When Apple first announced AirPods in 2016, the reaction was a very mixed bag. Their resemblance to a toothbrush head was uncanny but that didn’t stop them adorning ears pretty much everywhere you went.
As the years have swept by, several iterations of AirPods have appeared, with the originals now in their 3rd generation and the AirPods Pro now officially in their 2nd – though I’d argue they are actually in their third iteration, or at least 2.5.
The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) were released in 2022 alongside the iPhone 14 models, but they were updated with USB-C charging and a couple of additional features in 2023 alongside the iPhone 15 models – hence why I believe they are really in their 3rd generation. Here’s what those USB-C AirPods do brilliantly and what could be better.
The Disconnekt Downlow
Pros
+ Easy to use and setup
+ Brilliant features
+ Great sound quality
Cons
– Conversation Awareness mode could be better with audiobooks
– Find My notifications need work
The Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C) are a piece of tech I never leave home without and if I were ever to lose them and the Find My app failed me in locating them, I would be rebuying them immediately. Their ease of use, coupled with the excellent features offered, from the active noise cancellation and Conversation Awareness modes, to the volume touch controls, make the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation USB-C a no-brainer. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones to use in harmony with your iPhone or Apple Watch, the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C) are exceptional and second to none.
The reasons you should choose Apple AirPods 2nd Generation (USB-C)
The thing about AirPods is that once you start using them, you won’t be able to stop. I don’t believe I have gone a day since the AirPods Pro were announced that I haven’t used them at some point.
There are several reasons for that. The first is because they are just so incredibly easy to use. Once you set them up – which is also very simple – you can pick them up, put them in your ears and they will (almost always) instantly connect to whatever device you’re using, allowing you to listen to music or take calls hands-free. It’s a dream when walking, doing housework or just when you’re out and about shopping.
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There’s no need to jump into Bluetooth settings to connect and if you switch devices mid-way through a task – such as moving from your iPhone to a Mac for a call – they will automatically switch over if you’re signed in with the same Apple ID.
The second is that there are a range of features on board that are particularly useful. The active noise cancellation (ANC) on the AirPods Pro is superb and particularly noticeable when you’re on transport, whether a train, plane or tube. They will drown out the child screaming next to you, a plane’s hum or just the general hustle and bustle of a busy street. There’s also an Adaptive mode which is a mid point between Transparency mode and ANC, letting through some noise but drowning out background noise like a kettle boiling for example.
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There are a lot of Bluetooth headphones out there but while some will match the sound quality and better it in some cases, none offer the convenience delivered by AirPods when used with Apple devices.
I use the Announce Notifications feature a lot too. This is where Siri will read out messages or notifications when you have AirPods in your ears. It comes in handy when walking the dog for example, where my phone will be in my pocket and I might be listening to an audiobook on my AirPods. When switched on Siri will read out notifications from apps I have allowed, like WhatsApp and I can reply directly with my voice too.
The third main reason for AirPods Pro being a staple in my handbag or pocket is their sound performance. There are a lot of Bluetooth headphones out there but while some will match the sound quality and better it in some cases, none offer the convenience delivered by AirPods when used with Apple devices, whether iPhone, Mac or Apple Watch. Vocals are clear, there’s decent bass and the overall listening experience is a really great one.
What Apple AirPods 2nd Generation (USB-C) could do better
When the USB-C model of the AirPods Pro was announced in 2023, a couple of features were added alongside the move away from Lightning.
That includes Precision Finding built into the AirPods case, which in theory should make it easier to find your AirPods if you misplace them using the Find My app. Now I have found a lost AirPod in a field once, but Find My isn’t flawless. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t connect or claims the case was last seen several days ago even if you have it on you and are using the AirPods.
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That leads me onto my other little bug bear: Find My notifications. On one hand these are brilliant, notifying you if you leave something behind or if an item is no longer with you – and these notifications apply to AirPods Pro too. The problem is that you occasionally get notified you’ve left your AirPods behind even when they are in your bag, causing panic and a mad rush to pull everything out of your bag to double check. It’s not a good look let me tell you.
