Apple just announced a new AirPods Pro alongside the new iPhone 15, as both devices dropped Apple’s own Lightning for USB-C. This new version of the popular earbuds is now available for preorder.
Apple’s AirPods Pro just ditched Lightning for USB-C, the same port found in the new iPhone 15 and its MacBooks.
AirPods Pro getting USB-C makes sense: Many folks will want to refuel their AirPods charging case with the same cable that Apple now uses for the iPhone. Yet, for some reason, the regular AirPods and the AirPods Max still use Lightning. Apple’s ninth-gen iPad, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse are the only other devices that haven’t been moved over to USB-C yet.
Other than the new charging port, these are still the same AirPods Pro 2 that Apple released last September (including the same $249 price). The primary upgrades for this set start with improved active noise cancellation (ANC) that Apple claims is twice as good as what it offered in the original set. The buds also give you improved audio and new touch controls for volume.
The charging case also features another upgrade over the first AirPods Pro: the little lanyard loop on the side. Maybe this will be the reason why you don’t lose this pair.
While you can order these AirPods Pro now, their Friday, Sept. 22, release date is practically perfectly timed, arriving after iOS 17 (which drops Monday, Sept. 18). That update adds two new features for the AirPods Pro: Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. The former automatically adjusts between Transparency mode and ANC based on the sound around you. Conversation Awareness will switch the sound levels when it detects someone talking to you, lowering the volume of whatever you’re listening to, enhancing the sound of the speaker and dampening background noise.
Wondering if you should upgrade? Well, we didn’t think this pair was a must-buy for first-gen owners back when they first came out, but early adopters for the original pair may think it’s time — especially if their battery life isn’t what it used to be.
We’ll be testing this new model soon, so stay tuned for our verdict.