Design and features:This Bluetooth wireless noise canceling portable ear-insert model provides very good sound and excellent active noise reduction. Its ear plug-like design and electronic noise canceling feature reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. The headphones work with or without the noise canceling feature being turned on. You can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music. The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) has a volume control plus an integrated microphone and player function controls. Additional features include - Either earphone can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Carrying case/charging cradle has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries more than 4 times (more than 30 hrs. of total playtime) between its own charges. Can be recharged via USB to Lightning cable, Apple Watch charger, Mag-Safe wireless charging mat, or Qi-compatible wireless charging mats. Manufacturer claims water resistance (IPX4) for both earphones and carrying case/charging cradle. Noise cancellation button on either AirPod Pro toggles between noise cancellation and ambient sound monitoring modes. On Apple mobile devices with later version of iOS or iPadOS the Bluetooth connection info screen that is accessible once the headphone is connected provides noise cancellation on/off and ambient sound monitoring selection controls, and can set what noise cancellation settings (on, off, ambient monitoring) the headphone noise cancellation button toggles between. Has Adaptive Transparency setting which allows headphones to reduce loud sounds around you when ambient sound monitoring mode is used. To enable Adaptive Transparency you must be using the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Has Adaptive EQ feature that the mfr. claims automatically tunes sound based on how the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) fit in the user's ears. Automatic Ear Detection pauses music when one AirPod Pro (2nd generation) is taken out of ear and resumes when it is put back when used with some Apple devices. Automatically connects to unlocked Apple mobile devices and to all cloud connected Apple products. Apple Siri voice control can be activated by voice ("Hey Siri" wakeup phrase) or by pressing and holding one of the earphones, and is only available when the Apple mobile device or computer is WiFi or cellular data connected to the Internet. Has Spatialized Audio and Personalized Spatial Audio features that works with some Apple mobile devices when using specific apps with movie, TV, video, and specific music content that creates a virtual surround sound field and can keep the audio image stable even when the user's head moves. Personalized Spatial Audio feature is used with the TrueDepth camera on an iPhone to create a personal profile for Spatial Audio that adjusts the sound based on the user's head geometry. Compatible with the "Audio Sharing" feature of later Apple mobile devices that allows connection and simultaneous audio playback with independent volume control of two sets of AirPods. To check the battery, hold the AirPod Pro (2nd generation) next to the Apple mobile device. Has quick charge feature: 5 min of charging will provide 1 hr. of playtime. Compatible with the "Optimized Battery Charging" feature of Apple mobile devices that Apple claims can be used to improve the lifespan of the earphones' batteries. Compatible with the "Find My" feature of Apple mobile devices that can be used to help locate the earphones if they are misplaced. Provides audio when used with all Bluetooth audio devices, but most features (Siri control, audio sharing, naming the earphones, Automatic Ear Detection on/off, setting mic to left or right earpiece only, spatialized audio, mobile device battery proximity check, optimized battery charging, and misplaced earphone tracking) are not available unless the earphones are used with Apple devices that are using later Apple iOS versions. The Charging case has speaker built into it that will emit a sound to help you locate it with the "Find My" feature and will also play an audible chime when you start charging the case. Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices will display earphone connection on the lock screen. The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) comes with 4 pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, USB to lightning connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case compatible with Apple Watch charger, Mag-Safe and Qi wireless charging.
Sound quality: We found the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks and excellent active noise reduction. The bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is somewhat prominent and boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is even, but is somewhat grainy, and a bit hazy. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended, but is a bit smeared and sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying). The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is somewhat open--sound-wise it almost seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears and does a decent job of recovering room ambience. Warmish character. The overall sound can be summarized as somewhat bassy and grainy. Compared to the original AirPods Pro the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) sounds similar, however it is not soft sounding and is more open, but the bass is more prominent. Noise Canceling: Excellent noise reduction across the entire frequency range with the low frequencies reduced the most. Orientation changes the noise reduction characteristic - when the noise is coming from the front and the rear more high-frequency noise (but less from the back than the front) can be heard than when the noise is coming from the sides. A faint rushing noise is audible in very quiet environments when there is no audio program material to mask it.
Comfort: As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening might be uncomfortable for some. Users with small, medium, and large sized ear bowls will probably find that this model stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are very stable even during vigorous head movement. The controls are on the earphone stems that hang out of the ears and can be actuated without causing ear discomfort. Hitting the stem that hangs out of the ear can knock an earphone loose and cause it to fall out of the ear. Same form factor and fit as the original Apple AirPods Pro.
