Today, Apple announced via the Apple Newsroom the latest addition to the AirPods lineup – AirPods Pro. AirPods Pro feature an all new design, with a whole range of new features.
“AirPods are the best-selling headphones in the world. The one-tap setup experience, incredible sound and iconic design have made them a beloved Apple product, and with AirPods Pro, we’re taking the magic even further,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The new in-ear AirPods Pro sound amazing with Adaptive EQ, fit comfortably with flexible ear tips and have innovative Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. We think customers are going to love this new addition to the AirPods family.”
The AirPods Pro feature an all-new design. Each AirPod Pro earbud comes with three different sizes of silicone ear tips that conform to the contours of each individual ear. This is essential in delivering sound-cancellation.
“Active Noise Cancellation on AirPods Pro uses two microphones combined with software to continuously adapt to each individual ear and headphone fit. This removes background noise to provide a uniquely customized, superior noise-canceling experience that allows a user to focus on what they’re listening to — whether it’s a favorite song or a phone conversation.The first microphone is outward-facing and detects external sound to analyze environmental noise. AirPods Pro then create an equivalent anti-noise that cancels out background noise before it reaches the listener’s ear. A second inward-facing microphone listens toward the ear, and AirPods Pro cancel remaining noise detected by the microphone. Noise cancellation continuously adapts the sound signal 200 times per second.”
AirPods Pro deliver superior sound quality with Adaptive EQ, which automatically tunes the low- and mid-frequencies of the music to the shape of an individual’s ear — resulting in a rich, immersive listening experience. A custom high dynamic range amplifier produces pure, incredibly clear sound while also extending battery life, and powers a custom high-excursion, low-distortion speaker driver designed to optimize audio quality and remove background noise. The driver provides consistent, rich bass down to 20Hz and detailed mid- and high-frequency audio.
With AirPods Pro, Apple are introducing a new sound mode called “Transparency”. Transparency mode provides users with the option to simultaneously listen to music while still hearing the environment around them, whether that’s to hear traffic while out for a run or an important train announcement during the morning commute. Using the pressure-equalizing vent system and advanced software that leaves just the right amount of noise cancellation active, Transparency mode ensures that a user’s own voice sounds natural while audio continues to play.
You can switch between Sound Cancellation and Transparency modes from the Control Centre on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
In terms of battery life, AirPods Pro deliver the same amount of battery as the regular AirPods and feature the efficient H1 chip. If you are listening in Sound Cancelling mode, your battery life does reduce to 4 hours and thirty minutes of listening and three hours of talk time.
AirPods Pro also feature the “Ear Tip Fit Test” which, according to Apple, “helps ensure users get the best audio experience from AirPods Pro by testing the quality of the seal and identifying the best ear tip size for them. After placing AirPods Pro in each ear, advanced algorithms work together with the microphones in each AirPod to measure the sound level in the ear and compare it to what is coming from the speaker driver. In just seconds, the algorithm detects whether the ear tip is the right size and has a good fit, or should be adjusted to create a better seal.”
AirPods Pro will be available to purchase for £249 on October 30th and are currently available to pre-order from the Apple Store app or apple.com. AirPods Pro require Apple devices running iOS 13.2 or later, iPadOS 13.2 or later, watchOS 6.1 or later, tvOS 13.2 or later, or macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or later.