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Apple AirPods Professional 2nd Technology (USB-C)
Our best choice
$189 $250 Save $61
The up to date AirPods Professional (second technology) have a USB-C charging port, permitting you to cost utilizing USB-C cables you have already got for different units, and even from a USB-C iPhone. You get the identical gorgeous sound high quality and energetic noise cancellation options that you simply do with the unique Lightning model.
Execs- Can cost out of your USB-C iPhone
- Lossless audio help for Imaginative and prescient Professional
- Mud resistant
Cons- Virtually an identical to older model
- Will not work together with your Lightning cables
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Apple AirPods Professional 2
A terrific worth different
The Lightning Apple AirPods Professional (second-generation) supply the identical high-quality sound and energetic noise cancellation options as the brand new USB-C model, making them (collectively) Apple’s greatest sounding in-ear headphones. The Lightning cable could also be on the best way out, however it can nonetheless in all probability be round longer than your AirPods will.
Execs- Works together with your present Lightning cables
- More likely to see vital reductions
- Similar nice audio and options as the brand new model
Cons- Will not help lossless audio with the Imaginative and prescient Professional
- Lightning connector being phased out
Key Takeaways
- Apple has launched an replace to the AirPods Professional with a USB-C port, changing the Lightning port on the earlier mannequin.
- The brand new AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) have the identical design, controls, sound high quality, and battery life as the unique mannequin.
- The variations between the 2 fashions embody a USB-C charging case, a better IP ranking, and help for lossless audio with the upcoming Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional headset.
Apple has launched an replace to its AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) wi-fi earbuds that, properly, is not actually an replace in any respect. The modifications are so minimal that the up to date mannequin does not also have a new title, leaving us to have to grasp unwieldy phrases resembling ‘the brand new USB-C Apple AirPods Professional (2nd Technology)’ and ‘the previous Lightning Apple AirPods Professional (2nd Technology)’.

How to update your AirPods and AirPods Pro
AirPods and AirPods Professional will not be over-the-ear however you’ll be able to nonetheless replace them over-the-air.
As you might need guessed, the most important change between the 2 variations of primarily the identical product is the kind of port within the charging case. There are another variations, nonetheless, a few of that are vital. How do the brand new AirPods Professional 2nd Technology USB-C evaluate to the old 2nd Generation AirPods Pro from 2022? Let’s discover out.
Value, availability, and specs
The AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) with the Lightning port launched in September 2022, at a worth of $249. Because the replace to the brand new USB-C model, it is now not attainable to purchase the Lightning AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) from the Apple web site. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to nonetheless purchase them on Amazon, however they’re nonetheless $249 regardless of the preliminary worth drop upon launch and are arduous to search out because the USB-C model turns into the market-norm.
The brand new USB-C AirPods Professional are $249 from Apple, and can be found to order now.
As you’d anticipate, the overwhelming majority of the specs are the identical between the 2 fashions, however let’s check out among the key specs.
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Apple AirPods Professional 2nd Technology (USB-C) Apple AirPods Professional 2 Battery Life 4.5 hours discuss time, 6 hours listening, 30 hours with case 4.5 hours discuss time, 6 hours listening, 30 hours with case Noise Cancellation Sure Sure IP ranking IP54 IPX4 Supported codecs SBC, AAC, Lossless Audio with Imaginative and prescient Professional SBC, AAC Charging Wi-fi, USB-C Wi-fi, Lighting, USB-C Dimensions 45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7 / 50.8g (Charging Case), 30.9 x 21.8 x 24mm / 5.3g (Earbuds) 45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7mm / 50.8g (Charging Case), 30.9 x 21.8 x 24mm / 5.3g (Earbuds) Colour White solely White solely Chip H2 Chip, U1 Chip in Charging Case H2 Chip, U1 Chip in Charging Case Spatial Audio Sure, Personalised Spatial Audio with Head Monitoring Sure, Personalised Spatial Audio with Head Monitoring Particular options Adaptive Audio, ANC, Transparency Mode, Dialog Consciousness, Personalised Quantity, Adaptive EQ, Superior on system controls together with quantity, Siri Adaptive Audio, ANC, Transparency Mode, Dialog Consciousness, Personalised Quantity, Adaptive EQ, Superior on system controls together with quantity, Siri
What’s the identical between Apple’s AirPods Professional 2nd Technology fashions?
The quick reply is sort of the whole lot. There are a few vital variations which we’ll take a look at beneath, however first, let’s check out what hasn’t modified.
Design
The design stays precisely the identical, so if the AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) with Lightning felt good in your ears, the USB-C mannequin will really feel equally good. The AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) fashions each have quick stems which are comparable in size to the AirPods (3rd Generation), however considerably shorter than on the older fashions. There is a vent on the facet for strain equalization, and a contact sensor on the stem. Each fashions embody two microphones to energy the energetic noise cancellation (ANC) and have silicone ear ideas on the finish of the pinnacle, with 4 measurement choices out there.
Controls
Each fashions use the identical contact sensor on the stem to assist you to management your music or calls while not having to the touch your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. With the arrival of iOS 17, each fashions of AirPods Professional achieve new controls, with a press of the stem permitting you to mute and unmute calls. Hanging up a name now requires a double press. You too can slide your finger up and down the sensor to show the quantity up or down or maintain the sensor to modify between Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode or Adaptive Audio mode.
Sound
The sound high quality can be precisely the identical for each fashions of AirPods Professional (2nd Technology). A customized driver and amplifier assist to cut back distortion when in comparison with the original AirPods Pro, so that you get clearer highs and deeper bass, irrespective of the quantity stage. The Lively Noise Cancellation is great and may cut back intrusive sounds resembling screaming infants or energy instruments, in addition to background noise like basic dialog. Your Apple Watch may even present you the way a lot the sound stage has been diminished by because of your AirPods Professional (2nd Technology).
Listening to music, you get a good wider soundstage than on the unique AirPods Professional, with noticeably richer bass, and extra readability. You too can use Personalized Spatial Audio that is tailor-made to your ears, and head monitoring that can transfer the sound combine as you progress your head.
Processor
Each fashions use the same H2 chip that permits options resembling improved noise cancellation and total higher sound high quality than the unique AirPods Professional that use the H1 chip. It additionally offers the AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) higher battery life than the unique AirPods Professional had been in a position to supply. Apple claims that the H2 chip permits twice the extent of noise cancellation as you bought with the unique AirPods Professional.
Battery life
Each fashions of AirPods Professional can provide as much as 6 hours of listening time, which drops down to five.5 hours in case you have Spatial Audio with head monitoring on. In case you’re making calls, you’ll be able to stand up to 4.5 hours of discuss time with the energetic noise cancellation turned on. The charging case lets you stand up to 30 hours of listening time between costs, or 24 hours of discuss time. Simply 5 minutes within the charging case will give round an hour of listening time or discuss time.
What’s totally different between Apple’s AirPods Professional 2nd gen fashions?
Thus far, so precisely the identical. Is there something totally different in regards to the USB-C model of the AirPods Professional (2nd Technology). Nicely, sure, there may be, and it isn’t simply the charging port.
Wi-fi charging case
The obvious distinction between the brand new AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) USB-C and the previous AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) with Lightning is that the charging case on the previous has a USB-C port instead of the Lightning port on the unique model. Even then, you’d barely know to take a look at them, with the ports being very comparable in measurement.

