Device hub · Earbuds · Desk research
AirPods Pro 2
Pro 2 is the installed-base sealed flagship: H2, U1 in the MagSafe USB-C case, four tip sizes, IP54, and the Hearing Health firmware stack that Apple later documented for Pro 2 and later.
Product images
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedAirPods Pro 2
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not an Apple asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedAirPods Pro 2
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not an Apple asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
In short
Pro 2 is the installed-base sealed flagship: H2, U1 in the MagSafe USB-C case, four tip sizes, IP54, and the Hearing Health firmware stack that Apple later documented for Pro 2 and later. Buy it for ANC-and-hearing on iPhone — not for Android codecs or an open-ear stem. The $249 US launch is Apple’s 2022 number. Leftover or discontinued at Apple is not a reason to skip this hub.
Who it is for
- iPhone owners who want Apple’s sealed ANC Pro with Hearing Aid firmware and do not need Pro 3’s 8-hour ANC table, IP57, five foam-infused tips, or workout heart-rate sensor.
- Buyers who will actually use Hearing Test / Hearing Aid / Hearing Protection (FDA-authorized Hearing Aid; region and age limits apply). Apple’s footnote family is Pro 2 and later — not Pro 1st generation.
- People replacing AirPods Pro (1st generation) who want H2, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, IP54 on the case, U1 Precision Finding, and the 6 / 30-hour table.
- Used / leftover / compare-page shoppers. Installed-base volume is the point of this hub. A leftover SKU is still a first-class earbuds-v1 record.
Who should skip it
- Android-first buyers who want LDAC, SSC, or a first-class Google / Samsung app. Apple lists Bluetooth use on non-Apple devices with limited functionality.
- Anyone who hates silicone tips. Pro 2 is a sealed in-ear with four tip sizes; AirPods 3 / 2 / 1 remain the open-ear stem.
- Shoppers who need Pro 3’s extras (foam-infused XXS tip, IP57, 8-hour ANC table, workout HR). Those are Pro 3 rows, not a firmware hop on this SKU.
- Buyers who want the original 2019 Pro. That is the AirPods Pro (1st generation) hub — H1, no Hearing Aid, IPX4 buds only.
Key differentiators
- OEM listening table: up to 6 hours (5.5 hours Spatial + head tracking; 4 hours Lossless with Vision Pro) and up to 30 hours with the MagSafe USB-C case. Fast charge is 5 minutes ≈ 1 hour.
- Hearing Health stack on firmware: Hearing Test, Hearing Aid (FDA-authorized), Hearing Protection, Loud Sound Reduction. Same footnote family as Pro 3 — Pro 2 and later. Not on 1st-generation Pro.
- H2 in the buds; U1 in the MagSafe USB-C case (speaker + lanyard loop). Adaptive Audio, Transparency, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume.
- IP54 on both buds and case on Support 111834 (USB-C sheet accessed 2026-09-19). Four silicone tip sizes (XS, S, M, L).
Caveats
- Every numeric battery and ANC-multiplier line is an Apple claim. GadgetShowdown has not lab-tested Pro 2. Do not invent a dB chart from “up to 2× Pro 1st generation.”
- This hub covers the current USB-C Support sheet (year introduced 2023). The Lightning MagSafe case SKU (announced 7 September 2022, Identify A2931 / A2699 / A2698) is a different SKU — note it in extras, do not merge the two sheets into one port.
- Hearing Aid / Test / Protection are regulated, region-limited, and intended for perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss (18+). This is not a doctor visit.
- Leftover or discontinued at Apple is not a reason to skip the hub. Apple compare still lists Pro 2 as of 2026-09-19.
- Apple product photography is not hosted here. Third-party IP guidelines and Newsroom “editorial use” language do not give a commercial gadget site a clear redistribution license.
