I'll admit, I didn't know what the hype around the original Apple AirPods Pro was all about. To me, they looked like your typical pair of earbuds injected with Apple's signature crisp-white color scheme and minimalistic design language.
But when I got my hands on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 (second generation), I decided to embrace them with open arms, and most importantly, with an even more open mind. To say that I was unprepared for what was to come is definitely an understatement, considering the fact that I was perfectly content with my 'passive noise cancelling' Android-powered earbuds (I won't drop names).
After all, I had just returned to iOS (iPhone 14 Pro) after using Android smartphones for the better part of a decade. So the addition of these new AirPods Pro 2 made a lot sense. Suffice to say, I'm not going back.
Highly-potent, pocket-sized fun.
IMAGE: Danial Martinus / Mashable Southeast Asia
Of all the earbuds I've used that featured Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), there's something about the AirPods Pro 2 that strikes a perfect balance between immersive isolation and comfortable real-world use, as opposed to some competitor offerings that err on the side of disorienting, vertigo-inducing chaos.
Sure, the ANC in the AirPods Pro 2 might not be industry-leading, but they just work. And in most cases, that's all you really need, unless you consider yourself a hardcore audiophile. But even among audiophiles, the fact that the AirPods Pro 2 can deliver such rich bass and crystal-clear clarity across a wide range of frequencies should be a real talking point for someone who needs a pair of wireless ANC earbuds that – for all intents and purposes – do their job extremely well.
IMAGE: Danial Martinus / Mashable Southeast Asia
New to the AirPods Pro 2 is a neat audio enhancement feature called Spatial Audio, which ups the ante in terms of immersion. When activated, Spatial Audio will quite literally enhance whatever you're listening to, making it feel like you're there in the studio, or watching it live in concert. The feature offers two modes: Fixed and Head Tracked.
As the name implies, the Fixed mode ensures that both sides are evenly-fed the same level of audio, like conventional earbuds. Head Tracked, on the other hand, tracks the positioning of your head in relation to the device that's playing the music (in this case, I had my iPhone 14 Pro as a reference point). Turning my head to the left would result in most of the audio being fed to my right; turning my head to the right would then result in the audio being fed to my left. Like I've got nothing in my ears, facing a speaker.
Did I use the Head Tracked mode frequently? Not really. After its initial novelty wore off, I stuck with the Fixed mode throughout my entire review period. However, I do see some good real-world applications for the Head Tracked mode, especially when it comes to immersive gaming.
Thoughtfully-convenient ergonomics.
IMAGE: Danial Martinus / Mashable Southeast Asia
Appearance-wise, the AirPods Pro 2 don't differ much from their predecessor. In fact, if you've upgraded from the first AirPods Pro to the second generation, you can still use your old cases to protect your new investment. However, you'll have to be okay with covering up the new built-in speaker and lanyard loop.
Yep, the charging case for AirPods Pro 2 has speakers that emit a friendly chime whenever you slap it on a MagSafe and Apple Watch charger, as well as the included USB-C to Lightning cable. Of course, the speakers also play another crucial role – they play an adequately loud chime when you try tracking the location of your AirPods Pro 2 in the 'Find My' app.
What's even neater is the fact that you can track individual AirPods (right or left) – especially convenient if you're the type of person to make and take calls with just one AirPod on.
IMAGE: Danial Martinus / Mashable Southeast Asia
With up to six hours of listening time, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 will have you set for most occasions. While on calls, I usually activate Spatial Audio (Fixed), along with Transparency mode, which pipes in audio from my surroundings without deafening me.
In most use-cases, you'll be more than prepared for extended jamming sessions to your favorite bops, as well as deep and meaningful conversations with your loved ones and close friends.
IMAGE: Danial Martinus / Mashable Southeast Asia
Perhaps the most convenient new addition to AirPods Pro 2 are physical controls on the AirPods themselves. Now, you can just slide a finger up or down the stem of an AirPod to increase or decrease volume respectively. Double-tapping a stem will skip to the next track, while triple-tapping will repeat the track you were listening to. You can also reprogram these gestures to do other things.
The days of fumbling through digital controls on your iPhone are over.
Cop or drop?
If you're already in the Apple ecosystem – or you're planning to make the big move – the AirPods Pro 2 are a definite top recommendation for wireless ANC earbuds.
They're incredibly easy to use (I was, after all, an Android user for a long time before this), and they work seamlessly with your existing Apple devices. For context, I actively use an M1 MacBook Air, iPhone 14 Pro, and an Apple Watch Series 8.
While I can't recommend these if you're not already in the ecosystem (due to optimization constraints on different operating systems), I'd say they're definitely worth a shot – and might be the biggest pull to the Apple ecosystem at large.
I certainly know I'm not going back. I can't. Not anymore.
You can get yourself the AirPods Pro 2 for RM1,099 (US$249).
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