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The AirPods Professional 2nd Technology now have a MagSafe and USB-C case, plus another enhancements, however must you purchase them? Here is my evaluate.
Nevertheless, the brand new case permits a helpful function that is not attainable with the Lightning case; with a USB-C to USB-C cable, you’ll be able to cost your AirPods immediately from a USB-C iPhone such because the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro. Each mannequin supply wireless charging and they’re each appropriate with MagSafe too.
IP Score
One other small distinction between the 2 variations of AirPods Professional (second technology) is that the brand new USB-C model has a barely totally different IP rating, which is a measure of ingress safety. The older model is rated at IPX4, which signifies that they’ll face up to sweat and the occasional splash with out an excessive amount of subject.

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The AirPods Professional 2nd Technology may look just like their predecessors, however there have been some nice inside upgrades. Right here is our evaluate.
The USB-C model is rated at IP54, which signifies that they’ve precisely the identical stage of moisture safety however are additionally protected towards the restricted ingress of mud.
Precision Discovering
The brand new AirProds Professional (2nd Technology) with USB-C include a second technology of the U1 chip inbuilt, whereas the Lightning mannequin has the primary technology of the U1 chip. The second technology of the U1 chip permits for Discover My with Precision Finding to precisely find your charging case relatively than solely telling you the gap to a few metres. You will want an iPhone 11 or newer with an ultra-wideband chip inside as a way to use this function, nonetheless.
Imaginative and prescient Professional help
The ultimate distinction is sort of a big one, and one which will irk homeowners of the unique AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) with Lightning. That is as a result of when the Apple Vision Pro is lastly launched sooner or later subsequent 12 months, homeowners of the AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) with USB-C will be capable of take heed to audio from their combined actuality headset in 20-bit, 48kHz lossless audio. That is the primary time that any AirPods will be capable of wirelessly play lossless audio.

How Apple’s Spatial Audio offers realistic 3D listening on most AirPods
Spatial Audio helps you get extra out of Apple’s earbuds. Here is how.
In case you personal the AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) with Lightning then you definitely’re out of luck, as they will not help lossless audio with the Vision Pro. In case you’re planning on shelling out the numerous price ticket of the Imaginative and prescient Professional, you may really feel just a little aggrieved to need to additionally improve your in any other case an identical 2nd Technology AirPods Professional, however sadly, that is the case.
Conclusion: To USB-C or to not USB-C?
In case you do not already personal the older model of the AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) then you will have a choice to make. The flexibility to cost your AirPods Professional out of your iPhone may very well be very helpful, and if you are going to get a Imaginative and prescient Professional, it is a no-brainer because the lossless audio help is barely out there with the AirPods Professional 2nd Technology with USB-C.

Apple AirPods Professional 2nd Technology (USB-C)
Editor’s Selection
$189 $250 Save $61
The fantastic thing about AirPods is their comfort, and the AirPods Professional 2nd Technology (USB-C) aren’t any totally different. The improve to USB-C solely provides to this, whereas the additional options and extra software program enhancements make for an total wonderful expertise.
In case you’re not fussed about these options, nonetheless, then you definitely’ll possible be capable of get your arms on the old-style AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) with Lightning for a big low cost. And in the event you already personal some AirPods Professional 2nd Technology with a Lightning charging case, then there’s little or no purpose to improve them, except you are planning to put money into the Vision Pro when it launches. The brand new charging port and dirt safety actually aren’t large enough causes to ditch your in any other case wonderful AirPods and fork out for a brand new pair that sound an identical.

Apple AirPods Professional 2
Nevertheless, you needn’t improve
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