Best-in-class ANC meets seamless Apple ecosystem magic — but only if you're already in the walled garden.
Update August 2026: the AirPods Pro 2 listing this review linked is now marked “currently unavailable” on Amazon. The buy button points to the live 2nd-generation listing instead, which Apple sells through Amazon's buying options rather than a single buy-box price — so expect a seller list rather than one-click checkout, and check the seller before ordering. Same product; the review below is unchanged.
Listen to the verdict
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are the gold standard for ANC wireless earbuds in the Apple ecosystem. With up to 2× better noise cancellation than the original AirPods Pro, an eerily natural Transparency mode, and Personalised Spatial Audio that actually works, they justify every cent of the €249 price tag — provided your primary device runs iOS or macOS. Android users should look elsewhere — the Sony WF-1000XM5 is the cross-platform earbud to beat, and we compare the whole field in our best noise-cancelling headphones of 2026 guide.
Pair with any iPhone 12+ for Personalised Spatial Audio setup & head-tracked immersive sound.
See AirPods Pro 2 buying options on Amazon →MKBHD review
Marques Brownlee's AirPods Pro 2 review — an independent take on the H2 chip, transparency mode and battery life.
When Apple launched the second-generation AirPods Pro in late 2022, they didn't just iterate — they reset the benchmark. The new H2 chip brought a claimed 2× improvement in noise cancellation over the already-strong original, plus an Adaptive Transparency mode which Apple says processes sound 48,000 times per second to blunt sudden loud noises while still letting you hear conversation.
The AirPods Pro 2 were widely received as a step change at launch and remain a default recommendation for iPhone owners, even as Sony and Bose have shipped updates. The structural reason is that Apple controls both the hardware and the software: features like Personalised Spatial Audio, which uses the iPhone camera to map your ear geometry, are integrated in a way third-party earbuds cannot match on iOS.
The AirPods Pro 2's ANC is handled by the Apple H2 chip, which runs a dedicated audio processing pipeline alongside the main audio path. In practical terms this means the earbuds continuously measure environmental sound, invert the waveform, and add it to the audio signal — all with low enough latency that you don't hear artefacts or 'pumping' on transient sounds like keyboard clicks.
In office environments (HVAC, keyboard noise, distant conversations) the AirPods Pro 2 effectively reduce background noise to near-silence. On public transport — buses and trains — they handle low-frequency rumble extremely well, better than the Sony WH-1000XM5 on low-frequency drone, though the Sonys edge ahead on mid-range noise like train passengers talking. Aeroplane cabin noise is where the AirPods Pro 2 truly shine: the combination of a tight seal and the H2's processing makes long-haul flights noticeably more comfortable.
Transparency mode on AirPods Pro 2 is widely regarded as the best implementation on any earbuds. It processes external audio in real time and pipes it through at near-natural volume and timbre — to the point where, if you close your eyes, you often can't tell you're wearing earbuds. Adaptive Transparency adds an extra layer: if a sudden loud sound occurs (a siren, a jackhammer), the earbuds attenuate it before it reaches your ears while keeping conversation levels natural.
Apple positions AirPods Pro 2 as audiophile earbuds through features like Lossless Audio (over wired connection via Lightning-to-3.5mm) and Spatial Audio. In Bluetooth mode the earbuds use AAC codec — not LDAC or aptX — which is a meaningful limitation for true audiophiles who want to stream 24-bit audio from Tidal or Qobuz.
That said, for 95% of listeners the AAC stream sounds excellent: clean, balanced, with a slight low-end warmth that makes bass-forward music satisfying without being muddy. The custom driver and amplifier in the H2 chip deliver noticeably better instrument separation than the original AirPods Pro, and the overall tuning sits in a commercially appealing V-shape that pleases without fatiguing over long sessions.
Spatial Audio with head tracking was introduced in AirPods Pro 1, but the second generation adds Personalisation. Using the TrueDepth camera on an iPhone 12 or later, the setup process scans your ear geometry and creates an individualised HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) — the mathematical model that determines how you perceive sound directionality. The result is spatial audio that sounds dramatically more like headphones coming from "outside your head" rather than from within your ears, which reduces listening fatigue on long flights or movie-watching sessions.
| Earbuds | ANC | Codec | Battery (ANC on) | Fit | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 2 | ★★★★★ | AAC | 6 hr + 24 hr case | Medium-small ear | €249 | iPhone users |
| Sony WF-1000XM5 | ★★★★★ | LDAC, aptX | 8 hr + 16 hr case | Medium ear | €280 | Android audiophiles |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | ★★★★½ | SBC, AAC | 6 hr + 18 hr case | CustomTune fit | €249 | Noise-sensitive users |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro | ★★★★ | SSC (Hi-Fi) | 5 hr + 14 hr case | Small-medium ear | €199 | Samsung users |
| Jabra Evolve2 Buds | ★★★½ | SBC, AAC | 7 hr + 14 hr case | Ergonomic | €199 | Work calls |
Apple rates the AirPods Pro 2 at 6 hours of listening with ANC on, 30 hours total with the MagSafe case. Spatial Audio draws more power, so expect less than the rated 6 hours with it on. Sony rates the WF-1000XM5 higher on the bud itself, so if per-charge endurance is your priority, the Sony leads on the spec sheet. The MagSafe case adds back to 30 hours total, and supports Apple Watch magnetic chargers, Qi wireless, and USB-C (updated in the 2023 USB-C revision). Fast charging gives 1 hour of playback from a 5-minute charge.
AirPods Pro 2 come with XS/S/M/L silicone ear tips — four sizes compared to the original's three — and Apple includes a fit test that uses the H2's microphones to measure whether your ear tip creates a proper seal. The force-touch stems allow for intuitive swipe-volume control (a first for AirPods), single press for play/pause, double for next track, and long-press to toggle ANC/Transparency. The earbuds are rated IPX4 for sweat and water resistance.
This is where AirPods Pro 2 separate themselves from all competition for Apple users. Automatic switching between iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch is near-instant and reliable — something that competing earbuds still struggle with. Siri hands-free works naturally. Find My support (with Precision Finding on iPhone 13+) means you can locate a lost earbud to within centimetres. Audio sharing lets you share audio with another pair of AirPods from the same device.
| Chip | Apple H2 |
|---|---|
| Driver | Custom high-excursion low-distortion driver |
| ANC | Active — H2 adaptive processing, 48,000×/sec |
| Transparency | Adaptive Transparency (sudden noise attenuation) |
| Spatial Audio | Yes — Personalised + Dynamic Head Tracking |
| Codec | AAC, SBC |
| Battery (buds) | 6 hr ANC on / 7 hr ANC off |
| Battery (case) | 30 hr total with case |
| Charging | MagSafe, Qi, Apple Watch charger, USB-C |
| Water resistance | IPX4 (buds + case) |
| Controls | Force-touch stem (press + swipe volume) |
| Find My | Yes — Precision Finding on iPhone 13+ |
| Weight | 5.3 g per bud, 50.3 g case |
| Ear tip sizes | XS, S, M, L silicone |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| ASIN | B0BDHWDR12 |
Buy them if: You're an iPhone or Mac user looking for the best all-round wireless earbuds. The combination of class-leading ANC, natural Transparency mode, seamless switching, and Spatial Audio is unmatched by any competitor in the Apple ecosystem.
Skip them if: You're on Android and want the best codec support — the Sony WF-1000XM5 with LDAC will serve you better. Or if battery life is paramount — Sony's 8-hour ANC runtime is a meaningful advantage for frequent travellers.
AirPods Pro 2 — €249. Available on Amazon with free Prime delivery. Check current pricing below.
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