The Apple AirPods Pro: A Revolutionary Wireless Earbud Experience

One of the most exciting features of the AirPods Pro is their seamless integration with iOS devices. Simply open the lid and hold it near your iOS device until this window pops up, and then tap connect. It's that simple. However, what's more interesting are the customizability features that you can find under Bluetooth settings by tapping the blue "i" next to your AirPods Pro. Here, you can change what feature is triggered by a long press, active noise cancellation or Siri, for each respective earbud. You can also change what modes you'd prefer to toggle between. For example, a long press would allow you to switch between active noise cancellation and transparency mode. Or, you can switch between active noise cancellation and off, which simply turns off both transparency mode and active noise cancellation, essentially turning your AirPods Pro into passive noise-cancelling headphones. However, one limitation to this is that you cannot assign different combinations to each earbud, and that's something I hope Apple allows us to do with a future software update.

On the Bluetooth settings page, you'll also find something called the "ear tip fit test." And while many outlets are saying it's supposed to help users decide which ear tip size is best for them, I don't think that's what the test is for. All it does is play some music and use the inner microphone to detect if any of the sound is leaking through an ill-fitting earbud. I used this test with the medium-sized ear tips and it passed. But despite having a good seal, that size wasn't right for me. And I wouldn't realize it until I experienced the discomfort I mentioned before. So, the ear tip fit test is more of a tool to ensure you're wearing your AirPods Pro correctly, rather than verifying that you're wearing the right size. That's why I encourage everyone to try out all three sizes even if you pass the ear tip fit test your first try.

It's also worth noting that your device will have to be updated to iOS 13.2 in order to be compatible with the AirPods Pro, and your Mac will have to be updated to Catalina. For Android devices, they can be used with AirPods Pro, but you just cannot adjust the settings unless you connect them to an iOS device. There are also some pretty cool software features enabled by iOS, like audio sharing. Where you can connect a second pair of AirPods so you and a friend can listen to the same audio. But my favorite software feature is announcement messages with Siri. That way, when you're using AirPods Pro while your iPhone is asleep, Siri will automatically interrupt and read out any new text messages.

It's worth mentioning that one thing I don't love about the AirPods Pro is its battery life. It's true that AirPods Pro get the same five-hour battery life with active noise cancellation and transparency mode turned off, but it gets four and a half hours with those capabilities turned on. And while that's likely more than enough for most users, I think many people like me will be hearing that low power chime on regularly. My problem is that I used to switch between my old AirPods and Bose QC 35s for different activities. Mainly because I wanted the convenience and comfort of the AirPods at certain times, but the great sound quality and noise cancellation of the Bose headphones at other times. And that worked out well since it gave my AirPods time to charge in-between uses. But since I've had these AirPods Pro, I haven't touched my Bose QC 35s. And that means I'm using them for longer stretches of time and fully depleting the battery more often than ever before.

So, what's my final word on the AirPods Pro? Well, while they may not be number one when it comes to specific metrics like sound quality or noise cancellation, they do deliver the best all-around experience of any headphone on the market today. You get the portability of a wireless earbud with a compact charging case, plus great sound quality and impressive noise cancellation, not to mention the comfort of an earbud that's designed to be used for hours on end without any discomfort. The AirPods Pro truly are the total package headphone that many of us have been waiting for, and I highly recommend at least giving them a try at your local Apple Store. That is, if you have the extra $250 to spend, because you just might fall in love after experiencing the AirPods Pro in person. Alright guys, thanks for watching, and I'll see you next time.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enApple threw their hat in the wireless headphonemarket back in 2016 with the original AirPods,and they became what can only be called aninternational phenomenon.With Apple Stores across the world strugglingto keep the product stocked, even a year afterits release.And earlier this year Apple updated the AirPodsfor the first time, the new model featuredhey Siri support, an H1 chip, faster connectionand device switching, option wireless charging,and 50% more talk time.But the AirPods Pro isn’t just a simplerefresh.It’s a completely new model.And that means the previous AirPods 2 introducedback in March is still being sold today startingat $160.It now serves as the entry-level AirPods Appleis offering alongside the new $250 AirPodsPro.And that higher priced model is exactly whatwe’re going to be exploring in detail.If you’d like to see more product reviewslike this or help decide which video topicsI cover don’t forget to subscribe.So if you own a previous model of AirPodsApple has released in the past, then the packagingof the new AirPods Pro will look familiar.On the