New AirPods Professional 2 (USB-C) vs AirPods Professional 2 (lightning)

Apple AirPods Professional 2nd Era (USB-C)

The up to date AirPods Professional (second technology) have a USB-C charging port, permitting you to cost utilizing USB-C cables you have already got for different gadgets, and even from a USB-C iPhone. You get the identical beautiful sound high quality and lively noise cancellation options that you simply do with the unique Lightning model.
Professionals

Can cost out of your USB-C iPhone

Lossless audio help for Imaginative and prescient Professional

Mud resistant
Cons

Nearly equivalent to older model

Will not work along with your Lightning cables
Apple AirPods Professional 2

The Lightning Apple AirPods Professional (second-generation) supply the identical high-quality sound and lively noise cancellation options as the brand new USB-C model, making them (collectively) Apple’s finest sounding in-ear headphones. The Lightning cable could also be on the best way out, however it would nonetheless in all probability be round longer than your AirPods will.
Professionals

Works along with your present Lightning cables

Prone to see vital reductions

Identical nice audio and options as the brand new model
Cons

Will not help lossless audio with the Imaginative and prescient Professional

Lightning connector being phased out

When the iPhone 15 fashions have been launched, one of many greatest tales was that they have been the primary iPhones to feature a USB-C charging port as a substitute of the proprietary Lightning port that has appeared on all earlier iPhone fashions because the iPhone 5. Apple has leaned into the change and is including USB-C charging to different merchandise that beforehand featured a Lightning port, too.

That is the case with the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) wi-fi earbuds, which have been up to date to a USB-C charging port. Nevertheless, the adjustments are so minimal that the up to date mannequin does not also have a new title, leaving us to need to take care of unwieldy phrases resembling ‘Apple AirPods Professional (2nd Era) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C)’ to distinguish between the fashions.

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As you may need guessed, the largest change between the 2 variations of primarily the identical product is the kind of port within the charging case. There are another variations, nevertheless, a few of that are vital. How do the AirPods Professional 2nd Era USB-C examine to the old 2nd Generation AirPods Pro from 2022? And should you presently personal the Lightning model, is it price upgrading? Let’s discover out.

Worth, availability, and specs

The AirPods Professional (2nd Era) with the Lightning port launched in September 2022, at a worth of $249. Because the replace to the USB-C model, it is not attainable to purchase new Lightning AirPods Professional (2nd Era) from the Apple web site, though you continue to get a pair of licensed refurbished Lighting AirPods Professional (2nd Era) from the Apple web site for $209.

The USB-C AirPods Professional are $249 from Apple and you may presently get your arms on a pair from Amazon for just $189.

As you’ll count on, the overwhelming majority of the specs are the identical between the 2 fashions, however let’s check out a number of the key specs.

	Apple AirPods Professional 2nd Era (USB-C)	Apple AirPods Professional 2
Battery Life	4.5 hours discuss time, 6 hours listening, 30 hours with case	4.5 hours discuss time, 6 hours listening, 30 hours with case
Noise Cancellation	Sure	Sure
IP score	IP54	IPX4
Supported codecs	SBC, AAC, Lossless Audio with Imaginative and prescient Professional	SBC, AAC
Charging	Wi-fi, USB-C	Wi-fi, Lighting
Dimensions	45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7 / 50.8g (Charging Case), 30.9 x 21.8 x 24mm / 5.3g (Earbuds)	45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7mm / 50.8g (Charging Case), 30.9 x 21.8 x 24mm / 5.3g (Earbuds)
Coloration	White solely	White solely
Chip	H2 Chip, U1 Chip in Charging Case	H2 Chip, U2 Chip in Charging Case
Spatial Audio	Sure, Personalised Spatial Audio with Head Monitoring	Sure, Personalised Spatial Audio with Head Monitoring

What’s the identical between Apple’s AirPods Professional 2nd Era fashions?

The quick reply is sort of every part. There are a few vital variations which we’ll have a look at under, however first, let’s check out what hasn’t modified.

Design

The design stays precisely the identical, so if the AirPods Professional (2nd Era) with Lightning felt good in your ears, the USB-C mannequin will really feel equally good. The AirPods Professional (2nd Era) fashions each have quick stems which are related in size to the AirPods (3rd Generation), however considerably shorter than on the older fashions. There is a vent on the aspect for stress equalization, and a contact sensor on the stem. Each fashions embrace two microphones to energy the lively noise cancellation (ANC) and have silicone ear suggestions on the finish of the pinnacle, with 4 measurement choices out there.

Controls

Each fashions use the identical contact sensor on the stem to let you management your music or calls with no need to the touch your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. With the arrival of iOS 17, each fashions of AirPods Professional achieve new controls, with a press of the stem permitting you to mute and unmute calls. Hanging up a name now requires a double press. You can too slide your finger up and down the sensor to show the amount up or down or maintain the sensor to change between Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, or Adaptive Audio mode.

