Apple's AirPods Pro 2 are some of the best earbuds I've ever used. When I upgraded from my third-generation AirPods in 2024, I was surprised by how much of an improvement they were - and couldn't believe that I hadn't switched sooner.

Looking at today's AirPods lineup, it's hard to justify anything but the AirPods Pro. Whilst some people may prefer the simpler, cheaper earbuds, I would always tell someone to at least consider the AirPods Pro first.

Audio Quality

I used my AirPods 3rd-generation for about a year, with no complaints about the audio quality. However, I did notice the sound quality improvements with the AirPods Pro 2, when making the switch. Now, going back to my older AirPods, the audio sounds flatter and less immersive.

If you're someone who notices the details in sound quality, or regularly use some better-quality headphones, the AirPods Pro are the safest option.

Silicone Ear Tips

At first glance, the silicone ear tips look a little intrusive and irritating. However, the AirPods fit perfectly in my ears and the silicone helps to keep the earbuds secure.

Apple also offers an 'Ear Tip Fit Test' in AirPods settings, to confirm if the current ear tips you are using provide the 'best seal and acoustic performance'.

AirPods Pro ship with the medium ear tips attached, but other sizes are also available in the box, including XS & L. Apple has also reengineered the ear tips on the latest AirPods Pro 3, to include foam for even better noise cancellation and now offers an XXS size.

Beyond improving the fit, the ear tips also make AirPods Pro easier to maintain. Being able to remove and clean the tips makes a noticeable difference when using them every day, helping prevent dirt and other debris from blocking the mesh of the AirPods themselves.

Battery Life

After almost 2 years of daily use, I am impressed by how well the battery life has held up.

Whilst I am beginning to charge the device occasionally during the day, I can regularly use the AirPods for 5-6 continuous hours in a row before charging. This itself is not a big deal, as AirPods Pro supports fast charging so I can get back up and running in a matter of minutes.

Apple's optimised battery charging may have played a major part in this, as the AirPods know my routine and can charge based on this, so I always have power when I need it.

Price

The £219 price point of the current generation AirPods Pro 3, and the previous £229 price point of AirPods Pro 2 may put people off. This is significantly higher than the AirPods 4, which retail for £100 less.

However, I did not buy my AirPods Pro at full price, in fact, they cost me the same amount as my previous AirPods 3rd generation.

In July 2023, I bought my first pair of AirPods, refurbished from eBay for about £40. These broke in less than a year, so I purchased the same pair again, the AirPods 3rd generation with the MagSafe case, for £179 directly from Apple.

The open mesh design of these AirPods were hard to maintain, so in December 2024, I bought AirPods Pro 2 on sale from a third-party retailer for £179.

AirPods Pro are still regularly on discount today, with the latest AirPods Pro 3 currently selling for £174 on Amazon.co.uk.

Apple Keeps Improving Them

Next month, AirPods Pro 2 will mark four years since they were first introduced in 2022.

Despite this, they have regularly received updates each year, and support majority of the latest features. A firmware update in 2023 introduced new listening modes, including Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Personalised Volume.

In 2024, Apple introduced a suite of hearing health features, including Hearing Test, hearing aid features and hearing protection capabilities.

Last year, Apple unveiled Live Translation with Apple Intelligence, available on AirPods Pro 2.

AirPods Pro 2 will also received Adaptive EQ support this year, 4 years since the devices initial launch.

This level of feature support is uncommon, as companies usually limit newer features to a next-generation device, encouraging you to upgrade.

Final Thoughts

Not only are AirPods Pro significantly better when compared to the standard AirPods with improved audio quality, silicone ear tips, battery life and listening modes - they also continue to get better over the years as you own them.

My AirPods Pro 2 are now more capable than they were when I first bought them in 2024, and will see another major upgrade this September.

So, if you currently have AirPods 4 in your shopping basket, it is worth taking another look at AirPods Pro. With regular discounts from third-party retailers, the price difference may be much smaller than you expect.