Earbud-category specs
Same manufacturer rows on every earbud page.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Sealed in-ear with short stem | Apple Support 111834 |
| Fit / tips / wings | Silicone ear tips in four sizes: XS, S, M, L | Apple Support 111834 (In the Box) |
| Driver / acoustic architecture (OEM) | Custom high-excursion Apple driver; custom high dynamic range amplifier; vent system for pressure equalization | Apple Support 111834 |
| Chip / processor | Apple H2 headphone chip; Apple U1 chip in MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) | Apple Support 111834 |
| Active noise cancellation (OEM) | Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation; Adaptive Audio. Support 111834 footnote: up to 2× more ANC compared with AirPods Pro (1st generation) and AirPods 4 with ANC. | Apple Support 111834Manufacturer claim. Not a GadgetShowdown lab number. Do not invent a dB value. |
| Transparency / ambient (OEM) | Transparency mode; Conversation Awareness; Personalized Volume | Apple Support 111834 |
| Spatial / 360 audio (OEM) | Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ | Apple Support 111834TrueDepth iPhone required to create the personal profile. Compatible content / apps only. |
| Hearing features (OEM) | Hearing Test; Hearing Aid (FDA-authorized); Hearing Protection; Loud Sound Reduction | Apple Support 111834 footnotesHearing Aid / Test: AirPods Pro 2 and later, latest firmware, iOS 18+ / iPadOS 18+, age 18+, perceived mild-to-moderate loss. Not all regions. Same footnote family as Pro 3. |
| Battery — buds (OEM) | Up to 6 hours of listening time (up to 5.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking enabled); up to 4 hours of Lossless Audio listening time with Apple Vision Pro | Apple Support 111834Apple August 2023 / December 2023 test footnotes (256 kbps AAC, 50% volume, ANC on; ALAC lossless for Vision Pro). |
| Battery — with case (OEM) | Up to 30 hours of listening time with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) | Apple Support 111834 |
| Charging (OEM) | USB-C on the MagSafe case. 5 minutes in the case ≈ 1 hour of listening. USB-C Charge Cable is in the USB-C box (Support 111834). | Apple Support 111834 |
| Wireless charging | MagSafe, Apple Watch charger, or Qi-certified chargers | Apple Support 111834 |
| Water / dust — buds | IP54 (IEC 60529) — dust, sweat, and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise | Apple Support 111834 footnoteNot permanent. Do not charge wet. Not a swim bud. This is the USB-C Support 111834 rating (accessed 2026-09-19). |
| Water / dust — case | IP54 — Apple lists the rating for AirPods Pro and charging case on Support 111834 | Apple Support 111834 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple Support 111834 |
| Codecs (OEM) | Not published | Apple Support 111834 footnotesApple’s battery footnotes use 256 kbps AAC test tracks. Do not invent LDAC. |
| Microphones / calls (OEM) | Dual beamforming microphones; inward-facing microphone; Voice Isolation | Apple Support 111834 |
| On-bud controls | Touch control: press play/pause/answer; press twice skip / end call; press three times skip back; press and hold listening modes; swipe volume; “Siri” / “Hey Siri” | Apple Support 111834 |
| Multipoint / device switching | Automatic switching across devices on the same Apple Account. Not a named Android-style two-device multipoint toggle. | Apple Support 111834 system requirements / product pages |
| Sensors (OEM) | Dual beamforming microphones; inward-facing microphone; skin-detect sensor; motion-detecting accelerometer; speech-detecting accelerometer; touch control | Apple Support 111834 |
| Weight — one bud | 5.3 g (0.19 oz) | Apple Support 111834 |
| Weight — case | 50.8 g (1.79 oz) — MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker and lanyard loop | Apple Support 111834 |
| Dimensions — one bud | 30.9 × 21.8 × 24.0 mm (H × W × D) | Apple Support 111834 |
| Dimensions — case | 45.2 × 60.6 × 21.7 mm (H × W × D) | Apple Support 111834 |
| Finishes | White (the spec sheet does not list additional colorways) | Apple Support 111834 |
| Phone / OS compatibility | Latest iOS / iPadOS / watchOS / macOS / tvOS / visionOS for full features. Usable as Bluetooth headphones on earlier Apple OS and non-Apple devices with limited functionality. | Apple Support 111834 |
| Find / Fast Pair / UWB | U1 chip in the MagSafe USB-C case; case speaker; lanyard loop. Find My / Precision Finding is the Apple Account path — not Fast Pair. | Apple Support 111834; Newsroom 2022-09-07Lightning 2022 MagSafe case also shipped U1 + speaker + lanyard (Newsroom 2022-09-07). Hub dimensions/weight are the USB-C sheet. |
