Note: This article was first published on 4 November 2019.
The AirPods Pro are Apple's most advanced true wireless headphones — hence the "Pro" moniker.
What’s new?
Apple didn’t just slap on additional microphones and circuitry into the AirPods and call it a day. Oh no, the AirPods Pro have an all-new design and a couple of interesting new features. Let’s go through them now:
AirPods Pro on the left, regular AirPods on the right. The AirPods Pro look similar but there are actually many changes in the design.
All-new design ― The AirPods Pro are considerably stockier than the regular AirPods and you will notice that they have a considerably shorter stem. The change in design is due to the need to accommodate microphones and circuitry for the active noise-cancelling feature and also to improve comfort. Apple was obsessed with comfort and fit and took thousands of more 3D ear scans to arrive at the final design of the AirPods Pro.
The AirPods Pro have a proprietary mount that prevents the silicone ear tips from detaching on accident.
To further improve fit and audio performance, the AirPods Pro have silicone ear tips. Apple knows not everyone likes in-ear headphones and it has gone to great pains to make sure the AirPods Pro are as comfortable as they can be. To start, three different sizes of silicone ear tips are provided. Because not everyone is fond of sticking things into their ears, Apple has designed their silicone ear tips in such a way that the tips themselves are very short and do not intrude deep into the ears. This is achieved by using a special mounting point that is almost non-existent, and by tapering the internal rubber passageway to minimise contact inside your ears. Finally, a system of vents helps equalise pressure so that you don’t get that stuck feeling in your head. The specially designed mounts also prevent the ear tips from detaching by accident.
Apple developed a special test to tell users if they are using the right ear tips.
Ear Tip Fit Test ― As I mentioned, Apple is obsessed with fit. As they should be, because how good any in-ear headphone or earbud sounds depends largely on how good a seal you can get with the ear tips. To help users get the most out of their AirPods Pro, the Ear Tip Fit Test plays a short test track and measures the sound within your ears. The test then tells users if they have a good seal and are using the right silicon ear tip or if they should switch to another silicon ear tip to get a better seal.
Active noise-cancellation ― This is the highlight of the AirPods Pro. They work similarly to other active noise-cancelling headphones. Microphones listen out for unwanted noise and tell the headphones to generate a waveform that is the exact negative so that the two cancel each other out. In the case of the AirPods Pro, there are two microphones. One external one that listens for outside noise, and an internal one that listens for any remaining noise within your ears. Apple boasts that the AirPods Pro continuously listens and adjusts the noise-cancellation at 200 times per second.
Transparency mode ― This mode lets you hear the world around you using the microphones. Using the external microphone and its system of vents, the AirPods Pro pipes sound from the world around you into your ears. This mode isn’t unique to Apple as many other noise-cancelling headphones have similar modes. However, Apple says the AirPods Pro’s execution is more natural-sounding.
Adaptive EQ ― People hear things differently because our ears are shaped differently. To ensure the best audio performance, the AirPods Pro also takes readings from the internal microphone and tunes the low and mid frequencies of the sound to accommodate for the differences in ear shape. Adaptive EQ is built into the AirPods Pro and works constantly in the background and cannot be deactivated.
The force sensors work extremely well and are more reliable and predictable to use than the old way of tapping on the earpieces themselves.
Force sensor ― A capacitive force sensor sits in the stems of the earpieces and are your means of controlling the AirPods Pro. A single press plays and pauses your music, as well as answers calls. Two presses skip forward. Three presses skip back. Press and hold onto the stem to switch between active noise cancellation and Transparency modes.
*** If these features are good enough for you and you wish to purchase the AirPods Pro, they can be found on the Apple Online Store and Lazada. ***
Are they really comfortable?
To begin, let me state that my ears are quite forgiving and it’s not often that I find headphones uncomfortable to wear. Nevertheless, I thought the AirPods Pro were one of the most comfortable headphones I have ever experienced. No doubt Apple’s attention to details played a part, but an equally important factor is weight. At just a smidge over 5g, the AirPods Pro are one of the lightest true wireless headphones in the market. Rivals like the Sony WF-1000XM3, Jabra Elite 65T, Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless are all about a gram heavier. It doesn’t sound much but that’s over 20% heavier and for true wireless headphones, that’s a substantial amount and the additional weight has a profound effect on how they fit and feel in your ears.
