AirPods Pro vs. AirPods Pro 2 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?

Three years after the launch of the first-generation AirPods Pro, Apple unveiled the second- generation model along with several new Apple Watches. The second-generation AirPods Pro feature the same design as their predecessors, but they improve on features like Active Noise Cancellation, in- ear detection, and battery life.

The first- generation of the AirPods Pro have been discontinued by Apple. Some customers may be considering whether to buy the first- or second- generation AirPods.

If you want to save money, should you buy the first generation of the AirPods Pro or stick with the second generation? The breakdown shows the differences that the new AirPods Pro bring.

Differences

The first- generation AirPods Pro.

• Active Noise Cancellation
• Transparency
• High dynamic range amplifier powering a high-excursion, low-distortion speaker driver
• H1 chip
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Optical IR sensors for in-ear detection
• Force sensor controls
• IPX4 sweat and water resistant earbuds
• Up to 4.5 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled
• 24 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation using MagSafe Charging Case
• ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case with Find My
• ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case compatible with ‌MagSafe‌ charger, Qi wireless charging mats, and Lightning
• Three silicone ear tips (S, M, L)

The second- generation of the AirPods.

• Active Noise Cancellation (2x stronger)
• Transparency and Adaptive Transparency
• New low-distortion audio driver and custom amplifier for richer bass and clearer sound
• H2 chip
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Skin-detect sensors for in-ear detection
• Force sensors and touch controls for volume adjustment
• IPX4 sweat and water resistant earbuds and charging case
• Up to 6 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled
• 30 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation using ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case
• ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case with built-in speaker for ‌Find My‌, Precision Tracking, and Lanyard loop
• ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case compatible with Apple Watch charger, ‌MagSafe‌ charger, Qi wireless charging mats, and Lightning
• Four silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, L)

The second-generation AirPods Pro offer a modest upgrade over the previous generation, but there are few must-have new features. Some users may be able to justify an upgrade to the second generation model due to the wide range of improvements, but this will not be the case for everyone.

If you want features like touch controls for volume adjustment or Apple Watch compatibility, you won't be able to upgrade to the second-gen AirPods Pro. If the batteries in your existing device have degraded, you might want to upgrade to a new device. The second- generation model has a lot of refinements.

It's a good time to buy the first-gen model of the AirPods Pro for a hefty discount since they are three years old, but remember that they're not new. Waiting to purchase the second-generation model for a few months could lead to significant savings since the AirPods Pro are among the most- commonly discounted Apple products.