front we have a shot of the headphonesthemselves, with Apple logos on either sideand the AirPods pro name on the top.And what’s interesting is Apple’s stillincluding the “with wireless charging case”text.I thought they might leave it out since there’sonly one model of AirPods Pro so there’sreally no reason to differentiate it.But either way we still have a photo of thecharging case on the back and we open thelid the same way as any other model of AirPods.We’re greeted by this familiar envelop ofdocumentation and underneath that is the chargingcase which contains the AirPods Pro.But things start to look a little differentafter we remove this insert.Because the AirPods Pro feature small, medium,and large silicon ear tips, Apple had to addan extra item in the box which is this eartip holder.And what I love about this is that it’sall held together by this single tab.Similar to what we saw with the Series 5 AppleWatch packaging.That way, not only is it easy to open, butit’s also reusable.Allowing you to switch out and store yourear tips without the risk of losing one.But if you do happen to lose an ear tip, Applehas confirmed that you can buy individualreplacements for $4 each.And the last thing in the box is this powercable which is now USB-C to Lightning, justlike what we saw included with the iPhone11 Pro.Now let’s take a closer look at the AirPodsPro themselves.You’ll notice that their charging case isoriented horizontally instead of vertically,which is likely due to the headphones widerearpiece and shorter stem.It’s also a little larger than standardAirPods case, although it still feels comfortablein my pockets and there’s been no functionaldifference for me when it comes to portability.Although I should mention that the AirPodsPro protrude out of their case further thanthe standard model.And that means they’re easier to get a holdof and remove.But the size and shape of the charging casearen’t the only changes.The LED indicator on the front is now morediffused than before.I’m not sure if the difference is comingthrough in this video, but it appears thatapple has covered the indicator with a morematte material that softens the LED lightwhich I think is easier on the eyes especiallyin dark environments.Apple has also changed the hinge on this chargingcase, it’s much more heavy duty design withthe metal not only extending not only ontothe outside of the lid, but also onto theinside.It makes sense to add a heftier hinge to thischarging case since it’s attached to a lidthat’s about 25% larger than before.And you can see the effects of its strengthwhen opening the lid and tipping it over.It stays open the entire time, whereas thestandard AirPods case closes immediately.That means the hinge has a little more frictionand requires a little more effort to close,which I actually appreciate since it preventsunintended closures that I used to experiencequite a bit with the smaller charging case.But there is one thing about this hinge thatdisappointed me, and that is the clicking.If you move the lid side to side, the hingemakes these clicking sounds that I find prettyannoying, although it doesn’t have any effecton functionality.The original AirPods had this problem butit appeared to be solved with the second generationupdated back in March.And while it’s certainly not something thatshould prevent you from buying the AirPodsPro, I think it is worth mentioning.Now let’s take a look at the headphonesthemselves.The biggest changes are the shorter stemsand silicon ear tips, but there are a lotof small details that deserve appreciationas well.For example, the overall design of the AirPodis much more seamless.The mesh vents are now flush with the whiteplastic instead of being recessed, the microphonesand sensors have been consolidated so thatthere are only three black marks on the headphoneinstead of five.And the metal contacts for charging have actuallybeen built into the stem instead of simplybeing an extension.And that means the bottom of the AirPods Proare white which I find more satisfying thana black vent for the microphone.So let’s talk about the silicon ear tipsbecause this is the first time a model ofAirPods have had them, and they serve a fewpurposes.First, they come in three sizes which allowfor a more customized fit.If you’ve had issues with the standard AirPodsfitting properly, the AirPods Pro are morelikely to work for you.Second, the ear tips are designed to forma seal which not only secures them insideyour ear but also reduces ambient noise sincethey sort’ve act like earplugs.And lastly, these ear tips have a proprietarydesign that I think makes them the best inthe market.Removing and attaching them is incrediblyeasy since they simply snap on and off, andthey’re very flexible since the AirPod itselfdoesn’t have a sound cone that protrudesinto the ear tip like other competitors.Instead, the opening of the headphone is flat,allowing the ear tip to be less rigid.It’s also worth noting that the ear tipshave a built-in mesh cover to protect theAirPod from debris and earwax.The mesh also makes cleaning the AirPods Proquick and easy, since the ear tips can quicklybe removed and wiped down.Now the AirPods Pro are shipped with the medium-sizedear tips already installed, but there’sa large and small size you can use to ensurethe right fit for your ears.And I highly recommend testing out all threeear tips to figure out which feels more comfortablefor you.I assumed medium would work well for my ears,but after just a couple hours of use I beganexperiencing soreness on the outside of myears since the AirPods Pro were pressing againstpart of my outer ear as a result of