AirPods Pro 2: Release date, price, features, and more details
The AirPods Pro is Apple’s answer to high-end true wireless earbuds, with a better fit, active noise cancellation, Dolby Atmos audio compatibility, and more – but even capable buds like the AirPods Pro can get old, and many are already looking forward to the next-generation AirPods Pro 2. While there are some disagreements over the improvements, when the redesigned AirPods Pro are released in 2022, they may have a smaller design, greater ANC capabilities, and even fitness tracking. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
When are the AirPods Pro 2 expected to be released?
Several reports suggested that the AirPods Pro 2 will be released in the first half of 2021, but as we now know, that never happened. They were also absent from Apple’s early September presentation, which saw the company debut a new 10.2 iPad, iPad mini, Apple Watch 7, and iPhone 13, as well as the later October event, which saw the company unveil the AirPods 3 and upgraded MacBook 14 and 16 models. So, when can we anticipate the next-generation Pro earbuds?
In June 2021, Ming-chi Kuo predicted that the AirPods Pro 2 will be introduced in 2022, although no exact date or window was given. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also claims that the second-generation AirPods Pro will be released in 2022, though he doesn’t give a specific date. Previously, leaker @LeaksApplePro agreed with Kuo’s timeline, but that has since been altered. In a tweet from October 2021, the leaker now claims that the AirPods Pro 2 will not be released until Q3 2022, however, no reason for the alleged delay was given.
Twitter leaker @FrontTron later supported this claim, claiming that the high-end buds have been delayed until Q3 2022. While it should be taken with a grain of salt, @FrontTron has a good track record, having successfully predicted the debut of the third-generation AirPods. Ming-Chi Kuo modified his estimate in December 2021, saying that the redesigned AirPods Pro will be released in late 2022.
With that in mind, it appears that the AirPods Pro 2 won’t be released until Q3 2022, which spans from July 1 to September 30 at Apple. While this is upsetting, the AirPods 3 are already available for pre-order if you can’t wait to get your hands on a fresh pair of Apple-branded buds.
What will the AirPods Pro 2 cost?
The good news – if you can call it that given the AirPods Pro 2’s high price – is that Apple plans to retain the AirPods Pro 2 at the same £239/$249 pricing as the original Pro buds. It makes sense, given how popular the AirPods Pro is, even nearly two years after their release, and how they continue to garner a following despite their premium price tag. If you’re looking for something a little less expensive and available right now, we’ve put together a list of the best true wireless earbuds.
What additional features will the AirPods Pro 2 have?
There isn’t any information about the new hardware and features that the AirPods Pro 2 might have, but you can expect the same headline features as the first-gen buds, such as ANC, transparency mode, and Dolby Atmos support. It’s also almost expected that the case will allow MagSafe charging, which was added retroactively to the first-generation AirPods Pro after the AirPods 3 debuted.
The second-generation AirPods Pro, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, could have motion sensors to power fitness monitoring features, however, it’s unclear whether this is due to hardware in the buds or iOS software. Ming-Chi Kuo also expects the buds would include fitness tracking technology with specific sensors, though he believes it will be less advanced than what the Apple Watch offers.
However, Twitter leaker @LeaksApplePro claims that the second-gen buds won’t offer a significant advance, stating that there will only be minor enhancements to battery life and noise cancellation, comparing it to the minor upgrade between the first- and second-generation AirPods.