You could be questioning why the AirPods Professional aren’t featured on our checklist of the best running headphones, particularly given so many customers take them to the gymnasium.
It isn’t that they are particularly unhealthy for understanding, it is simply that the shortage of extra ear fin, or ear hooks, means they will usually slip out.
Specs
Sensible enabled/compatibility: Bluetooth
Waterproof: IP54
Battery life: 24 hours with case
Charging time: 70 minutes (together with case)
Noise-canceling: Sure
Consists of: Earbuds, charging case, ear ideas, charging cable (USB-C to Lightning)
Alternatively, for common, all-purpose use, the AirPods Professional (2nd technology) are probably the most fashionable earbuds round — and for good cause. These little marvels supply nice audio high quality, loads of forward-facing options, and a case that even realized a brand new trick throughout its improve.
Whereas we might nonetheless suggest the Beats Fit Pro when you’re searching for workout-specific earbuds, the AirPods Professional stays a straightforward advice for informal podcast listeners, audiophiles and just about something in between.
AirPods Professional (2nd technology): Performance
Placing the AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) in your ears instantly strikes audio playback to earbuds, and opening the case close to your Apple gadget will present how a lot battery is left within the buds and the case.
When the buds are depleted, they pop into the case, which has sufficient juice for twenty-four hours of battery — greater than sufficient for a working day or two. As per the usual AirPods, eradicating a bud will pause playback, too.
Their sweat resistance right here is not fairly nearly as good because the Beats Fit Pro, so in case you are working (we would not suggest it) or exterior in inclement climate, chances are you’ll trigger some points additional down the road.
AirPods Professional (2nd technology): Set-up and design
AirPods of all styles and sizes nonetheless supply a delightfully easy pairing and setup that is arguably solely potential as a result of Apple controls all the things in your cellphone’s software program and {hardware}.
Pop the case open close to your cellphone, join with the on-screen immediate, and that is it — you possibly can swap between your Mac, Apple Watch, and iPad wherever you are enjoying audio. That switching will get higher annually, too.
The AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) additionally presents a helpful ear-fit take a look at, permitting you to swap between included tricks to discover the proper match for you and to offer the most effective noise cancellation.
When it comes to design, the AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) look virtually an identical to their predecessors, save for an extra ‘vent’ on every bud, and the refined addition of a speaker on the case that enables for it to emit a chirping noise that will help you discover it when you misplace it.
Regardless of the recognition of AirPods, they’re nonetheless solely accessible in white. We might have appreciated the choice of even a smooth House Grey different.
AirPods Professional (2nd technology): Controls
The AirPods Professional supply a wide range of contact and pinch gestures for simply managing your audio playback whereas on the transfer. You may invoke Siri by saying the voice assistant’s title, or swipe up and down on both stem to extend or lower quantity.
A lot of the controls are dealt with by squeezing the stem, which feels a bit unusual at first however is unquestionably one thing that turns into second nature. For instance, one press to play or pause, two presses to skip a monitor.
Swap between listening modes with a quick maintain of both stem, transferring from Transparency to Noise Cancellation.
AirPods Professional (2nd technology): Match
Whereas we cherished utilizing the AirPods Professional (2nd technology) in just about any state of affairs, together with touring by way of practice, working in a busy espresso store, and even flying, they lack the endurance required for all however essentially the most relaxed exercises.
You could possibly use them for yoga, for instance, however when you’re working and even biking, you’ll seemingly see them slip out of your ears. We discovered bench exercises had been awkward too, with the AirPods slipping and dropping to the ground mid-set — ruining our move considerably.
4 ear tip sizes are included, and the helpful ear match take a look at in your Apple gadget not less than makes it simpler to work out which of them present the optimum seal in your ear.
AirPods Professional (2nd technology): Sound high quality
The primary AirPods Professional had been hardly slouches when it got here to audio high quality, however we stay impressed by the second technology nonetheless.
The soundscape right here is finely balanced, whether or not you are listening to orchestral tracks, heavy steel, or something in between. Even podcasts sound crystal clear. Whereas the Beats Fit Pro supply only a smidge extra bass, we favor the AirPods Professional (2nd technology) for his or her extra unopinionated audio high quality.
That is assisted by good options like adaptive audio, added as a brand new characteristic in iOS 17. This may customise your noise cancellation to your native atmosphere, letting in simply the correct amount of audio to fall midway between Energetic Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. It’s going to even decrease the amount when it detects you are talking.
This new addition, coupled with Spatial Audio for what is basically encompass sound supplied by earbuds, is a large boon for anybody trying to get misplaced in music and even whereas watching a film on their cellphone.
AirPods Professional (2nd technology): Efficiency
When testing any wi-fi product, there’s the expectation that the battery will start to decay over time — it is fairly customary and results in extra time on the charger.
Because it occurs, the AirPods Professional (2nd technology) merely have not began to drop on this respect, even after round a 12 months of utilization. They proceed to be able to go at any second, whether or not for a stroll to the shop or a day of labor and podcasts.
The second technology we examined sadly nonetheless used a Lightning charging port (although this has since (in September 2023) been reviewed to USB-C charging. Hurrah!) You can too cost utilizing wi-fi charging and even the puck out of your Apple Watch charger.
AirPods Professional (2nd technology): Consumer critiques
On the time of our overview, the Apple AirPods Professional (2nd technology) rating 4.7/5 on Amazon, with 87% of reviewers giving the complete 5 stars.
Many customers notice the benefit of use, wonderful audio high quality and simply pocketable case.
Must you purchase AirPods Professional (2nd technology)?
In the event you’re an iPhone person who needs a pair of earbuds for work, lengthy walks, or simply having fun with your favourite information, the AirPods Professional will handily fill that position for you — and achieve this with aplomb.
That mentioned, energetic customers might want one thing rather less slippery for his or her health and cardio periods.
If theAirPods Professional (2nd technology) aren’t for you:
In the event you’re searching for the identical performance however in a format that’ll stay in your ears throughout train, we suggest the Beats Fit Pro, or the Treblab X3 Pro that provide wonderful worth for cash, an awesome match and USB-C charging.
In the event you’re searching for a less expensive Apple product, you possibly can forgo the noise cancellation and go for the third-generation AirPods as an alternative.
AirPods Professional (2nd technology): How we examined
We examined the AirPods Professional (2nd Technology) for on a regular basis listening and through exercises. For the previous, we used them for strolling for as much as an hour and a half at a time, sitting at a desk for a number of hours of the day, and switching between completely different Apple units.
For the latter, we related them to an iPhone for music and podcast playback on the gymnasium, working on the treadmill and lifting weights each upright and on a bench.