beingin too deep.I swapped the medium ear tips out for large,and this allowed them to sit in a more shallowposition with the AirPods Pro hard plasticbody no longer pressing against my ear andno longer causing discomfort.So the AirPods Pro are very well designed,but how well do they actually work?Well, let’s start off by discussing themost important aspect of any headphone, itssound quality.If you’re currently an AirPods user, thesound from the AirPods Pro will be noticeablybetter.The bass actually delivers some thump, andthe overall clarity is a huge step forward.Let me put it this way, if you’ve ever usedexpensive headphones and realized there wereinstruments in your favorite songs that you’venever heard before, that’s the level ofclarity you can expect from AirPods Pro.Now are they on the same level as industryleading headphones from Sony and Bose, I don’tthink they are.But they’re definitely one of the best soundingwireless earbuds on the market today.And a big reason why sound from the AirPodsPro comes through so beautifully is becauseof their active noise cancellation.This is a feature that started on larger on-earand over-ear headphones but has made its wayto smaller in-ear headphones in recent years.And it’s definitely a feature I’ve wantedApple to include in their AirPods since theirdebut in 2016.I honestly wasn’t sure how well noise cancellationwould perform in a small earbud, but whenI experienced it for the first time I wasblown away.Now I’ve been using the Bose QC 35s foryears which have some of the best noise cancellingtechnology on the market, but it took quitea few tries for me to notice the subtle differencesbetween the noise cancelling on the QC 35sand AirPods Pro.Now I’m not an audiophile with a highlytrained ear, but just as an average user,it seemed like the AirPods Pro were removingabout 80% of the same noise the QC 35s were.And that’s an incredible achievement forheadphones that are substantially smallerand $100 less expensive.I’ve used the AirPods Pro active noise cancellationin a variety of environments including inparks, restaurants, trains, and walking throughTokyo, and I’ve come to understand a couplethings about the feature.First, it performs phenomenally well whenit comes to constant, low pitches sounds.A humming air conditioner, noise from a carengine, and the rumbling of a train have allbeen silenced while wearing AirPods Pro.But higher pitched sounds or sudden noisesare able to come through more clearly, althoughthey have a muffled tone.Although I didn’t find these limitationsto be annoying or an impediment on my listeningexperience.And I think that’s why I haven’t usedmy Bose QC 35s since I’ve owned the AirPodsPro.Sure, the noise cancelling and sound qualityisn’t as good, but those aspects are certainlygood enough for me, and I enjoy all the benefitsof a more compact in-ear headphone.I should also mention that active noise cancellationalso means you don’t have to turn the volumeup as high since your music is no longer competingwith loud ambient sound.In fact, I typically listened to music atabout 60% volume with the standard AirPods,but now listen at 40% with the AirPods Pro.And that’s a really important benefit, sincemany people listen to music so loudly thatit damages their hearing over time.But I think the addition of active noise cancellationwill naturally cause users to listen at lowervolumes and therefore protect their hearing.But the feature that was even more impressivethan the active noice cancellation, was transparencymode.And that’s when the microphone is used topick up ambient noises and play them intoyour ear, so you can hear everything goingon around you without removing the headphones.It’s a capability almost every headphonewith active noice cancellation has, but I’venever seen it implemented well.In fact, I never use the transparency featureon my QC 35s because it sounds like I’mtalking into a microphone that’s pickingup my voice and blasting it into my ear whichis just annoying.But Apple has implemented this feature ina way that I think is worth calling revolutionary.When you activate transparency mode on theAirPods Pro it really sounds like you’renot wearing them.Which is odd since you can still feel themin your ears.You don’t get the weird audio feed effectlike other headphones and your voice isn’tover-amplified.I think it’s the most magical feature ofthe AirPods Pro and it really comes in handy.If I’m ordering food or need to listen formy name being called, I don’t have to removeand reinsert my headphones which is more laboriouswith the in-ear AirPods Pro than the standardAirPods.I can simply press to activate transparencymode, hear everything going on around me,and press again to switch back to noise cancellation.It’s a completely seamless experience thatApple deserves a lot of credit for.And one aspect of this feature I really appreciateis how the headphones transition from onemode to another.On my QC 35s, turning on noise cancellationtriggers an abrupt transition, but the AirPodsPro actually crossfade from one mode to thenext.Which just demonstrates how Apple paid attentionto every last detail to make their headphoneexperience as pleasurable as possible.Another fantastic addition to the AirPodsPro are their force sensors.There’s one on the stem of each headphone,and they function kind’ve like buttons,although they don’t actually move when youpress them.But the first time I used the force sensorI had to double check that it didn’t physicallymove or vibrate because the audible clickyou hear when pressing it is so satisfyinglycrisp that it almost tricks your brain intofeeling a physical click.And