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The best AirPods of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

Out of the four current models of AirPods, I recommend the AirPods Pro 2 the most because they fit almost every type of ear, are comfortable to wear, and include all of the best and latest features that Apple offers in headphones. Plus, they get a bonus set of new features as part of the iOS 17 update.

These will be ideal for those long-haul study sessions at the library when all you want is silence and time to focus or as you’re exercising at the bustling campus gym and want to lock in on your favorite music. They’re the best earbuds in the lineup and a great choice for portable headphones with competitive noise-canceling. 

Most Redditors agree that the AirPods Pro 2 takes the cake. When searching on Reddit for the best AirPods to buy, it isn’t easy to find an alternative recommendation. One user on the r/AirPods thread called the earbuds “transcendent,” and another said they are worth the money.  

The AirPods Pro 2 uses silicon tips to fit into your ears (with four sizes to choose from), similar to the ones you’re probably familiar with in most earbuds you’ve used. Comparatively, the standard AirPods have hard plastic tips like the traditional Apple EarPods that used to come in the box with most iPhones — which many people found to fall out of their ears easily or weren’t very comfortable to wear. 

The AirPods Pro 2 were the first to get Apple’s latest H2 chip for improved sound. That includes active noise cancellation, which roughly doubles the noise cancellation of the first-gen AirPods Pro and works impressively in loud environments like airplanes and city streets. It also includes adaptive transparency mode, which lets you hear the world around you when you have your earbuds in while also automatically reducing loud sounds such as sirens. 

In 2023, Apple slightly revised this model as the “AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C,” swapping out Apple’s Lightening connector with the more universal USB-C that has also come to iPhone 15. But it also added Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency for the Apple Vision Pro headset that launched this week.

If you use headphones for more than a couple hours every day, wireless headphones might be your most important device next to your smartphone and your laptop — and they can enhance the experience of using both. If you use headphones that much, spending $250 on the best and most versatile wireless earbuds Apple offers will likely be a worthy investment to raise the quality of your daily life.

AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C features: Type: In-ear | Chip: H2 | Battery life: 6 hours | Water-resistant: Yes


Source: Robotics - zdnet.com

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