| Companion app / firmware | iOS Settings (no third-party app). Firmware via Apple OS updates. Adaptive Audio / Conversation Awareness / Hearing Health require listed OS + latest firmware. | Apple Support 111834 |
| US MSRP (launch) | $249 (US) | Apple Newsroom 2022-09-07; 2023-09-12Apple Newsroom, 7 September 2022 (Lightning launch). USB-C refresh stayed $249 (Newsroom 12 September 2023). Street prices go stale. |
| Price band | Flagship true-wireless ($200–$300 US launch) | Derived from Apple $249 start |
| Announced | 7 September 2022 (Lightning MagSafe case); USB-C MagSafe case refresh 2023 (Support 111834 year introduced: 2023) | Apple Newsroom 2022-09-07; Support 111834; Newsroom 2023-09-12 |
| Availability | Installed-base / leftover. apple.com/airpods merchandises AirPods Pro 3 as the current sealed flagship as of 2026-09-19 re-check. Compare HTML still carries an AirPods Pro 2 column. Leftover or discontinued at Apple is not a reason to skip this hub. | Apple AirPods compare; Support 111834 |
AirPods Pro 2 extras
Unique to this line or SKU. Other earbuds keep the first table aligned and swap this extras list.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning vs USB-C SKU | Lightning MagSafe case announced 7 September 2022 (Identify A2931 / A2699 / A2698, case A2700). USB-C MagSafe case year introduced 2023 (Identify A3047 / A3048 / A3049, case A2968). This hub’s numeric table is Support 111834 (USB-C). | Apple Support 111834; Identify 109525; Newsroom 2022-09-07 and 2023-09-12Do not merge Lightning and USB-C ports into one charging row. Both are AirPods Pro 2; the case connector and Identify numbers differ. |
| Hearing Aid detail | FDA-authorized Hearing Aid on AirPods Pro 2 and later with latest firmware; iPhone/iPad iOS 18+ (Mac macOS Sequoia+); 18+; perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Hearing Test and Hearing Protection share that Pro 2-and-later family. | Apple Support 111834 footnotesNot on AirPods Pro (1st generation). Do not write Hearing Aid as a Pro-3-only invention. |
| Live Translation | Apple’s later Pro 3 spec footnotes list Live Translation with AirPods on Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone for AirPods Pro 2 and later (beta; not all regions/languages). | Apple AirPods Pro 3 tech specs footnotes (cross-cited 2026-09-19)Software extra. Not a driver spec. Not on the 2023 USB-C audio-technology list as a hardware row. |
| Conversation Awareness | Yes — listed with Adaptive Audio on Support 111834. Newsroom 2023-09-12: iOS 17 Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness for both USB-C and Lightning Pro 2 with latest firmware. | Apple Support 111834; Newsroom 2023-09-12 |
| Included tip sizes | Four (XS, S, M, L) — one fewer size class than Pro 3’s five-size foam-infused box (no XXS) | Apple Support 111834 |
| Identify (USB-C sheet) | AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) — year introduced 2023. Bud models A3047, A3048, A3049. Case A2968. | Apple Support 111834; Identify 109525 |
| Identify (Lightning 2022 SKU) | AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case (Lightning) — year introduced 2022. Bud models A2931, A2699, A2698. Case A2700. | Apple Support 109525 |
| In the box (USB-C) | AirPods Pro 2; MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker and lanyard loop; silicone ear tips (four sizes: XS, S, M, L); USB-C Charge Cable; documentation. | Apple Support 111834 |
| Lossless with Vision Pro | Up to 4 hours of Lossless Audio listening time on a single charge with Apple Vision Pro (Support 111834; December 2023 ALAC footnote). | Apple Support 111834 |
| Recycled content (OEM) | Apple: 100% recycled gold in plating of multiple PCBs; 100% recycled rare earths in all magnets; 100% recycled aluminum in the MagSafe case hinge; 100% recycled tin in solder of multiple PCBs; 35% or more recycled plastic in multiple components. | Apple Support 111834Manufacturer materials claim on the USB-C sheet. Do not convert this into an independent carbon score. |
| Accessibility features | Live Listen, Headphone levels, Headphone Accommodations, Conversation Boost | Apple Support 111834 |
| Camera remote | Later Apple spec language lists camera remote on compatible devices running iOS 26 / iPadOS 26 or later with AirPods Pro 2 and later. Extra — not a 2023 USB-C hardware row. | Apple AirPods Pro 3 tech specs (cross-cited 2026-09-19) |
Overview
AirPods Pro 2 is the 2022 sealed Pro, refreshed in 2023 with a MagSafe USB-C case. Apple’s own framing on Support 111834 is still “Pro-level” ANC, Adaptive Audio, Hearing Health, and Personalized Spatial Audio on a short-stem in-ear with four silicone tip sizes, in a MagSafe USB-C case that Apple rates IP54 with the buds and that carries a U1 chip, a speaker, and a lanyard loop.
