Apple AirPods Pro 2

Even so, the AirPods Pro aren’t necessarily the standout they once were, now flanked by serious contenders from Apple’s tech foes. On day one, they’re not the best-sounding wireless earbuds you can buy, nor are they class-leading in ANC thanks to Bose. But neither of those facts are likely to dissuade iPhone owners from considering the second-gen AirPods Pro above most options based on their reliable performance and Apple’s seamless ecosystem benefits.

The second-generation AirPods Pro deliver exceptional ANC and audio performance, making them the best noise-cancelling true wireless earphones for Apple device users.

The AirPods Pro 2nd Generation offer all the same features as the excellent AirPods 3rd Generation, but they add Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency modes, as well as the touch sensor for volume control on the stem. There are some great other additions too when it comes to the Charging Case.

Apple has improved the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) in many small ways. They sound great and the noise cancelation is stellar, but if you already have the original AirPods Pro, the new ones are not an essential upgrade.

Apple’s noise-canceling earbuds were way overdue for an update. While the company didn’t see the need to change the overall design, it did extensive upgrades on the inside, introducing new features and improving performance along the way. Importantly, it made all of these changes while keeping the price at $249.

The upshot to that brand devotion is a clean user experience and, honestly, I'm okay with that. When I want earbuds, I want them to work straight away. Even more so if I'm paying $249 for them, and being promised new levels of isolation from the world around me. For iPhone users, this blend of performance and practical integration arguably makes AirPods Pro the best they can get, and if that leaves other people out along the way, that's just a casualty of Apple's single-mindedness.

Apple has delivered a substantial upgrade with the AirPods Pro 2. They amp up many of the features we loved about the original, and while they’re not perfect, they offer some of the best noise cancellation and spatial audio of any pair of earbuds available.