Airpods for running - are APP better than Airpods 2nd Gen?

[Ugene425]

Hi all,
I can buy the APP for £179 with a two year guarantee (a great price I feel for them now) and am wondering if I should sell my current Airpods 2nd Gen for approx. £50-60, bite the bullet and make the upgrade. Is the difference between the two models that considerable, I am thinking mainly the quality of the music? I listen to Apple Music through my Apple watch on my runs. The ANC on the APP is a nice feature for when running in noisy environments (by a road etc). Any feedback most welcome thank you.
My current AirPods 2nd Gen are good To be fair and work well but I have to turn the volume up to almost max on my runs as their is no ANC and I run a lot in noisy environments (next to roads and there is always traffic/sirens etc).
Thank you for your help.

 

[sunapple]

Noice cancellation alone is worth it IMO, I could never go back. You’ll be able to hear music better without turning up the volume too much and it works like a charm. Transparency mode for safety in traffic is also nice.

 

[Ugene425]

Noice cancellation alone is worth it IMO, I could never go back. You’ll be able to hear music better without turning up the volume too much and it works like a charm. Transparency mode for safety in traffic is also nice.

I am sure your bang on. Did you own a pair of the second gen airpods before using APP? Is the sound quality when listening to iTunes that much better?

 

[sunapple]

I am sure your bang on. Did you own a pair of the second gen airpods before using APP? Is the sound quality when listening to iTunes that much better?

Came from first gen and the Pros sounded better to me. I’m no expert, but I’m sure most people would say the Pros sound better. More importantly, with ANC on you can actually hear the music 😁

 

[perezr10]

I absolutely prefer my AirPods 2 for daily use because they are so much more comfortable. But I only run with my AirPods Pro’s due to noise cancellation and transparency. They are both handy in various situations and the music quality is much better.

 

[JahBoolean]

DISCLAIMER: I NEVER OWNED AIRPODS GEN I OR II.

Friends showed them to me, found them tacky uncomfortable and still burdened by the old design.

The pros on the other side: Tried them day one in the apple store, bought them after 20 seconds of noise cancelling.

Keep in mind that the in ear design, while more versatile and possibly more suited for you could also yeald negatively, some people in my entourage don't seem to have a compatible ear canal.

That is, the prime consideration for running.

Try them on, and see if you can gather it in yourself to make the upgrade on that experience.

EDIT: as presented above, ANC allowing you to run with less volume and switching transparency on/off was a godsent regarding safety when jogging/cycling. I'm sure that over my 2 years ownership that simple fact avoided me some very painful misshaps.

 

[eekcat]

The pros make that thudding noise for me when I'm just walking - I can't imagine running with them.

 

[Bromeo]

I use my APP for walks, but take them out if my walk gets strenuous and I start sweating. The APP inside mics are susceptible to clogging with sweat / wax which eventually results in reduced ANC performance and hearing the thud of your own footsteps as if you have your ears plugged. I’ve actually thought about looking at s some earbuds that are more fitness oriented.

Other than that quirk, I love the APP for outdoor walks and turn on ANC when nearing loud highways or even if a loud vehicle or airplane overhead approaches. In my experience, the ANC isn’t so perfect that I risk not hearing traffic, but definitely allows me to listen to podcasts and music at lower volume levels. That right there is a positive thing for hearing health.

 

[KrisLord]

Personally I think the normal AirPods are better than pros for this kind of activity.

Noise cancellation needs to be managed carefully as you’ll hear very little or your surroundings when using them.

Also I find the seal so well in your ear you hear your own body more, whether it’s the thud of your feet or your breathing it just becomes noticeable with pros.