At today’s Apple Wonderlust event, the tech giant revealed significant upgrades to its devices, as well as new product releases, and amongst these were the AirPods Pro (2nd gen). Here’s everything the RadioTimes.com Technology team knows about them.
What do you use your wireless earbuds for? It could be to listen to Katie Melua’s The Closest Thing to Crazy while on an after-work walk through the park, to catch up on the latest episode of How To Fail With Elizabeth Day during your commute, or perhaps it’s to read the next chapter of The Last Devil To Die audiobook by Richard Osman. Whatever you listen to through your earbuds, there’s no denying that a wireless listening experience is hassle-free, and one of the front-runners of the wireless earphone game is Apple.
Apple AirPods (1st generation) were released back in 2016, with the AirPods (2nd generation) following in 2019, the AirPods Max coming in late 2020, and the AirPods (3rd generation) being released in 2021. There are currently three types of AirPods an Apple wearer can purchase: AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, and the latest wireless earphone model in the mix is the AirPods Pro 2022. Now, there’s a new AirPods model in town.
Alongside the announcement of the brand-new iPhone 15, Apple announced the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) at yesterday’s (Tuesday 12th September) event. Here’s everything we know about the device so far.
Sponsored by Box.co.uk
Get your hands on the brand-new iPhone 15 at Box.co.uk
Some of the most exciting changes that came with the new iPhone 15 were the introduction of the Dynamic Island on all four models, the Action button which is replacing the ring/silent switch, and the USB-C port instead of the lightning cable. If you’re looking to try out these new features on the iPhone 15, then you’re in luck – it’s available to pre-order right now from Box.co.uk!
As well as all four models of the iPhone 15, including the iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, Box.co.uk also has Apple products in abundance, such as smartwatches, AirPods, and iPads.
Pre-order the iPhone 15 from £799 at Box.co.uk
For more on audio, be sure to take a look at the best DAB radios, Audible deals for this month, and our Apple Music vs Spotify and Amazon Music vs Spotify guides.
Plus, for the latest drops, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 release date and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 release date, stay up to date with our Technology newsletter.
AirPods Pro (2nd gen) 2023 UK release date
The 2nd generation of the Apple AirPods Pro will be available to pre-order from today (Wednesday 13th September), and available to buy outright one week later, on Friday 22nd September.
Pre-order the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) for £229 at Apple
AirPods Pro (2nd gen) 2023 UK price: how much do the new wireless earbuds cost?
The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with the MagSafe Charging Case (USB‐C) will be available to pre-order for £229 at the Apple website and other UK retailers starting from today.
Pre-order the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) for £229 at Apple
AirPods Pro (2nd gen) 2023 design: what do the new wireless earbuds look like?
Apple’s AirPods have a very distinct look; with the one White colourway and stem design, and the brand-new AirPods Pro (2nd gen) follows this template, too. The AirPods Pro (2nd gen) come in White, have an unsealed fit, and contoured stems.
However, unlike other standard AirPods — but like the AirPods Pro — the new wireless earbuds have touch-based controls for adjusting the volume; to access these, AirPods wearers simply use their index finger to swipe up or down on the touch control area. This is a handy feature which means the listener doesn’t have to use a device, such as their iPhone, to adjust the volume.
The AirPods Pro (2nd gen) will come with an all-white MagSafe charging case with a speaker, as well as a lanyard loop.
With Apple announcing the iPhone 15 has moved from a lightning cable to a USB-C charging port, you might be wondering if the 4th generation AirPods will make the same transformation. Let’s find out.
If you like listening to your music, podcasts and audiobooks out loud, be sure to take a look at the Sonos Move 2 release date page for all of your portable speaker needs.
AirPods Pro (2nd gen) 2023 features
The rumours are true: as the iPhone 15 moves from a lightning cable to USB-C charging port, so do the brand-new AirPods Pro (2nd gen). The main reason for this shift is that new EU regulations require all products to use the universal connectivity standard by 2024.
Like its predecessors, the 2023 AirPods utilises automatic ear detection to pause content when you remove your AirPods, and resumes it when you re-insert them — so you’ll never miss the final chorus of Olivia Rodrigo’s Driver’s License when you take your earphones to talk to them. The AirPods Pro (2nd gen) also use Apple’s Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, which makes it seem like the sound is coming from all around you.
Also like the AirPods which came before, the 2023 AirPods feature an IPX4 water-resistant rating, which makes them great for wearing outside, for example, when taking part in sports or even just getting caught in the rain.
A key difference between this new generation of Apple AirPods in comparison to the AirPods (3rd gen) is that it features the same H2 chip which is included in the AirPods Pro, instead of the H1 chip which is installed in the 2nd and 3rd generation AirPods. The H2 chip offers richer bass, clearer sound across a wider range of frequencies, and better acoustics. That’s not all, the H2 chip is also accompanied by Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity which offers the user a faster and more reliable connection with a compatible device.
With the additional efficiency the H2 chip and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity provides, the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) have an additional hour and a half of listening time.
Where to buy the new AirPods Pro (2nd gen) in the UK
The brand-new 2023 AirPods Pro (2nd gen) will be available to pre-order from today (Wednesday 13th September), and available to buy outright from the following Friday 22nd September.
Pre-order the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) for £229 at Apple
The wireless earbuds are available to pre-order from the Apple store, with other UK retailers also offering pre-orders.
Take a look at the top Apple Music offers for this month and the best AirPods alternatives for all things Apple audio.