Apple AirPods Pro Hands-On In-Depth Review

Apple AirPods Pro Hands-On In-Depth Review: The technology that Apple produces year after year continues to amaze all of us, from the very young to the young at heart. Apple AirPods are no exception. Even though Steve Jobs’ shocking death shook the world in October of 2011, we are still benefiting from his company’s undying ability to innovate.

Chances are you have seen somebody walking around with what appears to be two sticks in their ears. At first, you perhaps felt confused, but just wait until you get a chance to try these. We did, and WOW-they is so comfortable and special.

Apple AirPods Pro: A Fast Overview

These are super compact, noise-canceling, and they are also sweatproof! I took them out on a run and was able to complete the three-mile jaunt with no fear of the AirPods coming out due to sweat. The bass on these things was unreal.

I felt that bass and actually used one of those YouTube speaker tests to see what it was like, I also listened to a bass-boosted song on YouTube to really feel it. The sound was absolute bliss, to say the least.

After enjoying some music, I placed phone calls out using the earbuds and was very pleased with the quality of the call. My office mates and I could hear the individual on the other end with no trouble at all.

Using them while at work or studying will pay off greatly, too. They feature active noise-canceling, and this does a great job of getting rid of background noise. If you want, you can use the transparency mode which does let in noise.

The wireless charging of this device is another huge advantage. No need to push a Lightning charger into the bottom of the device-just put it on a charging mat and you will be good to go. Furthermore, if you need covers for the AirPods Pro, they are not super expensive at all. I noticed these AirPods had rather long battery life.

That being said, we are audiophiles over here and have tested out some other devices along the way. Some of the other headphones/earbuds we’ve experienced along the way sounded better.

So, what’s the final say?  I think these are great if you need a top-quality pair of wireless earbuds from a brand known for being the best but do shop around and compare so you are getting the best value for your money as well as the sound YOU desire. I personally rank them 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Let’s Talk About Fit

Most of the people in our office who tested out these new AirPods found them to be great. That being said, we had one person who had “funny ears” (his words, not mine) and he noted that he could envision these falling out.

So, it may be best to try these out first-chances are they will work for you, but at the hefty price tag of $249, you want to be sure these are a good fit.

I felt these go into my ears oh so securely. I typically only have a problem when running. The sweat can get so bad for me that my buds slip out. And bulky wireless over the ear headphones isn’t exactly my idea of a good time when I just want to feel free moving around as I exercise. So, for all you athletes out there, I think these are pretty great.

There are also small, medium and large ear covers that go over these buds. Therefore, people of all ages and sizes can use them comfortably. If you loan them to a trusted friend for testing and the friend returns them with wax on them (yuk!) a replacement tip pack is just $4. You get three pairs of covers, so don’t feel bad if you have to replace them.

So, my bottom line on the fit? I think these are great for fitting all ear types, with the exception of a few people. They certainly feel better than the old AirPods. They do a really great job of canceling out ambient sounds. That being said, you may just like the fit of the old AirPods. The fit is awesome; just test it first so you can know they’re the best option for you.

Let’s Talk About Sound

I mentioned briefly just how good that bass was on these earbuds. This is thanks to the noise-canceling construction of these earbuds. The noise-canceling on this works really well when you are focusing on something: for me, exercise is something I focus on getting over with each day, and also staying productive at the office is another thing I work hard at.

The silicone earbud tips seal the ear and work with the construction of the bud to cancel out even the noisiest of places, such as the train on the way to work or even the buzzing breakroom.

Indeed, the sound is very enjoyable on these things and you will enjoy it. But, is there something better out there?

As something of an audiophile, I personally find the Anker Liberty Air 2 earbuds to be matching in the sound quality and clarity of the AirPod Pro. When I made calls using the Anker, the quality of sound was good. And while I think the AirPod Pro did a better job of blocking sound, is it really worth paying two times the price?

Let’s Talk Competitors

So, you are probably wondering what the best competitors are when it comes to comparison shopping for these particular earbuds. Here are the brands I would recommend you try out as you shop around:

Sony WH-1000 XM3

These are probably one of the closest competitors to the Apple Airpods Pro that you can get. The music quality on these is really great, and the noise canceling is pretty amazing, too.

I could still hear some things going on around me while having these in-for instances, my cubemate at work was rather easy to understand but it did a good job of letting me enjoy my music without feeling distracted by other people. The connectivity on these is amazing, and I did not notice any delays as I did with some of the other brands I tried out.

I also noted that these do not feature wireless charging. These are also very comfortable to wear, and I found myself able to wear them while working out as well as in the office with no need to take them off due to discomfort.

Jabra 65T

So, I like Jabra for the price and for the sound quality. There is no doubt that music sounds amazing on these earbuds, but the bass? It is lacking. If you listen to songs that feature a lot of bass, then consider skipping these.

There are some instances of audio delay using some apps, but I do find that the battery life is really good on these particular earbuds. They can last for about four hours before you have to charge them again. Call quality is superior, and while they are not noise-canceling, the sound is crisp and clear.

EchoBuds by Amazon

Using Bose technology, you can limit the background noise that you get with these headphones. You will enjoy five hours of music using just one charge. You can also use the mics in here to activate your Alexa and ask questions, set timers, and more-all comparable to the Hey Siri feature on the AirPods Pro.

Much like the AirPods Pro, there are different tip sizes you can use to make sure you get a good fit. These sound great and are useful but also perfect for enjoying tunes the way they should be enjoyed at a price that won’t break your budget.

Bose SoundSport Free

If you are an athlete- a serious one at that-these should strongly be considered as you do your shopping. These are true wireless, and they are sweatproof so even your most intense sessions won’t have an impact on these. The sound is clear, and the bass is real in these.

These are also good for athletes who practice outdoors as they are NOT noised canceling and will keep you aware of your surroundings. My only gripe with these particular buds is the delay I experienced. I noticed the video would not match with the sound I was hearing. That was annoying, but the sound was good.

My Bottom Line

I think buying the AirPods Pro is not a bad decision at all. Buying AirPods Pro means you will get to enjoy great bass, noise cancellation, and the convenience of asking Siri whatever you need. They are sweatproof, too. They also fit very well, and replacement tips are not expensive at all.

However, you should be aware of what else is out there, so you spend your money wisely. After all, comparable products do exist, and it is best to do your own research and testing so you get the best value for your hard-earned money.