What we tested
Two weeks. Daily commutes, gym sessions, video calls, and one very long flight from London to Dubai. Two testers — one iPhone user who's been on AirPods since the first generation, and one who switched from Sony earbuds specifically for this review.
The AirPods Pro 2 have been out long enough now that the hype has settled. The question is whether they still hold up against a market that has caught up considerably.
Noise cancellation
Better than it has any right to be for an in-ear. The AirPods Pro 2 punch well above their size — on the flight, our tester reported engine noise dropping to a level that felt closer to over-ear ANC than anything we'd expect from earbuds.
The difference between these and the competition narrows every year. The Sony WH-1000XM5 still wins on raw ANC performance, but the gap is smaller than it used to be. For earbuds specifically, nothing at this price does it better.
Transparency mode is the other side of this and it remains the best in the business. It sounds so natural you genuinely forget you're wearing earbuds. Useful if you need to stay aware of your surroundings without pulling them out constantly.
Sound quality
Warm and detailed with a slight bass lift that suits most music well. Not reference accurate, but that's not what these are for.
Call quality is excellent. Four microphones, wind noise reduction that actually works, and voice clarity that makes a noticeable difference on video calls compared to cheaper alternatives.
Fit and comfort
The AirPods Pro 2 come with four ear tip sizes and a fit test built into iOS. Get the right size and they stay put. Our gym tester wore them through a full weights session and a run without them shifting.
If you've struggled with in-ear fit in the past, these won't magically fix that. In-ear comfort is personal. Try them if you can before committing.
Battery life
Six hours per charge, 30 hours total with the case. That's the official figure and it's roughly accurate in our testing — we got between five and a half and six and a half hours depending on ANC usage.
The case charges via Lightning on older models and USB-C on the current version. Make sure you know which one you're getting.
Should you buy them
If you're on iPhone, yes. The integration is seamless in a way that Android users simply don't get — instant pairing, automatic switching between devices, Siri hands-free, personalised spatial audio. It all just works.
If you're on Android, get the Sony WH-1000XM5 or wait for our Samsung Galaxy Buds review. The AirPods Pro 2 work on Android but you lose most of what makes them worth the price.
At £229 they're not cheap for earbuds. But for iPhone users who commute or travel regularly, they're hard to argue against.