you can use the force sensors to do avariety of things like pressing once to playor pause music and answer calls, pressingtwice to skip forward, pressing three timesto skip back, and long pressing to switchbetween Active Noise Cancellation and Transparencymode.Tap controls do not exist on the AirPods Pro,although hey Siri is still available.Activating the force sensor does require quitea bit of pressure, but I’ve found it tobe just right after getting accustomed toit.The force sensors are definitely easier touse and more reliable compared to tappingon the headphones like with the standard AirPods.It’s also worth pointing out that removingone of the AirPods Pro from your ear willautomatically pause whatever you’re listeningto, but the cool part is that it’ll alsoautomatically activate transparency mode.Which makes sense, since usually the reasonfor removing your earbud is to talk to someoneor hear whats going on around you.One last unique benefit of these headphonesare their ventilation system that preventsair pressure from building up in your ears,which is actually a common issue with in-earheadphones.Now let’s talk about the AirPods Pro setupprocess.It’s very similar to previous models, simplyopen the lid and hold it near your iOS deviceuntil this window pops up and then tap connect.It’s that simple.But what’s more interesting are the customizabilityfeatures that you can find under bluetoothsettings by tapping the blue “i” nextto your AirPods Pro.Here you can change what feature is triggeredby a long press, active noise cancellationor Siri, for each respective earbud.You can also change what modes you’d preferto toggle between.For example, a long press would allow youto switch between active noise cancellationand transparency mode.Or, you can switch between active noise cancellationand off.Which simply turns off both transparency modeand active noice cancellation and essentiallyturns your AirPods Pro into passive noicecancelling headphones.But one limitation to this is that you cannotassign different combinations to each earbud,and that’s something I hope Apple allowsus to do with a future software update.Now on this page you’ll also find somethingcalled the ear tip fit test.And while many outlets are saying it’s supposedto help users decide which ear tip size isbest for them, I don’t think that’s whatthe test is for.All it does is play some music and use theinner microphone to detect if any of the soundis leaking through an ill-fitting earbud.I used this test with the medium sized eartips and it passed.But despite having a good seal, that sizewasn’t right for me.And I wouldn’t realize it until I experiencedthe discomfort I mentioned before.So the ear tip fit test is more of a toolto ensure you’re wearing your AirPods Procorrectly, rather than verifying that you’rewearing the right size.That’s why I encourage everyone to try outall three sizes even if you pass the ear tipfit test your first try.Now it’s important to point out that yourdevice will have to be updated to iOS 13.2in order to be compatible with the AirPodsPro, and your Mac will have to be updatedto Catalina.When it comes to Android devices, they canbe used with AirPods Pro, you just cannotadjust the settings unless you connect themto an iOS device.There are also some pretty cool software featuresenabled by iOS, like audio sharing.Where you can connect a second pair of AirPodsso you and a friend can listen to the sameaudio.But my favorite software feature is announcemessages with Siri.That way when you’re using AirPods Pro whileyour iPhone is asleep, Siri will automaticallyinterrupt and read out any new text messages.It’s a very convenient feature since I nolonger have to pick up, unlock, and lay downmy iPhone every time I reply to a text.I can simply listen to the message and replywith Siri.So we’ve covered everything I love aboutApple’s new AirPods Pro, but there is onething I don’t love so much.And that is its battery life.Now it’s true that AirPods Pro get the samefive hour battery life with active noise cancellationand transparency mode turned off, but it getfour and a half hour with those capabilitiesturned on.And while that’s likely more than enoughfor most users, I think many people like mewill be hearing that low power chime on aregular basis.Here’s my problem: I used to switch betweenmy old AirPods and Bose QC 35s for differentactivities.Mainly because I wanted the convenience andcomfort of the AirPods at certain times, butthe great sound quality and noise cancellationof the Bose headphones at other times.And that worked out well since it gave myAirPods time to charge in-between uses.But since I’ve had these AirPods Pro, Ihaven’t touched my Bose QC 35s.And that means I’m using them for longerstretches of time and fully depleting thebattery more often than ever before.So what’s my final word on the AirPods Pro?Well, while they may not be number one whenit comes to specific metrics like sound qualityor noise cancellation, they do deliver thebest all-around experience of any headphoneon the market today.You get the portability of a wireless earbudwith a compact charging case, plus great soundquality and impressive noise cancellation,not to mention the comfort of an earbud that’sdesigned to be used for hours on end withoutany discomfort.The AirPods Pro truly are the total packageheadphone that many of us have been waitingfor, and I highly recommend at least givingthem a try at your local Apple Store.That is, if you have the extra $250 to spend,because you just might fall in love afterexperiencing the AirPods Pro in person.Alright guys thanks for watching and I’llsee you next time.\n"