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AirPods Pro vs. AirPods Pro 2 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?

mrat93 said:
What’s most disappointing is that they’re going to release the exact same headphones, but with a USB-C case, next year.

That’s my only reservation — since I know with iPhone 15, I’ll never need a Lightning cable again.
Click to expand...

It's far more likely that the next case doesn't have any physical connector. This version just introduced Apple Watch charger support and already has MagSafe and Qi. It's pretty clear that the future of charging is wireless.

I expect that we'll see the iPhone 15 or 16 introduce reverse MagSafe. Snap your AirPods case to the back of your phone for a quick charge if you don't have a Qi charger around. That, to me, is a much better solution than plug-in charging. Unlike higher capacity devices, wireless charging is perfectly suitable for AirPods.

Apple Watch doesn't have a connector, Apple Pencil doesn't have a connector, why should AirPods?
 
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Chrjy said:
I've had my original APP since 2020 and use them everyday without fail....I'm definitely upgrading if nothing else but for battery improvement.
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I’ve had them since Feb 2020 batteries are still decent. Still upgrading for the better battery life and volume control alone. The old pair will be paired to my work phone that also happens to be an iPhone.
 
The main issue I have with my current AirPods is that by the time I fish out my iPhone to change the volume, the loud truck, train, motorcycle has already passed, and after I turn the volume back down, another noise maker comes by. Siri often can't hear me over the noise. So I'm upgrading for the volume control that I can quickly and silently swipe without fishing out an iPhone zipped into a coat pocket or backpack (and risk dropping it, etc.).

The longer battery life and less time needed fishing for the case under couch cushions are just extra bonuses.
 
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Why would you need to upgrade? People are always telling me these are disposable trash that only last a year. In that case just replace. Or upgrade and gift …
 
Given the batteries will eventually wear out in the AirPods you have, an upgrade is inevitable if you want to keep using them.

After the AirPods I bought, only a week after they first came out, failed to last even two years before becoming useless, I promised never to buy them again unless they have replaceable batteries. A company as capable of innovation as Apple can certainly make it happen, but they don't because the revenue from people buying new ones again and again when the batteries die is too hard to pass up.
 
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Moonlight said:
How do you know this doesn't give you the sound you want until you listen to them?
  • New low-distortion audio driver and custom amplifier for richer bass and clearer sound
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It might (and I’ll try them next time I’m in an Apple Store), but articles about them have described the sound upgrade as minor. I also believe Apple would have made a bigger fuss over the increased sound quality had it been very significant.

Apple has been more focused on features with the AirPods than sound quality. The AirPods Max are the exception (they sound pretty good), but they’re too expensive to not have an analog input.
 
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talhashah said:
I love and use my Airpods Pro daily, but I know that battery on it makes it a disposable product. I will upgrade to AirPods Pro 2 once my current Airpods are dead. At this point there is really not much benefit in upgrading any tech yearly.
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Colors bro. Colors..... I'd give my left nut for an Orange iphone
 
ipedro said:
It's far more likely that the next case doesn't have any physical connector. This version just introduced Apple Watch charger support and already has MagSafe and Qi. It's pretty clear that the future of charging is wireless.

I expect that we'll see the iPhone 15 or 16 introduce reverse MagSafe. Snap your AirPods case to the back of your phone for a quick charge if you don't have a Qi charger around. That, to me, is a much better solution than plug-in charging. Unlike higher capacity devices, wireless charging is perfectly suitable for AirPods.

Apple Watch doesn't have a connector, Apple Pencil doesn't have a connector, why should AirPods?
Click to expand...
Why would you want less functionality in a new product!
 
mrat93 said:
What’s most disappointing is that they’re going to release the exact same headphones, but with a USB-C case, next year.

That’s my only reservation — since I know with iPhone 15, I’ll never need a Lightning cable again.
Click to expand...
Why not just charged them wirelessly?
 
hoodafoo said:
I think I have the medium on. But that's interesting that you suggested to go up in size because I would have thought to go down in size to fix that is that was the problem
Click to expand...

It doesn’t matter. I have the same issue and have tried all sizes. It’s the skin type that causes the buds to slip. The normal AirPods stay better in my ears.
 
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so lossless audio is definitely a logo even with an update? (considering they have bluetooth 5.3?)
 
mrat93 said:
What’s most disappointing is that they’re going to release the exact same headphones, but with a USB-C case, next year.

That’s my only reservation — since I know with iPhone 15, I’ll never need a Lightning cable again.
Click to expand...
Simple solution. Buy the now, enjoy them for a year and when the update is released, simply purchase the new case instead of purchasing a whole new set.
 
Honestly I'm more excited to get my AirPods Pro 2 than my iPhone 14 Pro!

ipedro said:
How is all new low distortion drivers, wider range of sound frequencies, high bandwidth connectivity, full FindMy integration, touch sensitive stems for volume control, 2X Noise Cancellation, a new transparency mode and 33% improved battery a "modest upgrade"???
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I had the same thought. What could the author possibly ask for to make this a good upgrade, much less a great one?

The only thing that comes to mind for me is 8 hours of battery life to make it full a full work day on one charge? But then again I don't have my AirPods Pro in for a full 8 hours, and if I needed to, it wouldn't take long to charge them up two hours in the case. 6 hours is honestly exactly what I always needed. Although longer battery would help increase the longevity of the product for someone like me who uses them for hours every day when the battery starts to degrade.

There are improvements in almost every possible area I can think of for wireless earbuds. I can't think of much they left untouched. One could perhaps argue health or fitness sensors, but many of us already have Apple Watch. Maybe removing the stems? But honestly I don't mind these stems at all compared to the earlier AirPods and they have benefits for easily adjusting controls.

I hate to say the word perfect, but at least on paper these look damn close for what they are. Of course audio quality on any earbuds can't match a nice set of headphones, but maybe far into the future Apple can crack that nut. Right now I can't think of much of a reason to ever upgrade from the AirPods Pro 2 unless I break them, lose them, or the battery craps out. I've found with AirPods the battery tends to be a main reason to upgrade over time. On my current Pros I'm having small issues with noise cancellation and an occasional sound (every 2-3 hours) that I swear sounds almost exactly like the trashcan emptying sound on my Mac and always startles me on Zoom calls when there isn't a lot of other sound, lol.
 
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