AirPods vs AirPods Pro – Should You Upgrade?

Less than 5 years from when Apple released its first set of earbuds, Apple AirPods have gone on to become an entire product family. The product options are enough to leave you spoilt for choice as to which pair of earbuds you should buy. Whether you’re looking for affordable wireless earbuds or wireless charging with immersive noise cancellation, there’s an AirPod to suit your needs. In this guide, we have compared the initial AirPods with the AirPods Pro to help you choose between both. 

AirPods vs AirPods Pro: Which Works Better?

The difference between the AirPods and the AirPods Pro is not in the functionality; both work well and possess the same functional features. Both are equipped with Voice-activated Siri, the H1 chip which guarantees a smooth pairing between devices, audio Sharing which allows you to share your audio between multiple pairs of AirPods, and the Announce Messages features, which reads messages automatically as they are received.

What differentiates them is their design, sound production, and the listening experience associated with them?

Specifications for the AirPods and AirPods Pro

AirPods

The classic AirPods, originally launched in 2016, remain an ever-relevant choice of wireless earbuds to buy. While the first-generation earbuds are no longer available for sale on the market, the second-generation earbuds are, even though they look the same. The AirPod is Shaped like a shortened stem with a pressure sensor so that a quick squeeze is all that’s needed to switch modes. These buds can pair seamlessly with your iPhone and other iOS devices, as well as with Android and Windows devices, and sound great for just about any genre of music.

The standard AirPods come in two variations. There is the starting model which features a wired charging case (and costs $159), and there is a more expensive variation that features a wireless charging case (and costs $199). While the AirPods with Wired Charging Case has to be charged via a power cable, the AirPods with the Wireless Charging Case can be boosted by using wireless charging pads like the Apple MagSafe and Mophie’s fabric charging mat which cost $39 and $29.

If you prefer being able to charge your AirPods anywhere, you might want to choose the wireless charging model. However, no matter which variation you choose, you’ll be getting a great pair of wireless earbuds for less than $200.

A major drawback of this model is that it allows the ambient sound from the environment to leak in and is not a good fit for the ear. They are also not water-resistant nor is there any indication that they are sweat resistant.

AirPods Pro

The classic AirPods present a good option but the AirPods Pro takes the wireless earbuds experience to another level. They have the best sound production of all wireless earbuds and feature active noise cancellation that makes it easy for you to block out external noise when you want to.

Several key differences exist between the AirPods and the AirPods Pro. Primarily, the new design is more customizable and aesthetically more pleasing. It features shorter stems and three swappable silicone ear tips. This makes the buds fit more securely into the ear, making it suitable for working out.

The AirPods Pro also has an IPX4 rating for water resistance making it suitable for use in water to some degree. It features Spatial Audio support, which allows for an immersive audio experience in supported movies while delivering better sound Apple’s, and thanks to Adaptive EQ, it can automatically tune music to your ear shape to make your favorite tracks sound as clear and full as possible.

Perhaps the single most important feature of the AirPods Pro is active noise cancellation (ANC). The buds can block unwanted background noise such as when you have chatty bystanders around and noisy vents. While they are not the first earbuds to possess the Active Noise Cancellation feature, they are the smallest and lightest.

The AirPods Pro also possesses an extra appeal – the case is compatible with wireless charging as compared to the initial AirPods where it was an extra option. However, it’s not all roses with the AirPods Pro. A major setback is that the volume cannot be controlled so you’ll need to reach for your smartphone or voice to activate Siri to turn them up or down.

Should you upgrade from AirPods to AirPods Pro?

It’s certainly a yes if you have lost your old airpods. This is all the more important if listening to music is what you majorly use your AirPods for. The difference in sound quality between the AirPods and the AirPods Pro is huge and being able to listen to your podcasts, music, or audiobooks with active noise cancellation is something worth spending more on.

That said, AirPods have many more uses than just listening to music. If you find yourself using your AirPods majorly as a comfortable way to interact with your phone, and also pick calls, the classic AirPods will still do that for you while costing significantly less. Again, the AirPods has 30 minutes more listening time, allowing use for up to 5 hours as compared to the 4 hours 30 minutes which the AirPods Pro lasts for when the active noise cancellation feature is used.

Bottom Line

In a nutshell, the major reason to stick to the Standard AirPod is to save money while the reason to choose the AirPods Pro is the immersive audio experience guaranteed by the active noise cancellation.