Expert review of the Apple AirPods Pro 2

I notice right away how small the charging case is. It's almost the same size as a match box. This makes it smaller than the case of the JBL Tour Pro 2, for example. The earbuds are small and feel sturdy. Because the charging case is comfortable to hold, it's easy to take with me. Apple provides 4 sizes of silicone earbud tips to test which size fits your ear best. In addition, Apple provides a USB-C to USB-C charging cable.

The earbuds fit snugly in my ears, so they also stay in during a heavy workout. That's because the earbuds are sweat and water-resistant. Thanks to the Apple fit test, I know right away which earbuds fit my ears best. During the fit test, I put in the AirPods and they play a sound. This way, the AirPods determine if the earbuds fit well.

Just like the AirPods Pro 1, the AirPods Pro 2 have a spatial audio function. This provides spatial audio. Music doesn't sound like it's playing in your ears, but all around you. Videos sound like you're at the movie theater. The spatial audio also has head tracking. This makes the sound move along with the movements of my head. During a podcast, I got the sense that I was at the table with the presenters.

The AirPods Pro 2 have 4 settings for noise suppression. For example, I can choose to still hear ambient noise through the noise canceling. In Transparent mode, I can hear my surroundings even better but still hear the music. With the Adaptive function, the noise canceling adjusts itself to my surroundings. In Noise Canceling mode, I almost can't hear my surroundings anymore. I can concentrate on my work very well. With the combination of Spatial Audio and Noise Canceling, I can completely immerse myself in the music.

Unlike other brands, Apple doesn't provide a separate app to adjust settings. On the iPhone, I can adjust a few settings via the settings screen. This can be setting up noise canceling, Spatial Audio, and the controls of the earbuds. Unfortunately, I can't adjust the equalizer, so I have to do with the standard settings Apple provided. If I ever lose the AirPods, I can find them via the 'Find my' app on my iPhone.

The noise canceling and spatial audio provide a spatial and immersive sound experience. This is amplified because the sound quality of the earbuds is already good without these additions. I can hear clear audio with many details. The bass is clearly present and balanced. Compared to the AirPods Pro 1, the sounds are deeper and more spatial.

With an iPhone with iOS 18, I can use the AirPods as a hearing aid. I can do a hearing test via the iPhone and that way, my AirPods can measure my hearing loss. If I have mild hearing loss, I can use the AirPods as hearing aids. The AirPods help me understand voices, music, and other sounds around me. The AirPods will enhance these sounds, so I can hear them more clearly.