Following the success of the original AirPods, Apple came out with the AirPods Pro, the company’s first noise-canceling earbuds. In order to achieve active noise cancelation, Apple redesigned the AirPods while keeping their signature look. Silicon tips are the biggest addition in the AirPods Pro design; not only do they provide a better seal for blocking outside noise, but they also stay in the ear better. Comfort was desired with the original AirPods because of the plastic speaker grill which didn’t provide much of a seal and hurt after a while of use. The stems of the AirPods Pro have been completely overhauled from the original design; they’re now shorter and have a bit of a curve to them.
A new design breeds a new interface because they’re shorter. Apple implemented a force touch sensor for noise and media controls instead of tapping. AirPods Pro stems also have additional microphones and vents on them to not only help cancel outside noise but they neutralize the pressure Active Noise Cancellation brings and in Transparency Mode it doesn’t feel like there’s anything in your ears.
I got the AirPods Pro for Christmas and I’ve been testing them out ever since and these are the best headphones I’ve ever had, even with some personal drawbacks. Since I started taking public transportation to get to and from my college campus, I wanted a pair of noise-canceling earbuds to drown out rumblings of buses and the conversations around me. Active Noise Cancellation shuts the world out while Transparency Mode lets it in. It’s hard to describe what they sound like unless you try a pair for yourself because it’s unlike anything I’ve ever tried before. When both AirPods are in your ears it’s like everything around gets sucked into a vacuum and it blocks out distractions when audio is playing so you can focus better. It’s done wonders for me when doing homework and while ANC doesn’t block out noise completely it’s definitely made the bus rides home more enjoyable.
There have been times where I wanted to listen to music and hear what’s going around me, Transparency Mode makes that possible. The AirPods Pro picks up ambient noise around you and sends it to your ears. Although I haven’t used it as much as noise cancelation it’s a really fun tool to have. When I first got them, I played around with them and was able to listen to music and watch TV at the same. With Transparency Mode it’s all about balance if the volume on your AirPods is too loud the ambient noise gets drowned out. In order to get the best of both worlds, I recommend having them at 50% when using transparency.
The AirPods Pro are the best headphones I’ve ever used which is good considering the $250 premium price tag. Noise Cancelation is pretty effective for earbuds although some high-frequency noises still get through. Transparency Mode is a great way to hear your surroundings and media at the same time but can also be used as a fun multitasking tool. They’re more comfortable and stay in better than the original AirPods. Connecting to and switching between Apple devices on the latest software is seamless so if you have the means and the ecosystem, the AirPods Pro are the perfect accessory.