Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C, 2023) Review
Specifications
| Spec | AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) |
|---|---|
| Model | A2968 / A3047 |
| Chip | Apple H2 |
| Driver | Custom high-excursion |
| ANC | Adaptive (2x better than Gen 1) |
| Transparency | Adaptive Transparency |
| Codec | AAC (no aptX/LDAC) |
| Battery (buds) | 6h (ANC on), 5.5h (Spatial Audio) |
| Battery (case) | 30h total |
| Charging | USB-C, MagSafe, Qi, Apple Watch |
| Water resistance | IPX4 (buds + case) |
| Weight | 5.3g per bud, 50.8g case |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Price | ~279€ |
What sets them apart
The AirPods Pro 2 (2023 USB-C revision) are Apple’s flagship earbuds and, objectively, among the best ANC earbuds available regardless of ecosystem. The H2 chip enables computational audio processing that Apple leverages for adaptive noise cancellation, personalized spatial audio, and conversation awareness — features that work together to create an experience greater than the sum of its specs.
The 2023 revision added USB-C charging, IP54 dust resistance for the case, lossless audio support with Apple Vision Pro, and improved volume controls via the stem swipe gesture.
Active Noise Cancellation
The ANC on AirPods Pro 2 is class-leading for in-ear buds. Apple claims 2x improvement over the first generation, and in practice it handles:
- Low-frequency drone (airplane engines, train noise): Excellent — near-silence
- Mid-frequency chatter (office conversation, café): Very good — voices reduced to murmur
- High-frequency (keyboard clicks, paper rustling): Good — noticeable but not eliminated
Compared to Sony WF-1000XM5 (the main competitor), ANC performance is comparable — Sony edges ahead slightly on low frequencies, Apple wins on consistency and fewer pressure-related discomfort issues.
Adaptive Transparency
The standout feature. Adaptive Transparency lets ambient sound through naturally while instantly dampening sudden loud noises (construction, sirens, loud conversations). It reacts in under 20ms — fast enough that you barely notice the attenuation happening. This makes them genuinely safe for street use, unlike traditional ANC-only modes.
Conversation Awareness
When you start speaking, the AirPods automatically lower media volume and let voices through. Sounds gimmicky, works brilliantly in practice — no fumbling for controls when a colleague asks you a question. Can be disabled if you prefer manual control.
Sound Quality
The sound signature is balanced with a slight warm tilt. Bass is punchy without bleeding into the mids, treble is detailed without sibilance. Compared to the original AirPods Pro, the H2 chip provides noticeably better dynamics and detail retrieval.
Strengths:
- Excellent vocal clarity (podcasts, audiobooks, calls)
- Spatial Audio with head tracking (for Apple Music Dolby Atmos content)
- Personalized spatial audio via ear scan (iPhone TrueDepth camera)
- Clean, artifact-free sound at all volumes
Weaknesses:
- AAC only — no LDAC or aptX. On Android, sound quality takes a measurable hit
- Not an audiophile reference — dedicated wired IEMs at this price sound better for critical listening
- Bass won’t satisfy bassheads (Sony XM5 or Sennheiser Momentum TW4 have more thump)
Codec limitation: the honest take
Apple only supports AAC, and on Android devices AAC Bluetooth implementations vary wildly. If you’re on Android, the Sony WF-1000XM5 with LDAC will sound measurably better. On iPhone/iPad/Mac, the Apple-to-Apple AAC implementation is optimized and performs excellently — the codec limitation is less relevant within the ecosystem.
Comfort and fit
The AirPods Pro 2 ship with four silicone tip sizes (XS/S/M/L). The ear tip fit test on iPhone confirms proper seal acoustically. At 5.3g per bud, they’re among the lightest ANC earbuds — comfortable for 3-4 hour sessions without fatigue.
The stem design allows:
- Squeeze: Play/pause, skip, answer calls
- Swipe: Volume up/down
- Long press: Switch ANC/Transparency/Off
These physical controls are more reliable than touch surfaces on competing earbuds (no accidental triggers from wind or hair).
Battery and charging
| Scenario | Battery life |
|---|---|
| ANC on, Spatial Audio off | 6 hours |
| ANC on, Spatial Audio on | 5.5 hours |
| ANC off | 6.5 hours |
| Total with case | 30 hours |
| 5-minute charge | 1 hour playback |
The case charges via USB-C, MagSafe, any Qi charger, or even an Apple Watch charger. The flexibility here is genuinely useful — you always have a way to charge.
