1. Universal Praise

So far, I haven't encountered a single review of the AirPods Pro 2 that isn't overwhelmingly positive. Users seem enamored and pleasantly surprised by Apple's latest noise-cancelling earbuds.

This widespread enthusiasm doesn't surprise me. They truly are a game-changer.

The original AirPods Pro were excellent in their own right, merging the convenience of non-pro AirPods with enhanced sound quality, comfort, and impressive noise cancellation.

The AirPods Pro 2 take it a step further, offering even superior sound, a more functional case, and noise-cancellation and transparency modes that rival those of over-ear alternatives.

Had the Apple Watch Ultra not launched simultaneously, the AirPods Pro 2 would likely have claimed the title of Apple's product of the year.

2. The Lanyard Feature

Initially, I dismissed the lanyard attachment for the new AirPods Pro 2 case as just another pricey Apple accessory. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Although Apple has included a small lanyard loop in the case, they do not provide a lanyard; you'll need to find one from a third-party seller.

You might find it a worthwhile addition. After extensive searching (it turns out finding the right size lanyard is trickier than expected), I settled on some finger straps from Amazon. They fit the AirPods Pro 2 case perfectly, and the pack offers five different colors for variety.

While the lanyard isn't a revolutionary change, it adds a personal touch and makes grabbing the case from a bag or pocket much easier. It's a charming upgrade that I enjoy more than anticipated.

3. Over-Ear Headphones Are Gathering Dust

When I travel, I typically bring both my AirPods Pro and a pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. This time, I decided to leave the bulky headphones behind.

The noise cancellation of the AirPods Pro 2 is impressive enough to make carrying the additional weight of over-ear headphones seem unnecessary. Why take up space in my bag for a large case when Apple's earbuds can nearly match the noise-cancelling performance?

I've found myself reaching for the AirPods Pro 2 during my morning writing sessions instead of my top-notch Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones. While over-ear options still offer the best noise cancellation—especially in noisy or windy environments—the new AirPods Pro come astonishingly close.

4. USB-C Absence Still Frustrates

I can hardly believe I neglected to mention this in my original review of the AirPods Pro 2, but I attribute it to being distracted by their standout features.

The most disappointing aspect of the second-generation AirPods Pro is Apple's baffling choice to stick with the Lightning connector for charging. I’m particularly irked after seeing that the new Apple TV 4K now comes with a USB-C charging option for its updated Siri Remote.

It's baffling that Apple opted for the most widely used charging standard for the Siri Remote while ignoring it for the AirPods Pro 2. All their competitors utilize USB-C for charging, making this decision even more puzzling.

5. Case Issues Persist

Back to my airport experience.

The airport was unusually busy at 4 AM, and the line for boarding passes threatened to derail my breakfast plans. I had hoped to breeze through security and treat myself to an early morning cappuccino—or perhaps a pint—before indulging in a Full English breakfast.

Unfortunately, a lengthy queue awaited me, along with the impending urgency of a 'FINAL CALL' notice for my flight.

To distract myself from my breakfast woes, I decided to listen to a podcast while inching my way toward the KLM check-in desk. When I retrieved my AirPods Pro case, I opened it only to discover it was empty.

I had only the case without the all-important earbuds inside.

Frantically, I reached for my iPhone and opened the Find My app. The location result revealed that my AirPods were nearly a mile away, across one of Birmingham Airport's runways. With only an hour to go before my flight, retrieving them seemed impossible.

It dawned on me what had occurred earlier that morning. In my half-asleep state, I had dropped the AirPods Pro onto my hotel room's floor. I thought nothing of it when I picked them up, as the case remained securely closed.

But I had overlooked a crucial aspect of the AirPods Pro Drop Club—when dropped, the case lid tends to pop open, ejecting the AirPods, and then close again without notice. If you miss that moment, you may unwittingly leave your earbuds behind.

Since the AirPods Pro 2 were my only audio device for the trip, I faced two days without music, podcasts, or video editing. Fortunately, the kind hotel staff managed to retrieve and safeguard my AirPods for my return. Still, I wish the lid could be designed to be more resilient during drops.

Conclusion

If it weren't for the simultaneous release of the Apple Watch Ultra, the AirPods Pro 2 would undoubtedly have been Apple's standout product of 2022.

This revelation continues to astound me; it seemed like a minor, somewhat mundane update to an already exceptional product. I often wonder if Apple anticipated this level of enthusiasm, or if they, like us, expected the latest AirPods Pro to quietly enter the market.

I suspect it’s the latter. Apple likely has significant plans in store for 2023, and the second-generation AirPods Pro may have been more of a 'let's get this out and move on' effort. Thankfully, this latest version of AirPods Pro has delivered one of the year's biggest surprises.

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Originally published at https://markellisreviews.com on October 21, 2022.