This hub exists so later earbud writers can clone one honest device record instead of re-deriving Pro 2 from vs-page drafts or from the Pro 3 sheet. The first spec table is earbuds-v1 — the same keys belong on AirPods 1, Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Sony WF-1000XM5, and Pixel Buds Pro. It is not a sitewide gadget schema and it is not watches-v1. Comparison URLs stay on their own -vs- slugs under /earbuds/…. This page’s public path is locked at /earbuds/airpods-pro-2/.
We do not claim we wore these on a commute or a run. Where Apple uses multipliers (“up to 2× more Active Noise Cancellation compared with AirPods Pro (1st generation)”), we repeat the claim and point at the Support footnote. Leftover or discontinued at Apple is not a reason to skip this hub.
Fit, tips, and form factor
Pro 2 is a sealed in-ear. Support 111834 lists silicone ear tips in XS, S, M, and L. That is the fit story versus AirPods 3 / 2 / 1, which are open-ear stems with no tips, and versus Pro 3, which ships five foam-infused sizes including XXS.
For comparison writers: do not write “same tips as Pro 3.” Dimensions are 30.9 × 21.8 × 24.0 mm per bud, 5.3 g — the same millimeter box as AirPods Pro (1st generation) at 5.4 g, not the Pro 3 30.9 × 19.2 × 27.0 mm / 5.55 g sheet. Quote both.
ANC, transparency, and spatial (OEM claims only)
Copy Apple’s names. Do not invent dB.
- Pro-level ANC + Adaptive Audio on the first table. The 2× versus 1st-generation Pro / AirPods 4 with ANC line stays labeled as a Support 111834 claim.
- Transparency, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Volume on the transparency row.
- Personalized Spatial Audio + Adaptive EQ on the spatial row. TrueDepth profile required; compatible content only.
- Voice Isolation sits with the microphones row — it is not a substitute for a codec list.
A Sony page keeps the same anc key and writes QN3e / Adaptive NC Optimizer. A first-gen AirPods page writes No.
Battery and charging (OEM table only)
Copy this table, do not invent rundown curves:
| Mode (Apple’s words) | Pro 2 USB-C claim (Support 111834) |
|---|---|
| Listening | Up to 6 hours |
| Spatial Audio + head tracking | Up to 5.5 hours |
| Lossless Audio with Apple Vision Pro | Up to 4 hours |
| With MagSafe USB-C case | Up to 30 hours |
| Fast charge | 5 minutes in the case ≈ 1 hour |
In the USB-C box: buds, MagSafe USB-C case with speaker and lanyard loop, four tip sizes, USB-C Charge Cable, documentation. Wireless charging is MagSafe, Watch, or Qi.
The Lightning 2022 case used a Lightning connector plus MagSafe / Watch / Qi. Do not write USB-C onto that SKU.
ANC, fit, and battery
anc, fit_system, and battery_buds are earbuds-v1 rows: every later earbud page should fill them, even when the OEM only publishes “IPX4” or “not listed.”
Pro 2’s fit is the four-size silicone tip + IP54 (USB-C sheet) story. Battery is the 6 / 30 table. Hearing Aid is firmware on this generation — do not turn it into a measured audiology graph.
Codecs, Bluetooth, and switching
Apple printed Bluetooth 5.3 and used AAC tracks in the battery footnote. It did not print LDAC, LC3, or SSC on Support 111834 we pulled. Keep codecs and write “not published.” Automatic switching is the Apple Account behavior, not a two-device Android multipoint toggle — keep multipoint and say so.