Is the noise cancellation good?
Yes. Considering the diminutive size of the earpieces, noise cancellation in the AirPods Pro is impressive. They block out a great deal of external noise. With noise cancellation activated, in home and the office, the hum of the aircon and the whirr of printers are imperceptible. Walking around, you are hardly aware of the buzz of the streets. I haven’t had the chance to try them on the plane but I think they should do well too. I played a jet engine noise test track and the AirPods Pro performed almost as good as my full-size Sony noise cancellers.
That said, I still think full-size noise-cancelling headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM3 and Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have the edge, but they are so much bulkier and pricier. You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons.
What about Transparency mode?
Transparency mode is, I think, the most impressive thing about the AirPods Pro. Rival noise-cancelling headphones have similar modes but they have always sounded unnatural to me. With them, it sounds like I’m listening to a digitised version of the world around me, without certain frequencies artificially emphasised. Your own voice, in particular, often sounds like it has been put through a synthesiser.
The AirPods Pro, on the other hand, sounds uncannily natural. I suspect its system of vents has a huge role to play. Your voice sounds just like you’d think it would sound ― and so does other people’s. This means you don’t have to take off your AirPods Pro if you are trying to have a conversation. Just pause the music and activate Transparency mode. The only problem is that since you have something in your ears, whoever you are talking to might look at you weird because they will be wondering if you can actually hear them.
How do they sound?
The drivers in the AirPods Pro are different from the regular AirPods.
If you have listened to any AirPods or Beats headphone, you’d find that the AirPods Pro sound similar and consistent. The AirPods Pro has new “Apple-designed, high excursion, low-distortion” drivers but you can immediately hear the resemblance to the AirPods and even the PowerBeats Pro.
Technically, the AirPods Pro have decent detail retrieval and clarity. As for the overall sound signature, the bass is strong, impactful, but not necessarily the cleanest. The mids are fairly smooth though they are somewhat recessed. The highs are noticeably recessed.
The upside to such a sonic signature is that just about every genre sounds agreeable and pleasant. Dance and electronic tracks have sufficient low-end, music that’s focused on vocals sound intimate enough, and classical music that’s heavy on pianos and strings never gets too grating.
The downside is that discerning listeners might find the AirPods Pro’s tuning a little boring and safe. It doesn’t sound as exciting or involving as some other headphones. That said, the AirPods Pro are very solid sounding headphones that get the fundamentals right. It’s just a matter of personal taste.
AirPods Pro vs. AirPods
I'm not saying the regular AirPods are bad but the AirPods Pro are so much better.
Why would anyone want to pay more for the AirPods Pro? The way I see it, it’s for these following reasons:
- AirPods Pro fit better
- AirPods Pro provide better passive isolation by way of their in-ear design (silicone ear tips)
- AirPod Pro provide better isolation thanks to active noise-cancellation
Overall, the AirPods Pro are superior headphones. The improved isolation thanks to the in-ear design and active noise-cancellation makes a world of difference especially when you are out and about and in a noisy environment. It means your own music is less tainted and you don’t have to listen at higher volumes (which can damage your hearing) just to drown out unwanted sounds.
Obviously, the AirPods Pro are pricier. But if you are already thinking of getting the wireless charging case to go with your AirPods, then the price premium is just S$80. At S$80, the choice is obvious for me ― AirPods Pro all day every day.
AirPods Pro vs Powerbeats Pro
The Powerbeats Pro are more secure and have longer battery life.
Thanks to the ear hooks, the Powerbeats Pro fit even more securely than the AirPods Pro. And because the Powerbeats Pro are larger, a full charge yields a longer music playing time of 9 hours. Sweat and water-resistant ratings are similar for the two ― IPX4. For those partaking in extreme sports or intending to exercise for long periods, the choice is clear. Furthermore, I find the Powerbeats Pro to sound better than the AirPods Pro ― likely because of its larger 12mm drivers.
