Apple's most recent iteration of their high-end wireless earbuds makes a strong case for the brand’s device quality. Striking a sweet mic between sound quality and comfort, the 2nd generation AirPods Pro makes for a strong testimony to the brand’s reputation. Apart from improved noise cancellation and the H2 chip, which permits more immersive, three-dimensional sound, there are also many other unique features that are still unknown to users new to Apple.
Here are some of the best features of Apple’s 2nd-gen AirPods Pro that will change your pair-and-play habit and help you get the most out of your premium earpiece.
Touch Control
The interactive Touch control is one of the features that sets the AirPods Pro 2 apart from other wireless earbuds. It allows for better management of your music and calls by using the AirPods Pro 2’s stem.
- Swipe up and down - Adjust the volume
- One press - Play and pause music or answer calls
- Two press - Forward to next track
- Three press - Play the previous track
- Press and hold - Toggle between noise-control modes; Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency Mode
Keep in mind that these controls can be customized through the Settings menu in your iPhone, so you get to have even better accessibility to your music!
Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency
One of the three noise-control modes available on the AirPods Pro 2 is Active Noise Cancellation, with the other two being Adaptive Transparency and Off. The AirPods Pro 2’s ANC has been upgraded with a new driver and acoustic algorithms, making it more effective at cancelling out background noise. This means that you can enjoy uninterrupted listening sessions while commuting to work.
In Adaptive Transparency mode, you can remain aware of your surrounding ambience while still having music playing in your ears. The H2 chip dampens the impact of sudden, intense noises like sirens or building work for a safer experience when you’re outside with your AirPods Pro 2.
Here’s how you can easily switch between the three noise-control modes other than using the touch controls:
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open the Control Center.
- Touch and hold the volume control until you see additional controls.
- Tap the Noise Control icon at the bottom left corner.
- Simply switch between Noise Cancellation, Transparency, or Off.
Personalized Spatial Audio
If you want to experience cinema-like audio while being hooked on your AirPods Pro 2, simply turn on Spatial Audio mode and get your thrills going. The use of Spatial Audio in combination with dynamic head tracking creates an immersive listening experience, making it feel as though the sounds you hear in a movie or video are all around you.
Here’s how you set up Spatial Audio:
- While you’re connected to the AirPods Pro 2, go to Settings, tap on your AirPods device settings, then Personalized Spatial Audio.
- The settings will prompt you to use your iPhone’s True Depth camera to capture the front view of your face.
- Follow the instructions on the screen and move your head slowly in a circular motion to show the angles of your face. Then, tap Continue.
- Now, you’ll need to capture an overall view of both of your ears. After you’re done, audio and visual cues will help you finish setting up, and you’re good to go!
The Spatial Audio feature offers two modes: Fixed and Head Tracked. Do note that you need to have iOS 16 or later installed on your iPhone to enjoy this feature.
To toggle Spatial Audio on/off, simply:
- Open your iPhone’s Control Center.
- Touch and hold the volume control, then tap Spatial Audio on the lower right.
- From there, you can toggle between the following options; Off, Fixed or Head Tracked.
Find My Access
Afraid of losing your newly bought AirPods? Well, worry less, as the Find My app allows you to locate your AirPods Pro 2 in case you misplace or drop it somewhere. With the help of Apple’s U1 chip and a built-in speaker in the case, you are now able to track the exact location of your AirPods. While you are searching, the Find My app will also make the earphones play a sound so that you can better locate your AirPods.
Before you can use this feature, you’ll need to turn on Find My network.
- Open Settings on your Apple device.
- Select your name, then tap Find My.
- Select Find My [supported Apple devices and accessories], and turn it on.
- Toggle Find My network on, and you’re good to go.
Once you've activated Find My, you can go about your day using the earbuds without worrying about where you might have left them. If you do lose your AirPods, here’s how to track them using the Find My app.
- Open the Find My application.
- Select your AirPods, which will be displayed with the name you assigned them.
- If you misplaced it somewhere around your room or office, tap Play Sound to hear a noise from your AirPods case.
- To track your AirPods Pro 2, tap Find to see where it is on a map.
- Likewise, if your buds aren't in their case, you can use the Find My App to track down each one too.
Audio Sharing
You can now make use of the latest version of iOS if you and your friend are using AirPods to instantly switch between listening to the same thing or talking to each other without interrupting your music. Audio Sharing also allows the Lock Screen or Control Center on an iPhone or iPad to be used to adjust the volume and play, pause, and stop audio.
To start sharing, simply:
- Connect your AirPods Pro 2 to your iOS or iPadOS device.
- Tap the AirPlay icon on the Lock Screen, in Control Center or in the app you’re listening to.
- Tap Share Audio. If the person next to you is using an AirPods or AirPods Pro, open the lid of the case with the AirPods inside and hold them close to your device.
- When you see the pop-up prompt on your screen, tap Share audio and start listening together! You can also adjust the volume of your AirPods separately without affecting your friend’s volume.
Did we absolutely have to shell out another RM1000+ for the second generation? Not really, since the first AirPods Pro were pretty good enough; but it’s definitely not a regrettable upgrade, as the AirPods Pro 2nd Gen bought quite an improvement in our audio experience. All these features certainly sealed the deal for us. And, well, since we can get free shipping and exclusive engraving from the Apple Online Store, what's not to like, right?
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