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Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2022
Airpod Pros are in the middle of the high-end earbud market. They do nothing especially well, but don't do anything especially bad either.
Sadly, when it comes to Apple product reviews I reject 80 percent of the reviews I see because there is such a large contingent of "Apple can do no wrong" that ratings get pathetically skewed.
Here is my to-the-point assessment coming from a "not an Apple bigot" nor an "I hate everything Apple" consumer:
- Battery life: very average, around 4 hours with lots of calls leveraging transparency mode
- Fit/feel: feel very well made, appreciate the 3 size choices for the silicone tips. None of them "disappeared" in my ear and all of them caused ear fatigue starting about the 90 minute mark. Fit feels secure to the point I could be out and about with them confidently.
- Audio quality: GOOD, nothing special though.
- ANC: VERY GOOD, though not best in class
- Transparency mode: VERY GOOD, though not best in class
- Customization options: POOR/VERY LIMITED. This is my huge gripe. Apple designed these for an "ecosystem" yet provided no functionality above and beyond what every other earbud manufacturer could provide in said "ecosystem": can you EQ your sound? NO. Can you use gestures or buttons to control volume? NO. Can you mute a business call - you know, like when you're standing 10 feet from your phone and don't wish to share your sneeze with everyone on your call? NO. Can you set up profiles so you have settings for when you're on a call vs. listening to music? NO. Is there a Windows applet so you can bring that limited functionality onto another platform? NO (though you can pair it with basic "audio out" functionality
Are these good headphones? Yes, but not 250 dollars good. I picked these up at the deal price of 170 so there's less sting and it feels more a realistic price point.
Make no mistake, these are not what the world of true wireless earbuds has been missing, not by a long shot. In fact, Apple's decision to limit these headphones to its corporate vision of what they should be, rather than allowing their consumers to decide what they want them to be, is a slap in the face to the purchaser. On the bright side, a slap in the face from Apple is the best, and it feels amazing - just ask any fanboy.
Sadly, when it comes to Apple product reviews I reject 80 percent of the reviews I see because there is such a large contingent of "Apple can do no wrong" that ratings get pathetically skewed.
Here is my to-the-point assessment coming from a "not an Apple bigot" nor an "I hate everything Apple" consumer:
- Battery life: very average, around 4 hours with lots of calls leveraging transparency mode
- Fit/feel: feel very well made, appreciate the 3 size choices for the silicone tips. None of them "disappeared" in my ear and all of them caused ear fatigue starting about the 90 minute mark. Fit feels secure to the point I could be out and about with them confidently.
- Audio quality: GOOD, nothing special though.
- ANC: VERY GOOD, though not best in class
- Transparency mode: VERY GOOD, though not best in class
- Customization options: POOR/VERY LIMITED. This is my huge gripe. Apple designed these for an "ecosystem" yet provided no functionality above and beyond what every other earbud manufacturer could provide in said "ecosystem": can you EQ your sound? NO. Can you use gestures or buttons to control volume? NO. Can you mute a business call - you know, like when you're standing 10 feet from your phone and don't wish to share your sneeze with everyone on your call? NO. Can you set up profiles so you have settings for when you're on a call vs. listening to music? NO. Is there a Windows applet so you can bring that limited functionality onto another platform? NO (though you can pair it with basic "audio out" functionality
Are these good headphones? Yes, but not 250 dollars good. I picked these up at the deal price of 170 so there's less sting and it feels more a realistic price point.
Make no mistake, these are not what the world of true wireless earbuds has been missing, not by a long shot. In fact, Apple's decision to limit these headphones to its corporate vision of what they should be, rather than allowing their consumers to decide what they want them to be, is a slap in the face to the purchaser. On the bright side, a slap in the face from Apple is the best, and it feels amazing - just ask any fanboy.
