AirPods Pro 2022: It's what's on the inside that counts

The new second-generation AirPods Pro look and feel nearly identical to the old model, but deliver a surprising leap in quality and features.

- JASON CROSS

The original AirPods Pro (fave.co/3BGniRe) were the right product at the right time. AirPods weren't the first true wireless earbuds, but they were certainly the ones that popularized the category, and in 2019 the time was right for a beefed-up version. Combining active noise cancelling, decent sound quality, and Apple's signature ease of use into a relatively affordable pair of earbuds was a slam dunk.

But times have changed. Three years later, the competition from Sony, Bose, Samsung, and Google is stiffer than ever. Everyone's got little comfy earbuds, and most offer better sound quality, noise cancelling, or battery life. Even Apple's instant pairing and other ease-of-use features aren't so special anymore.

The second-generation AirPods Pro (fave.co/3TWvKQ7) may not look like much of a change, but Apple has remade nearly everything about them other than their design. The improved AirPods Pro enter a far more mature and competitive market, but Apple has done everything necessary to make these easy to recommend for those invested in the Apple ecosystem.

NEARLY IDENTICAL, AT A GLANCE

You're never going to be able to tell if someone's wearing the first- or second-generation AirPods Pro by looking-not unless you get uncomfortably close.

The new model has the exact same shape as the old model, including the small touch-sensitive flat area on the front of the short stems. The little black ports for external microphones and pressure equalization are a different size and have been repositioned, but the glossy white bulbs and stems haven't changed.

If you could never get a good fit with the AirPods Pro, this new version probably isn't going to help-with one possible exception. The new model comes with four sets of eartips, adding extra small (XS) to the mix. If you've got really small ears, it might be the change you need to get a good seal.