Apple AirPods Pro

I have many certitudes that these Airpods are indubitably one of the best products I’ve ever purchased. I have been using Apple products since I was a callow child, so I am a long-time Apple user and zealot. Even though by the time I considered buying them they were trendy and not at all arcane, I was still in a quandary about whether or not I should purchase them, as they seemed like an opulence. However, I finally cajoled myself into buying them. They did not disappoint, and I did not have to chide myself for the purchase. Allow me to elucidate, these earphones are significantly good quality, and even though they are pretty small, the music quality is amazing. The noise canceling and transparency modes are extremely convenient and work significantly well. The design is exceptionally comfortable, and is perfect for any situation, whether you're being active or indolently lying around the house, they won't obtrude on your comfort. They are so perfect that I have been using them for years, they have lasted a very long time and are not at all ephemeral. Using them always ameliorates my day, and you will certainly not squander your money by buying them.

I have had the original and second generation AirPods and loved them, I bought a pair each for my husband and me as the batteries on the ones we had were not the best after almost two years.There is some getting used to with these as the controls are different, extra steps with the noise cancellation, and of course the different ear tips.The iPhone will guide you through picking the correct tip, though after a few weeks I’m going to see if I can play with a different size. The regular AirPods fit like a charm and are perfectly comfortable. The Pros leave a little discomfort, but I’m guessing, for now anyway, it’s because of the different shape that I’m not used to and I’m playing with them.The sound is very good. It’s a wireless set, so you’re not ever getting studio sound, but I loved the sound from the AirPods and the Pro takes it up a level. Depending on the environment you’re in (noise level, how aware you need to be to outside sounds like traffic) the noise cancellation can be on and block a majority of sound out, off which blocks a surprising amount out or transparency which allows you to hear what’s going on around you very well.Having said that because the sound is coming into your ears from the microphones it still is strange to speak with them in.I bought these a few days before the announcement of Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio coming to Apple Music. When I first used the Pros I tried some of the sample audio on the phone and it was pretty cool, but the new content from Apple Music wasn’t out yet.It is now, and wow! I expected some extreme change in how the music sounded. Something like the Maxell commercials sitting in a chair and the music pushing me backward. Because my expectation was so grand, I didn’t really notice at first. It was subtle, but only because I was listening for something else.Not all tracks are engineered the same, some are okay others will give you goosebumps, as if you’re hearing it for the first time. It’s not sound that is gimmicky, turning your head and the music direction changed. The music is all around you. You can feel it. The track that got me was “Here Comes the Sun, 2019 Remix” by The Beatles. Don’t let remix fool you, it's more a remaster. I have been a fan of The Beatles for a long time. Hearing this song with these headphones made me feel as if I was in the studio with John, Paul, George, and Ringo.But this is not about Apple Music but the AirPods Pro. I am in a noisy environment for work one day per week and have conference calls I need to attend. I can use the AirPods in noise cancellation mode and not only can I hear, but my colleagues can hear me with little to no background noise.Despite the smaller size the battery life to me seems even better than the originals, and with the case as a charger I can get them charged up quickly, but in my use I haven’t run out of juice yet. To be fair I do take breaks from music somewhat frequently so they are charging a little throughout the day.The case is a different design and the pods go into the case differently, but the size of the case feels the same as the original despite a different layout. I can slip the case in my pocket with no issues.With iOS 14, watchOS 7, and macOS Big Sur the switching between my phone, watch, and two laptops is seamless, and the only thing easier is the setup.Are there better wireless headphones out there? Maybe, I didn’t really look. I knew these would work with all of my devices. The AirPods were a big leap in sound and function from the EarPods that came with iPhones. The AirPods Pro are a big leap from the original.Now with Dolby Atmos/ Spatial Audio on Music, these give you a multifunctional headphone that produces quality sound and an entirely new way of experiencing music that has the potential to redefine how we experience music.These were a great purchase and for me, worth the additional cost.

I want to start off by saying I am not a huge Apple person which this product is mostly aimed towards. I have a mix of products with different operating systems; I have a Google Pixel phone, an iPad, and a Windows PC. These earbuds luckily work with all of these products pretty flawlessly with occasional hiccups on Windows, though of course they work the best with my iPad. I got these on sale for $170 because personally the $250 price tag was just too much for me, and at this price they are a steal. I would say if you can get these for $200 or lower they are well worth the cost.Pros:- Sound. Sound quality is really good for most music. I'm a bit of a bass head so I don't get the fullest experience I would like out of these, but I still enjoy the clarity of the music. I did not get these specifically for bass, as I knew they would not be bass-heavy, which is why this is still a pro for me. If you listen to lots of hip hop or indie music these sound great.- Features. The ANC on these is not the best, but you should not expect the best from little earbuds at this cost. These block out my loud air conditioner and a lot of other white noise with a consistent sound wave. These do not block out loud sudden noises like typing or people conversing, though they do a good job quieting things down through noise isolation from a good seal. Transparency mode on these is amazing as well; with them on, it really sounds like there is nothing in your ears (except your own voice will sound slightly muffled to you). I am continuously amazed by how well transparency mode works and I can see the use cases for them only building.- Comfort. Honestly, with the relief of pressure Apple put into these with the little vents on the bottom of the AirPods, I forget these are in my ears. They are so comfortable to wear, which says a lot for someone with small, sensitive ears. This may differ if these don't fit your ears properly, which I will mention later.- Portability. The charging case is nice and compact, and even with a silicone case on top of it I can easily slip them in small pockets of bags and in large pockets. The AirPods themselves are quite small and I can see someone misplacing them if they lay them down somewhere and forget about them, but they're bigger than a lot of other TWS earbuds I've owned so hopefully I will be able to keep track of them.- Seamlessness with Apple products. AirPods are, of course, Apple made. Therefore they are designed to work with iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Macbooks. These pause and play instantaneously with my iPad and I can access all the special features you get specific to Apple.- Presentation. Apple wins on sleekness. Not much else to say about that.Medicorities:- The fit of these is pretty good for the average ear, but if you have smaller ear canals like me they can be just a little troublesome. My left ear canal is almost too small for the smallest tip of these, but with maneuvering I can still get a good seal. They fall out if I lay on my arm in bed, but other than that they stay in. Definitely try all the earbud sizes.- The magnet for the lid of the case is pretty sturdy though not super strong, so I find it sometimes opens when I carry them around. This doesn't happen too often but be aware of that.Cons:- Price. As I stated before I don't think these are worth $250. I think $200 is just right for them, and the extra $50 is simply paying for the Apple branding. This is why I'm not a huge Apple fan.- Not seamless with non-Apple products. If you only use Apple, these will work great for you so disregard this point. I didn't expect these to work with everything, though an Android app would be nice. If Samsung can make an app for their Galaxy Buds for iOS devices, I think Apple can do the same for Android. I have connection issues on occasion with my Windows PC, and taking out and AirPod does not in any way auto-pause/play on Windows nor Android. All stem pressing functions do work as they are supposed to though. This is a mix between a mediocre feature and a con for me.Tl;dr I think that the pros outweigh the cons for the AirPods Pros, and I recommend them for anyone looking for great sound with any device. Apple could be a little more friendly to those who don't buy everything Apple, but from a competitive standpoint I get it. I can see myself using these on a daily basis and I think they are a great buy if you can get them under $200.