Excited about those new AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds? Before you break open that clean white box, I want to talk through some of the downsides real users have experienced. I‘ve tested and compared them extensively to many of the latest competitors. While the AirPods Pro 2nd generation aren‘t bad, they fall short of expectations considering their premium pricing. Read on for the key drawbacks I uncovered to see if they are the right choice for your personal needs and preferences.
Overview: High Price, Incremental Upgrades, Widening Alternatives
The original AirPods first arrived in 2016 and sparked significant wireless earbud hype with their unique design. The AirPods Pro in 2019 added better sound and noise cancellation in response to raising the bar from alternatives. Three years later in September 2022, the 2nd generation AirPods Pro landed as an iterative upgrade over their predecessors.
So what exactly changed? Not a whole lot. The design went untouched, retaining the infamous protruding stems. Chip upgrades provide moderate boosts to noise cancelling and audio quality. Extra mics improve voice calls. And iOS 16 compatibility enables personalized spatial audio with head tracking during video playback. Battery life gets a small bump to 6 hours max per charge.
Considering a $249 price tag equal to the already great predecessor model, early adopters felt a bit underwhelmed. Combining only subtle improvements with few new features left some wondering why not just purchase the discounted originals. Additionally, Apple kept several pain points intact around exclusivity to their ecosystem and fit. Outside brands responded with better, often cheaper alternatives.
This lack of innovation with the 2nd gen motivated me to closely analyze AirPods Pro reviews and feedback. Several key complaints rose to the surface explaining why some consumers feel Apple no longer leads the true wireless market. Let‘s explore the 5 biggest drawbacks I found:
Complaint 1: Unchanged Design Lacks Style Choices
Sporting the signature white buds joined by protruding stems, the AirPods aesthetic remains highly divisive – you likely love or hate the look. While instantly recognizable, their uniform styling severely limits personal expression compared to the diversity offered by fashion-forward rivals. Beyond white colorway restrictions, the one-size stem shape causes painful pressure points for some ears.
Creative Strategist Maya Golden at reviews site Wirecutter confirms: "A lot of people just think the AirPods look goofy—and now, thanks to their ubiquity, maybe also basic."
Seeking both enhanced comfort and the ability to accessorize, consumers increasingly look toward Beats and Amazon for vibrant colors alongside streamlined, stemless designs. Choices matter more than ever as earbuds adopt a central spot in popular outfits. Apple leaves lots of style votes on the table clinging to their sole polarizing look.
Complaint 2: Key Features Locked to Apple Devices
Like an exclusive club, Apple‘s magical ecosystems requires owning the latest iPhones or Macs to enjoy certain Airpods Pro 2 functionality.
Android users get left out completely from exciting Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Capable of scanning ear and head position for immerse personal sound, it only works on Apple gadgets eliminating vast potential markets.
And the "Hey Siri" voice assistant refuses to help Android owners change tracks or lookup information. Without access to Siri, you‘ll be stuck manually tapping controls instead of getting hands-free convenience.
Reviewing for CNET, David Carnoy summarizes the disappointment: "While they do work with Android phones, some features like spatial audio (immersive head-tracking sound) only work with Apple devices."
Why alienate over a billion Android smartphone consumers from unique aspects of your earbuds? Apple risks reducing mainstream appeal by limiting cross-platform support.
Complaint 3: Mediocre Battery Life Falls Behind
While Apple touts 6 hours maximum playtime per charge as a triumph, that modest battery life gets dwarfed by high-performing rivals. Models from Google, Sony, and Amazon soar past with up to double the endurance off a single top up:
| Earbuds Model | Battery Life |
|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 2 | 6 hrs |
| Google Pixel Buds Pro | 11 hrs |
| Sony WF-1000XM4 | 12 hrs |
| Amazon Echo Buds 2 | 15 hrs |
Falling short on runtime directly hurts day-to-day flexibility – you‘ll be forced to pop the AirPods Pro 2 back in their case much sooner. For commuters or avid podcast listeners, the frequency of recharging gets annoying fast. Why deal with the interruption when advanced batteries available elsewhere keep your tunes flowing?
Tech Radar‘s Olivia Tambini complains "the battery life could still be longer. With noise cancellation switched on, they last for around five hours on a single charge – one hour more than the previous AirPods Pro from 2019, but well below the battery life offered by some rivals."
