In the market for AirPods but not sure which one to buy? There are a few key differences between the AirPods and AirPods Pro. The biggest difference is the active noise canceling feature found only in AirPods Pro. Next, AirPods Pro features a higher degree of moisture resistance which Apple suggests makes it better suited for people that want to listen while engaging in intense exercise or sports (but not water-based sports like swimming). Lastly, AirPods Pro offers a feature called transparency that allows outside sounds to pass through to your ear – undoubtedly a safety feature.
Looking at the technical specs, AirPods Pro and AirPods second generation have mostly similar features. For example, both offer around five hours of talk or listening time. However, if using the active noise canceling feature, talk and listening time drops to 4.5 hours on the AirPods Pro. Also, AirPods Pro way ever so slightly more at 5.4 grams each, compared to the second-generation air pods which weigh in at 4 grams. But with such a small difference in weight, it’s unlikely that anyone would notice the difference.
Lastly, both the AirPods Pro and AirPods second-generation come stock with a wireless charging case. This is in comparison to the original AirPods first generation which are still available from Apple for a lower price of $149. The original AirPods come with a wired charging case, but are otherwise very similar to the second generation air pods.
To Pro, Or Not To Pro?
If you’re not as concerned about having the latest and greatest, you may want to consider what you are actually paying for by upgrading. With the AirPods Pro, mostly what you are paying for is the active noise canceling feature. While that may sound like a very useful feature, it’s not a perfect solution to blocking out external noise.
First, active noise cancellation only works well in blocking sounds that are consistent and predictable – such as the hum of the engines on a plane, a lawnmower roaring in the distance, or the droning of a crowd in a restaurant. However, active noise canceling does nothing against sudden sounds like a baby crying or hammers at a construction site. Since these sounds aren’t a regular or predictable, active noise canceling devices typically can’t keep up. And while this may not be relevant for most people, a number of individuals have reported feelings of nausea and dizziness as a result of active noise canceling.
Considering the Alternatives
If you’re not an Apple devotee, you may want to consider some alternatives that offer similar features. A few potential choices include the Sony WF-1000xm3 which offers almost the same features as the AirPods Pro, but also a virtually identical price tag. Looking further down on the features list, one budget alternative could be the Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo which received a positive review from CNET and is available for around $50.
There are dozens of entries in this category at all sorts of price points. If Apple is meeting your needs, there’s likely to be a non-Apple alternative out there that will.
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