s no reason to believe Apple is blushing. The market has been fiercely competitive as of late with strong entries from Sony, Sennheiser and Samsung. Hell, even Google has caught up with the Pixels Buds Pro. Apple needs to offer a more significant sonic experience to muscle through the market and reclaim the top spot.
The other, more unique new feature Apple is pushing is called Adaptive Transparency. This will really test the limits of the H2 chip, with a smarter transparency mode that uses on-device processing to reduce loud environmental noise like a siren or nearby construction but then maintain situational awareness and adjust that the further you move away from the sound. Again, it’s all theoretical and we’ll believe it when we hear it.
Finally, it seems Apple has tightened the built-in skin detector to more accurately and efficiently adjust playback based on the user’s gestures and whether or not they actually have the earphones in.
Battery Life & Charging Case
Apple has improved battery life from the previous generation to squeeze out 1.5 hours additional listening time for a total of six hours with Active Noise Cancellation turned on. This brings the total battery life (when considered with the four additional charges offered by the case) to 30 hours. Decent – not market-leading, but decent.
The charging case can be charged both wired and wirelessly, but the biggest change here is a little speaker grille that works with Apple Find My. This means that you can make the case emit an audible beep if you can’t find it.
Our Thoughts
The first-generation Apple AirPods Pro was released in October 2019 and genuinely gave a bit of a shock to the increasingly competitive market of wireless earbuds. Even the kingpin at the time, Sony, was toppled by Apple’s high-end model and they soon become standard for iPhone users.
Will the second generation represent the same kind of paradigm shift in the market? I doubt it. Active Transparency is a unique proposition and Spatial Audio that actually makes a difference would be nice, but it all depends on how efficiently the H2 chip works. In terms of sound, I don’t think anything is beating the Sony WF-1000XM4 buds, which currently sit at $100 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Pro 2. I hope I’m wrong because it does seem like Apple is genuinely trying to offer something more than an iterative change.
Other Apple Announcements
Apple also dropped two additional announcements at its ‘Far Out’ event this morning. Check them out.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 – Frequently Asked Questions
How much are the Apple AirPods Pro 2 in Australia?
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 will cost $399 in Australia.
When will the Apple AirPods Pro 2 be available in Australia?
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 will be available in Australia from Friday, September 23. Pre-orders open on Friday, September 9.
Will the Apple AirPods Pro 2 sound better than before?
The new H2 chip being used in the AirPods Pro 2 means that the earbuds should be much better at both cancelling noises in real-time as well as helping build a better overall sound signature.
