Apple used its Wonderlust event this morning to announce the company’s newest flagship products, including the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. And while those two are the biggest announcements to come from the live-streamed event, there’s one big change to the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) that has stoked our interest.
And much like one of the headline changes to the iPhone 15, it has to do with the switch to USB-C. Not a touch screen case as some rumours suggested.
Apple ditching its proprietary Lightning Port has been a point of discussion for over a year now. Ever since the European Union ruled that all smartphones must start using USB-C cables, people have speculated about whether or not Apple needed to comply. It did, and it has.
RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About The iPhone 15 Pro
But the switch to USB-C for the iPhone 15 models also benefits the AirPods Pro 2, which are already in-market. The new iteration of the high-end wireless earbuds now has a case with a USB-C port. Not a massive change on paper, but one that’ll be much more convenient for those buying into the entire Apple ecosystem.
A few quality-of-life upgrades have been made too. An update the the AirPods Pro 2 now touts double the Active Noise Cancellation of the original model, an advanced Transparency mode and more immersive Spatial Audio software for anyone with a compatible streaming platform such as Apple Music or Tidal (Spotify has very limited support for spatial audio). Apple promises better battery life as well.
Anyone picking up the new version of the AirPods Pro 2 will also find the buds have better dust resistance and a bigger range of ear tip sizes. with iOS 17, there have also been updates for Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness.
The AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case is the headline, however. You can now use the same cable you’d use to charge your iPhone 15 to charge the case. This means that you can use your phone as a power bank for your buds.
Pricing & Availability In Australia
Pre-orders for the new AirPods Pro 2 with Magsafe Charging Case are now open with the buds heading to retail on Friday 22nd September, the same date as the new Apple Watch and iPhone 15 products, with a price tag of $399.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the new AirPods Pro 2 cost in Australia?
The new AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case will retail for $399 in Australia.
What is the difference between the old AirPods Pro 2 and the new model?
The new Apple AirPods Pro 2 model will get various audio upgrades as well as new listening modes and better noise cancellation. The main difference is that the charging case now uses USB-C.
