Apple AirPods Pro with USB-C review: About time

Not gonna lie: My job here wasn’t very hard.

Apple’s new AirPods Pro, launched during the iPhone 15 keynote last week, are technically a new product, but they are in almost all aspects the same as last year’s second-generation AirPods Pro. To read my perspective about their sound, design, and user interface, check out my review here.

The biggest difference on the new AirPods Pro is in the way you charge them. The Lightning port on the case has been replaced by a USB-C charging port — Apple mirrored this overhaul with new iPhones. But while the Cupertino-based tech giant still calls them the “second-generation AirPods Pro,” they do have some hidden features that make them a little more than just the same ol’ earbuds in a new case.

Other than the USB-C port, the AirPods Pro are indistinguishable from the last year’s model.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Here’s a quick check list of new features on the USB-C AirPods Pro (which is probably what everyone will henceforth call them):

• A USB-C port, which lets you charge the case by directly plugging it into your iPhone

• A new USB-C to USB-C braided cable

• Dust resistance, bringing the AirPods Pro’s water- and dust-resistance rating to IP54 (the rating stands both for the case and the earbuds)

• Lossless audio with Apple Vision Pro

That last one is pretty cool. Lossless audio and wireless typically don’t mix, and despite claims from manufacturers, Bluetooth-based lossless audio is almost never really lossless. But the new AirPods Pro features Apple’s H2 chip, just like Apple’s Vision Pro, and Apple’s engineers actually designed a new wireless audio protocol that supports 20-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio with very short latencies.

In practice, when Vision Pro launches (the timing is still officially “early next year”), owners will be able to listen to lossless audio on their USB-C AirPods Pro while using the Vision Pro. As much as I’m eager to test that out (I’m especially interested in those low latencies Apple is promising), there is no way for me to do that now, but I’ll update this review if I ever get my hands on the $3,500 headset.

Dust resistance is also tough to test for obvious reasons. My hotel room in Cupertino was quite dusty, and it didn’t hurt the AirPods Pro in the slightest. We’ll call it testing!

If you run out of juice, you can now charge your AirPods with an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The most noteworthy feature is the USB-C port, replacing Apple’s proprietary Lightning charging port, which is pretty much dead now. I’m happy to report that the charging works as expected; It’s a relief that I can charge all of my devices with the exact same USB-C to USB-C cable.

There’s a cool new feature hidden here; you can charge the new AirPods Pro by connecting them to any of Apple’s new iPhone 15 devices. It’s one of those features that you won’t need very often, but it’s nice to have the option.

Is that all? Technically, yes. The new AirPods Pro are otherwise the same as their Lightning port-equipped predecessor (Apple just calls them both second-generation AirPods Pro), though you cannot buy that version from Apple anymore.

There are, however, some iOS 17 beta options that enriched my experience with the new AirPods Pro. These features work on both the USB-C and the Lightning variants of the AirPods Pro, and include Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Volume.

The three features, available both in the Settings and by long-pressing the volume icon in the Control Center when AirPods Pro are connected, work in tandem and build on top of each other. Adaptive Audio tunes out outside sounds you don’t want to hear while leaving desirable ones audible. Conversation Awareness turns music volume down when you start talking to someone, and turns it back up when the conversation stops. And Personalized Volume intelligently adapts the listening volume depending on the scenario you’re in.

The final result is a pretty impressive combo, which uses Apple’s machine-learning magic to juggle all of these possibilities into something that, at times, feels genuinely smart. For example, when I spoke to someone while listening to music, the AirPods Pro automatically lowered the volume so I could hear them. When the device “sensed” that the conversation was over, it gradually raised the volume back up to previous levels. Adaptive Audio, when set, would selectively reduce certain noises while letting others through; this works especially well with sirens, making this perhaps the greatest mode for city biking or running.

The price is the same, but the cable is now braided. Added value!
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Apple seems to be gunning for one all-encompassing listening mode, which uses AI smarts to intelligently figure how you want your earbuds to behave in different scenarios — and it automatically adapts accordingly. The idea is promising, but it’s not quite there yet for me. For example, Adaptive Audio reduces far less noise than full-noise cancellation, which was rarely ideal for my needs. And while Conversation Awareness won’t be triggered every time you mumble something to yourself, it’s not great for people who like to sing along to the tune they’re listening to (reader, I am those people).

Should you buy the new AirPods Pro? The answer Is pretty simple: They’re just as good (and ever so slightly better, thanks to the USB-C and other minor improvements) as last year’s AirPods Pro. If you already have those, upgrading is not worth it (unless you really cannot stand the Lightning port). If you’re just looking for a pair of earbuds with good sound and great noise cancellation, alongside some unique smart features, the AirPods Pro are a great buy.

AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‐C) will retail for $249. They will be available in the U.S. and 30 other countries on Sept. 22.