AirPods Pro: a sorta late review
Disclaimer: This review is fully based on my own experience and opinion of the AirPods Pro.
If I have to describe AirPods Pro in a word or a sentence, here’s how it will go:
1 word: Awesome
A sentence: By far one of the best products Apple has made that deserves to be priced at what it is.
The AirPods Pro is a better iteration and feel like a proper upgrade than the other AirPods that were released earlier this year. In fact, I would rather have both of them released at the same time so that it could have meant like a proper upgrade rather than spanning out their releases.
Airpods Pro are just AirPods with silicone tips is what the average consumer may consider. But we all know it’s beyond that and it's packed with features. Active-Noise Cancelation (ANC), Transparency mode, better drivers on each bud, new System-in-Package with H1 chip (SiP) and a different design.
Let’s kick off with the design. The design is unique due to the noise-cancelation feature it has. The design looks odd and we have got the internet filled with memes mocking the design. Jokes aside, it actually makes sense for such a design and it does even a better job as compared to how typical in-ear earbuds deal with the air pressure inside your ear. To be said simply, it just works.
That same formula has been applied even in the software of the iPhone to accommodate the AirPods Pro. Be it the toggle to switch between Transparency and Noise cancelation or the ear tip test. It is truly appreciated that there was some good thought put into the user experience of using these buds.
Sound quality is okay and just a bit better than the normal AirPods. I come from using the 1st gen of AirPods and it’s not literally 5–10 levels better. It’s 3–4 levels better than the usual AirPods. With noise-cancelation it gets really good with the quality, the highs and mids. Overall, as an average consumer, AirPods Pro do it fine and there’s nothing much to complain from my side.
Active Noise Cancelation is an amazing feature which was primarily limited to over-the-ear headphones. To own that kind of headphones it was expensive, too big and uncomfortable mostly. Bringing this feature to earbuds is really awesome in terms of advanced engineering. The stems are shorter with capacitive sides that enact a force touch type of click on the earbuds. But it does not have a Taptic Engine built-in. The features from AirPods continue here as well. So there is not much to say.
Here’s what I have found out while using the AirPods Pro:
1. They fit in well on my ears.
2. Battery life is about advertised but on average it was about 4 hours of use on the AirPods playing about 70% volume and the case holds up as stated.
3. My left ear felt uncomfortable no matter which size the AirPods are on. But it is probably a matter of getting used to it.
4. Transparency mode is seriously epic. The external microphones really do an amazing job of allowing sound into my ears. By far the best ambient mode any company has made on earbuds.
All in all to conclude, AirPods Pro is by far one of the best Apple product ever made. It shows what Apple means “it just works” and how their ecosystem reigns supreme in terms of retaining their existing users of iPhones and iPads. Millions of Apple users are going to buy AirPods Pro despite complaining of repairability, reusability and recycling of it. People are going to buy AirPods Pro because it just connects to their devices of choice and basically if you have an ‘i-product’ this is it champ. There’s no other better product you’re going to get to complement your iPhone or iPad.
Originally published at http://zulfistechtalk.com on November 14, 2019.