The only other thing that could use some more consideration is Conversation Awareness mode. It’s excellent in use – automatically adjusting the volume of media you are listening to if it detects you are having a conversation, meaning you don’t have to fumble around to press pause. It’s a feature I really miss on AirPods Max. Where it is not ideal however, is audiobooks. Conversation Awareness mode doesn’t pause media, it only reduces the volume until you stop talking so it means you miss parts of a book. It doesn’t matter for a song necessarily, but I’d love the option to get Conversation Awareness mode to pause media when a podcast or audiobook is on rather than just reduce the volume so I don’t have to go back to re-listen.
Do you need to upgrade from AirPods Pro 2nd Generation with Lightning?
The differences between the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation and the AirPods 2nd Generation USB-C are minor in the grand scheme of things so if you bought the 2022 model, you probably don’t need to buy the 2023 model.
All the controls are the same – there’s a touch sensor on the stem that allows for volume control when you slide your finger up and down. You can also press and hold to switch between ANC, Adaptive and Transparency modes and press once to pause or play, twice to skip a track and three times to go back to a track. Both models also offer ‘Hey Siri’ so you can call someone hands free, send a message or start playing music and both models have features like Personalised Volume.
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Where the two models differ is the charging port of course, as well as Precision Finding as I mentioned and dust resistance on the charging case of the USB-C model. The AirPods Pro with USB-C also offer support for lossless audio when used with Vision Pro so that’s worth considering if you’re planning on buying the headset.
The battery life is the same as the 2022 AirPods Pro model so you get around 4 hours talk time – though you can extend this if you only wear one AirPod at a time as popping them back in their case will give you an extra hour with just 5 minutes of charge.
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It’s also worth mentioning that you can charge the AirPods with USB-C via your iPhone with a cable if you have an iPhone 15 model with USB-C. Sadly you can’t just snap them on the back of a MagSafe iPhone, though both AirPods 2nd Generation models (USB-C and Lightning) are compatible with the MagSafe charger, and the Apple Watch charger too which is handy.
Should you buy the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C)?
If you don’t have the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation with Lightning then I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C). They are a piece of tech I never leave home without and if I were ever to lose them and the Find My app failed me in locating them, I would be rebuying them immediately.
There’s an argument to say the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C) will be overkill for some and you could save yourself some cash by opting for the AirPods 3rd Generation – which are also brilliant. The extra features offered on the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation are excellent, from the active noise cancellation and Conversation Awareness modes, to the volume touch controls. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones to use in harmony with your iPhone or Apple Watch, the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C) are exceptional and second to none.
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FAQs
Not compared to the AirPods Pro 2nd generation, no. Both offer the same sound architecture so they both sound great. You’ll notice an improvement compared to the AirPods 3rd Generation and first generation AirPods Pro, even though they all offer features like Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, but you won’t notice a sound performance difference compared to the 2022 AirPods Pro model.
Yes, I would say it is a better investment to buy the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C) over the model with Lightning, even if you still have a phone with a Lightning connection. There aren’t a huge number of differences, but the few that are offered are worth investing in unless you can get a significantly good deal on the AirPods Pro with Lightning.
Yes, AirPods do work with Android phones so you can still use them if you have a Samsung Galaxy S24 or Google Pixel 8 Pro for example. You may find you get a better experience from the Samsung Galaxy Buds or Pixel Buds however so I’d advise doing a bit of research before you buy AirPods as not all features will be available on Android smartphones.
The biggest difference between the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation and the AirPods 3rd Generation is the design, along with features like active noise cancellation (ANC). The AirPods Pro have silicone tips for a better fit, and ANC, as well as other modes like Transparency mode and Adaptive mode. They also offer features like Conversation Awareness mode and a touch sensor for volume control directly from the stem.
Both the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation and the AirPods 3rd Generation have Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, adaptive EQ and sweat and water resistance however.