Hearing features and what not to invent
Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, Hearing Protection, and Loud Sound Reduction belong on hearing_health because later Pro 2 / Pro 3 pages need the same slot. Apple’s footnote says AirPods Pro 2 and later. A 1st-generation Pro page writes that Hearing Aid is not supported. A Sony or first-gen AirPods page writes “Not published” or that brand’s Hearing Wellness name.
FDA authorization, 18+, mild-to-moderate, region lists: copy the footnote. Live Translation and camera remote are extras because they are later Apple software, not a 2023 driver spec.
Software, Find My, and compatibility
Full features: latest Apple OS family. U1 is in the MagSafe USB-C case; the case has a speaker and a lanyard loop. Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness are listed on 111834 and were called out for iOS 17 on both Lightning and USB-C Pro 2 (Newsroom 12 September 2023).
Find My / Precision Finding is the Apple Account path. Do not invent Fast Pair.
Price and SKUs
US launch is $249 (Newsroom, 7 September 2022; USB-C refresh restated $249 on 12 September 2023). Year introduced 2023 on Support 111834 for the USB-C SKU. Identify numbers are in the extras table.
SKU split (do not merge)
| SKU | Year introduced (Identify 109525) | Bud models | Case model | Wired port |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 2 + MagSafe case (Lightning) | 2022 | A2931, A2699, A2698 | A2700 | Lightning |
| AirPods Pro 2 + MagSafe case (USB-C) | 2023 | A3047, A3048, A3049 | A2968 | USB-C |
In the box (USB-C Support 111834)
| Item | Present |
|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 2 | Yes |
| MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker and lanyard loop | Yes |
| Silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, L) | Yes |
| USB-C Charge Cable | Yes |
| Documentation | Yes |
Do not invent independent scores, Amazon star averages, or “we wore them for a week.” If you need a winner against Pro 3 or XM5, that is a future /earbuds/…-vs-…/ page — this hub only describes one product.
Sources
- Apple Newsroom — Apple announces the next generation of AirPods Pro — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Newsroom — Apple upgrades AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with USB-C charging — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) tech specs (111834) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — Identify your AirPods (109525) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — AirPods compare — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — AirPods Pro product page — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does this hub cover Lightning or USB-C?
The numeric table is the current USB-C Support sheet (111834, year introduced 2023). The Lightning MagSafe case SKU was announced 7 September 2022. Both are AirPods Pro 2. Extras list Identify numbers for each case. Do not write one charging-port row as if they were the same SKU.
What is actually different versus AirPods Pro 3?
Pro 3’s published deltas are foam-infused tips (five sizes including XXS), IP57, an 8-hour ANC table versus Pro 2’s 6-hour table, a 24-hour case total versus Pro 2’s 30-hour case total, and a workout heart-rate sensor. Hearing Test / Aid / Protection already landed on Pro 2 via firmware — do not write those as Pro-3-only. H2 is shared.
What is actually different versus AirPods Pro (1st generation)?
H2 instead of H1; Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume; Hearing Health firmware; IP54 on buds and case versus IPX4 buds and a case Apple says is not sweat/water resistant; U1 + speaker + lanyard; 6 / 30 hours versus 4.5 / more-than-24; four tips including XS versus three; touch control versus force sensor. Hearing Aid is not on 1st generation.
Does Pro 2 work without an iPhone?
As Bluetooth headphones, yes, with limited functionality. Hearing Aid, Adaptive Audio, Personalized Spatial Audio, and U1 Precision Finding sit inside Apple’s OS matrix. Do not describe Pro 2 as a first-class Android bud.
Is the $249 price a street price?
No. $249 is Apple’s published US launch price on 7 September 2022, restated for the USB-C refresh on 12 September 2023. Engraving, AppleCare, education pricing, and retailer discounts are separate. Leftover pricing is not the launch MSRP.
Does Pro 2 replace a hearing aid from a clinic?
No. Apple’s Hearing Aid feature is FDA-authorized for perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss in people 18 or older, on listed regions and OS versions, on AirPods Pro 2 and later. We repeat the intended-use sentence. We do not give medical advice.
Did Apple publish a codec list?
Not on Support 111834 we pulled on 19 September 2026. Battery footnotes use 256 kbps AAC test tracks. Keep the codecs row and write “not published” rather than inventing LDAC.
Official product page: AirPods Pro 2. Tech specs: AirPods Pro 2 specs.