After buying AirPods 2 at Hong Kong Airport last year, they have become my most frequently used earphones due to their extremely comfortable fit. Although their sound quality is not as good as other high-end earphones, it is quite sufficient for my needs. I never expected that a few months later, AirPods Pro with noise cancellation would be released.
Although I also have regular needs for sound insulation and noise cancellation, considering the cost, I have always endured the noise on the MRT and streets. Today, seeing PChome’s anniversary sale, I purchased them at a discounted price of NT$6,190, which is NT$1,800 cheaper. After using them for a few hours, I am providing a comparison and review of AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro here for friends who are considering a purchase.
AirPods 2
Pros:
- The most comfortable in-ear earphones I have ever worn; sometimes I even forget they are there.
- Has upper-mid range sound quality, suitable for the general public’s taste.
- Wireless earphone and microphone functionality, compatible with iOS devices as well as Android and other Bluetooth devices.
- Can provide over 24 hours of listening time, or up to 18 hours of talk time.
- After a full charge, it can provide up to 5 hours of listening time or 3 hours of talk time.
- Online price is approximately NT$4,090, which is NT$2,100 cheaper than AirPods Pro.
Cons:
- Occasionally experiences interference, causing one ear or the entire connection to drop, but in most cases, it recovers quickly.
- Charges via a Lightning connector, so Android users must carry an extra charging cable.
- Can only invoke the Siri voice assistant on iOS devices; meaning Google Assistant cannot be invoked on Android.
- Open-ear design with no sound insulation; in noisy environments, volume must be increased, which may affect ear health.
Lion’s Rating
AirPods Pro
Pros:
- The most comfortable in-ear canal earphones I have ever worn.
- Upper-mid range sound quality similar to AirPods 2, suitable for the general public’s taste.
- Wireless earphone and microphone functionality, compatible with iOS devices as well as Android and other Bluetooth devices.
- Physical sound insulation plus noise cancellation effectively eliminates 80% of low-frequency noise, making it suitable for use on the MRT.
- In transparency mode, the restored external sounds are close to real-world conditions.
Cons:
- Due to the ear canal insertion, comfort is slightly inferior to AirPods 2 and even standard in-ear earphones; prolonged wear can cause pain.
- Occasionally experiences interference, causing one ear or the entire connection to drop, but in most cases, it recovers quickly.
- Charges via a Lightning connector, so Android users must carry an extra charging cable.
- Can only invoke the Siri voice assistant on iOS devices; meaning Google Assistant cannot be invoked on Android.
- When using noise cancellation mode on the road, special attention to safety is required.
- Due to the noise cancellation feature, listening and talk times are approximately 10% less than AirPods 2.
- Although they are in-ear canal earphones, the design only fits snugly against the ear canal without deep insertion, so sound insulation is inferior to standard in-ear canal earphones.
- Online price is approximately NT$6,190, which is NT$2,100 more expensive than AirPods 2.
Lion’s Rating
Netizens may ask, which is better, AirPods 2 or AirPods Pro? Setting aside budget constraints, I believe the choice depends on your usage environment. AirPods 2 has the most comfortable design but is susceptible to noise, making it best suited for indoor use; AirPods Pro sacrifices some comfort for sound insulation and offers good noise cancellation, making it particularly suitable for commuting and outdoor use. If your budget allows, buying both for alternating use is not excessive.