AirPods Pro vs. Sony WF-1000XM3
The Sony WF-1000XM3 are the only other true wireless headphones to have active noise-cancelling.
This is the big one. After all, the Sony WF-1000XM3 are the only other true wireless headphone to have active noise-cancellation. Furthermore, the two are priced quite similarly. The Sonys are S$349, though it can often be found for slightly less online, and the AirPods Pro are S$379.
The Sonys have the advantage in sound. The WF-1000XM3s have a more impactful sound, more sparkly highs, and beats the AirPods Pro in terms of clarity and resolution. I prefer the Sonys’ sound, though I also concede that their aggressive nature can also sound tiring after extended listening periods. The Sonys also have superior battery life ― 6 hours against the AirPods Pro’s 4.5 hours.
In terms of noise cancellation, the two are evenly matched, which is impressive on Apple’s part given that Sony noise cancellers are widely considered to be the best in the business today. However, Sony’s equivalent of the AirPods Pro’s Transparency Mode, which they call Ambient Sound Control, is noticeably inferior. Apple’s Transparency Mode is vastly more natural sounding.
The AirPods Pro also counter with their tight integration with iOS and macOS. If you use Apple devices, particularly the iPhone, the AirPods Pro are much more convenient and pleasant to use. If you intend to use these headphones daily, this is an important factor to consider. The Sonys are less intuitive to use and requires users to use a separate app to get the best out of them. The AirPods Pro are also sweat and water resistant and the Sonys are not.
As for wearing comfort, I find the AirPods Pro to be superior mostly because they are smaller and lighter. But as I said earlier, my ears are quite forgiving and the Sonys aren’t uncomfortable by any means. And though they might look unwieldy as if they might fall out of your ears, they fit me ok.
The Sony's charging case is huge and will not fit into pockets without leaving a huge bulge.
But in terms of portability, the AirPods Pro are king because the charging case still fits easily into pockets. The same can’t be said for the WF-1000XM3’s charging case, which is absolutely massive when placed next to the AirPods Pro’s. You can squeeze them into your pockets but it’ll result in a ridiculous looking bulge in your pants.
If sound quality is your utmost priority, then I think the Sonys are the way to go. But they are definitely more cumbersome, less intuitive, and likely to be less comfortable for most people.
Closing thoughts
The AirPods Pro pack a lot of tech in one tiny package.
The AirPods Pro are a stunning set of headphones from Apple. They have impressive active noise-cancellation and the best ambient listening mode of any headphone that I have tried. They are also comfortable, super portable, dead easy to use, boast decent water resistance for exercising, and have solid audio performance. They might be a little pricey (S$379) but I think anyone who tries it and the regular AirPods will quickly come to the conclusion that the premium is well worth it. Furthermore, their only true competitor ― the Sony WF-1000XM3 ― isn’t what you’d call affordable either at S$349.
There are, however, a couple of issues worth addressing. The proprietary design of the silicone ear tips means aftermarket ear tips are out of the question, at least until third-party makers figure out how to accommodate for the AirPods Pro proprietary ear tip mounts. Tough luck if you prefer foam tips or have a favourite set of tips that you like to use. The AirPods Pro’s tight integration with iOS means it’ll work best on Apple devices. You can use with Android devices, but the experience isn’t as seamless and magical. Plus, you lose out on features like the Ear Tip Fit Test.
If you can stomach their high price, the AirPods Pro are a no-brainer purchase.
Finally, and perhaps more crucially, the AirPods Pro have a limited lifespan. The problem is the batteries. They are small and have a limited number of recharging cycles, and if you are a heavy user, the AirPods Pro will die sooner rather than later. It’s not so bad if the batteries are replaceable, but they aren’t. You’ll need to get a new set, which means coughing up S$379 again. But to be clear, this is a problem that plagues all true wireless headphones and not just the AirPods Pro and AirPods.
Having said that, if you wield an iPhone and you are dead set on getting true wireless headphones even though their batteries will die someday, the AirPods Pro are a no-brainer recommendation.
If you wish to purchase the Apple AirPods Pro, they can be found on the Apple Online Store and Lazada.
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