Comparison with competitors
| Feature | AirPods Pro 2 | Sony WF-1000XM5 | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro | Sennheiser MTW4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 279€ | 299€ | 249€ | 299€ |
| ANC quality | Excellent | Excellent+ | Very Good | Excellent |
| Sound quality | Very Good | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent |
| Codec | AAC only | LDAC + AAC | SSC + AAC | aptX Adaptive |
| Battery (ANC on) | 6h | 8h | 7h | 7.5h |
| Multipoint | No (but auto-switch Apple) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Apple users | Android + audiophiles | Samsung users | Sound purists |
Who should buy AirPods Pro 2
Buy them if:
- You’re in the Apple ecosystem (iPhone + Mac/iPad) — the integration is unmatched
- You want best-in-class Adaptive Transparency for street safety
- You value comfort and lightweight design for long sessions
- You want the most versatile charging options
Skip them if:
- You’re on Android — you’ll get better value from Sony XM5 with LDAC
- You need multipoint Bluetooth (connecting to two devices simultaneously)
- You prioritize raw sound quality over features (Sennheiser MTW4 or wired IEMs)
- Budget is tight — previous gen AirPods Pro 1 at ~150€ remain excellent
The Apple Tax: What 279€ Really Buys You
The AirPods Pro 2 earned their 9/10 above. But responsible reviewing means addressing what Apple’s marketing carefully avoids — and the online discourse around AirPods durability, repairability, and ecosystem strategy paints a less flattering picture.
The 2-Year Subscription You Didn’t Sign Up For
Here’s the uncomfortable reality that thousands of AirPods owners discover after 18-24 months: lithium-ion batteries in earbuds this small degrade significantly with daily use. Community reports consistently show:
- Battery capacity drops to 70-80% after 18-24 months of daily use (2-3 charge cycles per day)
- At 80% capacity, your “6 hours ANC” becomes 4-4.5 hours — barely enough for a work session or flight
- Apple’s “battery service” costs €89 per earbud (€178 total). But it’s not really a service — they replace the entire earbud because AirPods cannot be opened without destruction
- iFixit repairability score: 0 out of 10. The earbuds are glued shut and designed to be physically impossible to repair by anyone, including Apple
The math is clear: at €279 every 2-2.5 years, AirPods Pro 2 cost roughly €10-12 per month as a subscription to Apple audio. That’s a Netflix subscription worth of depreciation for earbuds.
By contrast, the Sony WF-1000XM5 has user-accessible battery data and longer individual battery life (8h vs 6h, meaning fewer cycles per day). The Fairphone Fairbuds offer user-replaceable batteries for €10 — an approach that proves Apple’s design is a choice, not a physical constraint.
Ecosystem Lock-in: Feature or Trap?
The seamless switching between iPhone, iPad, and Mac is genuinely magical. It’s also a deliberate strategy to make leaving Apple painful:
- No multipoint Bluetooth — a standard feature on every competitor (Sony, Samsung, Sennheiser) that lets you connect to two devices simultaneously. Apple omits it to push “magical” switching that only works with Apple devices.
- Adaptive Transparency, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Spatial Audio — these headline features require an iPhone. On Android, you’re paying €279 for AAC-only earbuds with basic ANC. The €150 Nothing Ear (2) does that.
- Find My dependency — great if you’re all-Apple, useless otherwise. Your €279 earbuds have no universal tracking option.
Every feature Apple adds makes the AirPods better within the ecosystem and worse outside it. That’s not a bug — it’s the business model.
Sustainability Theater
Apple prominently features environmental messaging in every product launch. The AirPods Pro 2 reality:
- Effective lifespan: 2-2.5 years before battery degradation makes them frustrating to use daily
- Zero repairability — when the battery dies, the entire earbud becomes e-waste
- Apple’s recycling program doesn’t refurbish AirPods. They’re shredded for material recovery — better than landfill, but not exactly “sustainable”
- Estimated 150 million AirPods sold annually × 2-year lifespan = 300 million earbuds becoming e-waste every 2 years globally
The Fairphone Fairbuds (€149) prove that user-replaceable batteries in wireless earbuds are technically feasible. Apple charges 2x the price for a product designed to be replaced rather than repaired.
If Longevity Matters: Alternatives
| Priority | Alternative | Why | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repairability | Fairphone Fairbuds | User-replaceable battery, good ANC, ethical manufacturing | €149 |
| Battery longevity | Sony WF-1000XM5 | 8h battery (fewer daily cycles = longer lifespan), LDAC, multipoint | €299 |
| Value + features | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro | Multipoint, SSC codec, 7h battery, Find My Phone compatible | €249 |
| Sound quality first | Sennheiser MTW4 | aptX Adaptive, audiophile tuning, multipoint, 7.5h battery | €299 |
| Stay Apple, save money | AirPods Pro 1 (refurbished) | 80% of the experience at 50% of the price; same planned obsolescence | ~€150 |
Verdict
The AirPods Pro 2 are the best earbuds for Apple users, period. The combination of H2 chip features (Adaptive Transparency, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Spatial Audio), excellent ANC, comfortable fit, and deep ecosystem integration creates an experience no competitor matches within the Apple world.
For Android users, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is the better choice. For pure sound quality regardless of ecosystem, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 edges ahead. But if you carry an iPhone, these are the obvious choice.
Score: 9/10 (for Apple users) / 7/10 (for Android users)
