The AirPods Pro are wireless bluetooth earbuds created by Apple, initially released on October 30, 2019.
In this guide, you’ll learn about what AirPods Pro are, what the different sound modes offer, usability, battery guide and much more, hence making it an Ultimate Guide.
About the Apple AirPods Pro
Back when Apple launched their first Airpods, they became instantly popular offering wireless solution to listening to your favourite content, taking phone calls and much more.
These new headphones come with H1 chip and tout similar battery life to the 2nd generation AirPods, which were launched earlier in the year. The Airpods Pro has a new design, as the stems have been shortened, along with a new Force Sensor for controls.
With a Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, the two most prominent features of the AirPods Pro are Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), let you eliminate background noise and Transparency mode; let you hear the outside world clearly over your music.
Highlights:
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Improved Sound detection technology
- Force Sensor
- Sweat and Water-Resistant
- Supports Wireless Charging
- Impressively fast charging
What’s in the box?
Here is the breakdown of all contents in the box:
- AirPods Pro
- Wireless Charging Case
- Lightning to USB-C Charging Cable
- Silicone Ear Tips (S, M, L)
- Documentation
You may want to check the list of compatible devices on AirPods Pro tech specs before buying the new Airpods.
Design
The Apple Airpods Pro has the new in-ear design which is notably different than its predecessors. Equipped with flexible silicone tips that have been designed to fit tightly within the ear are meant for better noise cancellation technology. The silicon tips are easily swappable and come in three size variants (Small, Medium and Large) to make the best fit for your size.
The wireless charging case is slightly bigger than before owing to the design change of the earbuds.
Are the AirPods Pro Waterproof?
The AirPods Pro are sweat and water-resistant (IPX4), which means it can withstand splashes of water; however, you should note they are water-resistant and not waterproof.
Pairing an iPhone for the first time
Instead of fiddling around with the Bluetooth menu, Apple has made pairing AirPods Pro to your iPhone a complete walkover. All you have to do is:
- Open the AirPods Pro case near your iPhone.
- Press Connect in the on-screen pop-up.
The Automatic Device Switching makes the airpods connect quickly with any device with the same Apple ID.
Audio Technology
The 2nd-generation Airpods works with Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode to provide better performance. Active Noise Cancellation lets you block outside noise to focus on your media.
Apple describes it as:
“An outward-facing microphone detects external sounds, which you’re AirPods Pro then counter with anti-noise, cancelling the external sounds before you hear them. An inward-facing microphone listens inside your ear for unwanted internal sounds, which your AirPods Pro also counters with anti-noise.”
It makes sense to have a Transparency mode which lets the outside noise in because it would be annoying to remove the earbuds to hear someone speak.
You can switch between noise cancellation and transparency mode through control centre on your iPhone or press and hold the Force Sensor on the stem of your AirPods Pro. You can also switch between the modes through an Apple watch.
Airpods Pro Controls and how to customize it
- To play and pause your audio content, press the force sensor on the stem of an AirPod.
- Skip forward by double-pressing the force sensor on the stem of an AirPod.
- To skip back, triple-press the force sensor.
- Say “Hey Siri” to do things like playing a song, make a call or get directions.
You can customize the press speed and duration through the iPhone’s setting>accessibility>AirPods. Adjust your Press Speed and Press and Hold Duration by choosing something other than the default.
Battery Life on an Airpods Pro
The Apple Airpods Pro boasts 4.5 hours of battery life with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature and can last up to 5 hours without ANC. Thanks to the included charging case; you can get up to 24 hours of battery life by recharging the AirPods.
The official Apple website also mentions that a 5min charge can last up to 1 hour of talk time.
Quick tip on checking battery status:
- Open the lid of your AirPods case without taking them out.
- Hold the case close to your iPhone and wait a few seconds.
- The status of both the case and AirPods appear on your iPhone.
You can also check the battery life by enabling the Batteries widget on your iPhone or simply activate Siri and ask “What is the battery of my AirPods?”
Furthermore, with the iOS 14 and iPad 14 updates, the notifications appear at the top of the screen to show the AirPods battery status when it gets low or when it’s fully charged.
Wireless Charging the AirPods Pro
Apple introduced wireless charging with the 2nd-generation AirPods and it continues to be seen on Airpods Pro as well.
A tap on the case, while it’s charging, makes the LED turned on, showing whether the case is fully charged or not.
A green light means the case or AirPods are more than 75% charged while an Amber light means it’s less than that, so you may want to wait.
Hope you enjoyed the guide as much as we enjoy the new AirPods Pro.
