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Apple reveals AirPods Pro 2: Price, release date, and features
Apple has dropped its latest AirPods: AirPods Pro 2.
These AirPods have better sound, longer battery life, and are more sustainable than their predecessor, the AirPod Pros. During Apple Far Out event, Tim Cook announced called them, "The most advanced AirPods yet."
AirPods Pro 2: Release date
The AirPods Pro 2 will be available for purchase online on Sept. 9, 2022. In-store availability will begin Sept, 23, 2022.
It has been three years since Apple released a new in-ear headphone model, with the latest being the drop of the AirPods Pro in 2019. In October of last year, Apple dropped the AirPods 3 (third-generation). However, these were simply an updated version of the original model.
Despite not having dropped many wireless earphone options in recent years, Apple remains the biggest leader in the space with 31.8% of the market share, according to a Canalys report. In second place came Samsung, making up only 9.5% of the share.
There is an ever-growing demand for wireless headphones with global shipments reaching 68.2 million units in the first quarter of 2022 (Q2 2022), representing a 17% growth, according to a Canalys study. Therefore, today's announcement comes at a perfect time for Apple.
AirPods Pro 2: Price
The AirPods Pro 2 retail at $249.99.
Also: 5 great AirPods deals happening now
AirPods Pro 2: Design
The new headphones will keep the same design with the stem, still differentiating them from the pebble design of the Galaxy Buds 2. The headphone color will remain the same -- the classic Apple headphone white color.
AirPods Pro 2: Features
H2 chip
The new AirPods Pro 2 will have a new H2 chip which will give a big upgrade to performance. The sound will be transformed with a low distortion audio driver which will give the sound more detail and clarity than ever before. The AirPods now offer a richer bass sound and crystal-clear sound across a wider range of frequencies, according to Apple. The H2 chip also allows for major upgrades to Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.
ANC
A major upgrade is the improved noise cancellation. Harnessing the power of the new H2 chip, the new headphones will have double the noise cancellation from the previous model.
Adaptive Transparency
The new AirPods will also have an adaptive transparency feature that will dynamically reduce sounds of heavy environmental noise like heavy construction or a passing vehicle siren.
Personalized Spatial Audio
Another upgraded feature is Personalized Spacial Audio. This new feature will allow users to have a personalized listening experience by precisely placing sounds in space where the user needs them, to maximize the user's listening experience. The AirPods will know where to place the sounds by using the TrueDepth camera on the iPhone. Then users will be able to create a personal profile for Spatial Audio that delivers the tailored listening experience.
More comfortable fit
The fit of these headphones will also be more tailored to the user with the addition of an XS ear tip, allowing for more comfort when listening.
Touch control
Touch control is also a new, convenient feature of the AirPod Pros 2, allowing users to control volume with swipes on the stem.
Battery Life
The battery life is also longer than the predecessor, with up to six hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation from a single charge. The charging case has a battery life of 30 hours, six hours longer than its predecessor. To charge the case you can now use the Apple Watch charger in addition to a MagSafe charger and or the regular plug-in Lightning cable.
New charging case design
The new case is sweat and water-resistant. The case will also have a new speaker at the bottom so that the case can make a noise when lost and make charging notifications. To minimize your chances of losing the device, the charging case will now have Precision Finding, allowing users with a U1-enabled iPhone to locate the charging case. Another update to the case is that it will have a lanyard loop on its side to facilitate portability. Consumers can also personalize their charging case with their individual Memoji at no additional cost.
Sustainability
The environment is also a big aspect of this release, with magnets made out of 100% recycled rare earth elements. For the first time, Apple also used 100% recycled metals in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards. The AirPods also contain 100% recycled tin in the solder of the main logic board and 100% recycled aluminum in the hinge, said Apple.