Complaint 4: Noise Cancellation & Audio Trails Cupertino Rivals
Investing $249 assumes Apple perfected critical sound capabilities like noise reduction and audio fidelity. Disappointingly their engineering enhancements consistently fall a step behind pacesetters focused exclusively on headphones.
Bose, Sony, Sennheiser – these legendary names regularly prove better equipped for blocking external nuisance and reproducing intricate music details. The AirPods Pro 2 makes progress catching up to ANC pioneers thanks upgraded internal hardware. But repeated testing shows continued sizable gaps for both metrics:
| Noise Cancellation | Sound Quality | |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 2 | Good | Very Good |
| Sony WF-1000XM4 | Excellent | Superb |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds | Excellent | Excellent |
Critiquing for leading tech site Rtings, Adam concludes "The noise isolation and active noise cancellation aren‘t as good as the Sony WF-1000XM4. They won‘t block as much noise like commuter trains or airplane engines." Reviewers commonly favor Sony and Bose thanks to category-leading noise limiting competence.
Don‘t expect quite as rich or well-rounded audio reproduction either according to listening tests. While the AirPods Pro 2 satisfy, studio monitor-like definition gets delivered by select high-end alternatives. If you really care about hearing every detail or separating layered tracks, shortcomings emerge against top-tier opponents.
Complaint 5: Comfort & Fit Struggles During Exercise
Engineered for casual usage more than athletics, the AirPods Pro 2 shares a destiny with prematurely launched Apple Watch models not optimized for fitness. Awkward structure and materials in sweat-inducing environments lead to looseness and slipping issues. Even safety suffers should one dislodge mid rep.
Comparing with exercise-friendly designs shows the rigidity deficit:
| Workout Comfort | Stability | |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 2 | Mediocre | Average |
| Beats Fit Pro | Very Good | Great |
| Jabra Elite Active 7 | Excellent | Excellent |
CNET‘s Scott Stein documents the common sentiment: "The redesigned third-gen AirPods don‘t conform to more ear shapes. I‘ve had multiple people tell me the Pros drop out of their ears while running." Purpose-built alternatives grab hold way superior thanks to sweat-tacky coatings and ergonomic shaping. Don‘t expect the AirPods Pro 2 to match that security.
Not All Doom & Gloom: Who Should Still Buy AirPods Pro?
After digesting key areas ripe for improvement, you may feel discouraged about AirPods Pro 2 ownership. I aim for complete transparency around limitations. Yet some audiences exist where Apple‘s headphones shine.
Diehard iPhone households invested wholly into their ecosystem receive exclusive access to fancy features like spatial audio. Seamless Siri access also caters best to established iOS devotees. Just know that Android compatibility gets hamstrung.
Style mavens already on board with the iconic stem appearance and white colorway will appreciate AirPods matching their carefully curated aesthetic. Minimalists further welcome a refreshingly uncomplicated design.
Social flexers hoping to subtly signal status and wealth via glossy gadgets continue finding appeal from anything emerging with bitten fruit logos. The brand lifts perceptions around sophistication and success replicated by few contenders.
See, contingent on priorities and use cases, the AirPods Pro 2 hold legitimate appeal offsetting drawbacks covered. My goal was simply bringing well-rounded education on shortcomings frequently buried or spun misleadingly across mainstream technology press outlets. Hopefully the info helps guide your personal purchase decision!
Still Debating? Consider One of These AirPod Alternatives Instead
If Apple failed winning you over, no worries – loads of compelling substitutes exist. I already highlighted leaders from Sony, Bose, Jabra beating AirPods Pro 2 in certain areas. Expanding your search further reveals options excelling at different specialties:
Google Pixel Buds Pro (🚀 Fastest charging)
Beats Fit Pro (🏋️♂️ Ideal for workouts)
1More EVO (🎧 Tuned by Grammy-winners)
And the list goes on. Don‘t settle just to join the wireless bandwagon – research competing models aligning closest with your unique preferences. Finding better suited matches leaves nobody stuck with the common AirPods Pro complaints.
Now I‘d love to hear your thoughts after considering the key drawbacks:
- What surprised or concerned you most about the AirPods Pro 2?
- Do you agree Apple trails rivals in certain areas now?
- Are there other wireless earbuds better meeting your needs?
I‘m always glad to offer 1-on-1 guidance. Just drop any questions in the comments section below!
