The AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) pairs class-leading noise cancellation — 20–30 dB measured by SoundGuys — with transparency that's still the benchmark and Apple's first five-star in-ear sound (What Hi-Fi?). Calls are the weak spot, and the Pro 3's arrival means buying now only makes sense on a deal. Check the current price on Amazon.
— THE VERDICT · JUDGEANY EDITORSApple's best buds, now playing the waiting game
The AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Case (USB-C) is the 2023 refresh of Apple's flagship earbuds: an H2 chip in each bud, Apple's claim of up to 2x stronger active noise cancellation versus the first generation, and a case that moved to USB-C with IP54 dust and water resistance. What Hi-Fi? gave the Pro 2 five stars — the first Apple in-ears to earn it — and called them "good full stop, not just for a pair of Apple earbuds." Context matters now: the AirPods Pro 3 launched in September 2025, so the Pro 2's case rests on finding it at a good price. This review aggregates manufacturer specs, published measurements, and owner impressions. We don't run a test lab; every number below names the outlet that published it, and the scores are editorial judgments built on that evidence.
Noise cancellation and transparency: the strongest case
This is where the Pro 2 still sets the pace. SoundGuys measured 20–30 dB of noise reduction depending on frequency, averaging 83% noise reduction, and TechRadar scored the noise cancellation 5/5. Apple's Adaptive Transparency — which monitors conditions 48,000 times per second to dampen sudden loud sounds — got TechRadar's "almost-flawless" verdict: clear enough to hold a conversation and easy to forget the buds are in. The Verge's Chris Welch judged Apple's "up to 2x" ANC claim realistic from office, subway, and street use. Layered on top are Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Voice Isolation, all driven by the H2 chip.
Sound: better than Apple used to get credit for
What Hi-Fi? found the Pro 2 "an engaging and entertaining listen" with more drive, muscle, and dynamism than the predecessor's clean-but-polite recipe, and voices that come through warm, natural, and richly detailed. The Verge called it the cleanest, most dynamic output of any AirPods to date, from a redesigned amplifier and driver. The ceiling is real, though: SoundGuys confirmed the codec support stops at SBC and AAC — no LDAC or aptX — so Android users chasing hi-res wireless are looking at the wrong buds. HearAdvisor's independent lab gave the Pro 2 an overall SoundScore of 4.0/5 (Grade A), with music streaming at 4.4/5 but speech-in-noise a modest 2.3/5.
The mic is the weak spot
Tom's Guide called the Pro 2 "nearly perfect true wireless earbuds" for first-time buyers — then flagged the one recurring dent: call quality "always sounded a bit muffled compared to a call on speakerphone," relatively lackluster for an otherwise premium product. Laptop Mag went further, saying it preferred the original AirPods Pro's call quality and found the Pro 2's ANC dips and wind resistance worse on calls. Owners echo the pattern: aggregate complaints cluster around callers hearing outdoor and wind noise, plus crackling or popping with the mic active on some units. If you take a lot of calls outdoors, this is the spec to weigh hardest.
Fit, battery, and the case
Apple's numbers mostly hold up in the lab. Apple's 6-hour listening claim (ANC on, 50% volume) landed at 5 hours 43 minutes in SoundGuys' continuous-playback test at 75 dB SPL, while Engadget managed 6 hours 15 minutes with a mix of ANC, transparency, and calls. The case adds up to 30 hours total, and a five-minute charge buys roughly an hour of playback. The case itself is the USB-C version's quiet upgrade: U1-powered Precision Finding in Find My, a locator speaker, a lanyard loop, four tip sizes, and IP54 on the buds and the case. Two ownership caveats recur: some owners find the fit too loose to hold a seal — which undercuts the ANC — and a long-running owner thread ties faster case standby drain to the always-on Find My/U1 hardware. Batteries aren't replaceable, so heavy daily use has a 1–2 year horizon.
Who should buy it
Buy the Pro 2 if you're on iPhone, value top-tier noise cancellation and transparency, and catch it at a deal price — camelcamelcamel logged $159.99 on Amazon on November 21, 2024, against a $249 list. Tom's Guide's own face-off scored the Sony WF-1000XM5 higher overall (89 vs 85, taking sound and ANC), so brand-loyal Apple fans should know the crown is contested. Skip it as a primary Android pair — Laptop Mag found pairing and the ecosystem features poor off-iPhone — and skip full-price purchases now that the Pro 3 is out at $249. Check the current price on Amazon.