Skip to content
HearWiki

Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) vs Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C): which should you buy?

Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) vs Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C), side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)

No sub-scores yet - not enough rated reviews.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls8.0
Value7.5

Specifications

Specification comparison of Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) vs Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
SpecApple AirPods Pro (1st generation)Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
TypeTrue WirelessTrue Wireless
Price (USD)$249$125
HearWiki scoreNot scored84 / 100 · Great
Released20192022
Audio
DriverCustom high-excursion Apple driverdynamic
Driver size11 mm11 mm
Drivers per side22
Frequency response20 Hz - 20,000 Hz20 Hz - 20,000 Hz
Impedance-16 Ω
Sensitivity100 dB/mW100 dB/mW
Wireless
BluetoothBluetooth 5.05.3
Bluetooth version-5.3
CodecsAACSBC, AAC
Multipoint pairingNoNo
Battery
Battery life4.5 h-
Battery incl. case24 h30 h
Wireless charging-Yes
Features
ANC typehybridadaptive
Transparency modeYesYes
Companion appYesYes
Custom EQ-No
Wear detectionYesYes
Controlsbothboth
Voice assistantSiriSiri
Design
Weight5.4 g10.6 g
Case weight45.6 g50.8 g
Water resistanceIP54IP54
Foldable-No
Detachable cableNoNo
USB-CNoYes
Calls
Microphones4-

What reviewers said

Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)

These are Apple's premium true wireless earbuds with hybrid active noise cancellation and a transparency mode for ambient sound. They rely on a custom 11mm driver and the H1 chip to deliver adaptive EQ and seamless pairing with Apple devices, though battery life is modest at 4.5 hours per charge. The IP54 rating offers basic sweat and splash resistance, but they lack multipoint Bluetooth and USB-C charging.

  • Pro:Effective hybrid noise cancellation
  • Pro:Natural-sounding transparency mode
  • Pro:Secure fit with multiple ear tip sizes
  • Con:Short battery life per charge
  • Con:No multipoint connectivity
  • Con:Lightning port instead of USB-C

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)

These wireless earbuds deliver strong active noise cancellation and a natural-sounding transparency mode, making them a solid pick for Apple users. With around 6 hours of playback per charge and a case that boosts total listening time to 30 hours, they offer dependable daily use. The IP54 rating adds some protection against sweat and splashes, while Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a stable connection for most devices.

  • Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
  • Pro:Natural transparency mode for ambient awareness
  • Pro:Decent battery life with case
  • Con:No multipoint connection
  • Con:Limited to AAC codec
  • Con:No custom EQ in app

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.