Note: This article was first published on 29 October 2019.
Say hello to the new AirPods Pro. This is Apple’s first true wireless headphone to feature active noise cancellation technology. They will go on sale tomorrow (30 October 2019) for S$379. Let's unbox them and take a quick look.
Inside the little white box, you’ll find two additional silicone ear tips (small and large) and also a charging cable. Interestingly, the supplied charging cable is now a USB-C to Lightning charging cable. This is good news for anyone with a fairly new MacBook.
On the left is the AirPods Pro’s charging case and on the right is the regular AirPods’ charging case. It’s shorter but wider and in terms of absolute volume about 18% larger. It’s also about 5g heavier (45.6g vs 40g). But the important thing is that it remains very pocketable. I could fit it in the front and back pockets of my jeans with no discomfort or any suspicious bulge.
The charging case charges via a Lightning connector. It can also be charged using any Qi charging pad. The case offers slightly more than five charges for the AirPods Pro for a grand total of about 24 hours of music listening time.
The AirPods Pro feature a totally new design. Obsessed about fit, Apple took even more ear scans to arrive at the final design of the AirPods Pro. As you will see in the next photo, they are drastically different from the regular AirPods.
The AirPods Pro are significantly stockier in the design. The driver housing is larger, presumably to accommodate the dual microphones, and the stem is shorter. Notice also vents for the microphone and to equalise pressure within and outside the ears. I have forgiving ears and most IEMs fit me fine. I have been wearing the AirPods Pro for the past few hours and they haven't given me any discomfort.
'The AirPods Pro have a specially designed mount that prevents the silicon ear tips from accidentally detaching. I found this to be true. A fair amount of effort is needed to remove the ear tips. The ear tips themselves also have a unique tapering design that is said to conform better to the shape of the listener’s ears. This, in theory, should provide a better fit and a better sound.
Instead of tapping on the earpiece, users now use the Force Sensor on the stem (the indent on the stem) to control the AirPods Pro. Apart from controlling music playback, pressing and holding on to the Force Sensor switches the AirPods Pro between active noise cancellation and Transparency mode. The latter is a special mode that lets outside noise in so users can stay attuned to their surroundings and speak to others.
The AirPods Pro feature two technologies to ensure users get the best sound. The first is Ear Tip Fit Test, which is an audio test that tells users if they are using the right ear tip size. The second is Adaptive EQ. Using the inward facing microphone, the AirPods Pro measure sound and fine tunes the driver to ensure you are hearing the low and mid frequencies as it was intended.
Stay tuned right here for the full review which will be coming in a few days' time!
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