Sound

The sound high quality can be precisely the identical for each fashions of AirPods Professional (2nd Era). A customized driver and amplifier assist to cut back distortion when in comparison with the original AirPods Pro, so that you get clearer highs and deeper bass, irrespective of the amount degree. The Lively Noise Cancellation is great and might scale back intrusive sounds resembling screaming infants or energy instruments, in addition to background noise like basic dialog. Your Apple Watch may even present you the way a lot the sound degree has been lowered because of your AirPods Professional (2nd Era).

Listening to music, you get a good wider soundstage than on the unique AirPods Professional, with noticeably richer bass, and extra readability. You can too use Personalized Spatial Audio that is tailor-made to your ears, and head monitoring that can transfer the sound combine as you progress your head.

Processor

Each fashions use the same H2 chip that permits options resembling improved noise cancellation and total higher sound high quality than the unique AirPods Professional that use the H1 chip. It additionally offers the AirPods Professional (2nd Era) higher battery life than the unique AirPods Professional have been capable of supply. Apple claims that the H2 chip permits twice the extent of noise cancellation as you bought with the unique AirPods Professional.

Battery life

Each fashions of AirPods Professional may give as much as 6 hours of listening time, which drops down to five.5 hours when you have Spatial Audio with head monitoring on. When you’re making calls, you’ll be able to stand up to 4.5 hours of discuss time with the lively noise cancellation turned on. The charging case permits you to stand up to 30 hours of listening time between prices, or 24 hours of discuss time. Simply 5 minutes within the charging case will give round an hour of listening time or discuss time.

What’s completely different between Apple’s AirPods Professional 2nd gen fashions?

Up to now, so precisely the identical. Is there something completely different concerning the USB-C model of the AirPods Professional (2nd Era). Nicely, sure, there may be, and it is not simply the charging port.

Wi-fi charging case

The obvious distinction between the AirPods Professional (2nd Era) USB-C and the outdated AirPods Professional (2nd Era) with Lightning is that the charging case on the previous has a USB-C port instead of the Lightning port on the unique model. Even then, you’d barely suppose to have a look at them, because the ports are very related in measurement.

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Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C) review: Do you need to upgrade?

The AirPods Professional 2nd Era now have a MagSafe and USB-C case, plus another enhancements, however must you purchase them? This is my evaluation.

Nevertheless, the USB-C case permits a useful characteristic that is not attainable with the Lightning case; with a USB-C to USB-C cable, you’ll be able to cost your AirPods instantly from a USB-C iPhone such because the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro. Each fashions supply wireless charging, they usually’re each suitable with MagSafe too.

IP Ranking

One other small distinction between the 2 variations of AirPods Professional (second technology) is that the USB-C model has a barely completely different IP rating, which is a measure of ingress safety. The older model is rated at IPX4, which signifies that they will face up to sweat and the occasional splash with out an excessive amount of concern.

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The USB-C model is rated at IP54, which signifies that they’ve precisely the identical degree of moisture safety however are additionally protected towards the restricted ingress of mud.

Apple

Precision Discovering

The AirProds Professional (2nd Era) with USB-C include a second technology of the U1 chip inbuilt, whereas the Lightning mannequin has the primary technology of the U1 chip. The second technology of the U1 chip permits for Discover My with Precision Finding to precisely find your charging case relatively than solely telling you the gap to a few meters. You may want an iPhone 11 or newer with an ultra-wideband chip inside with a view to use this characteristic, nevertheless.

Optimum Imaginative and prescient Professional expertise

The ultimate distinction is kind of a major one and one that will irk house owners of the unique AirPods Professional (2nd Era) with Lightning. That is as a result of should you personal the Apple Vision Pro, AirPods Professional (2nd Era) with USB-C can play audio from the blended actuality headset in 20-bit, 48kHz lossless audio. That is the primary time that any AirPods have been capable of wirelessly play lossless audio.

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When you personal the AirPods Professional (2nd Era) with Lightning then you definitely’re out of luck, as they do not help lossless audio with the Vision Pro. When you’ve shelled out the numerous price ticket of the Imaginative and prescient Professional, you would possibly really feel a little bit aggrieved to need to additionally improve your in any other case equivalent 2nd Era AirPods Professional, however sadly, that is the case.

Conclusion: To USB-C or to not USB-C?

When you do not already personal the older model of the AirPods Professional (2nd Era) then you do not actually have a choice to make. You may discover it a battle to get your arms on the outdated Lightning model of the AirPods Professional (2nd Era) and there is not any actual purpose why you’d need to. You lose the power to cost your AirPods Professional out of your iPhone, and should you personal a Imaginative and prescient Professional, you will not get the lossless audio help that is solely out there with the AirPods Professional 2nd Era with USB-C.

Editor’s Selection

Apple AirPods Professional 2nd Era (USB-C)

$189 $250 Save $61

The great thing about AirPods is their comfort, and the AirPods Professional 2nd Era (USB-C) aren’t any completely different. The improve to USB-C solely provides to this, whereas the additional options and extra software program enhancements make for an total glorious expertise.

When you already personal a pair of Lighting AirPods Professional (2nd Era) nevertheless, then there’s little or no purpose to improve them, until you additionally personal the Vision Pro. The charging port and dirt safety actually aren’t large enough causes to ditch your in any other case glorious AirPods and fork out for a brand new pair that sound equivalent.