The AirPods Pro in-ear headphones offer features such as active noise cancellation, transparency mode, voice operation and an ergonomic fit. Such functions are likely to be particularly well received by travelers and athletes. The expectations for the small, white in-ears are correspondingly high: the headphones should deliver a balanced, rich sound, while the active noise cancellation enables undisturbed work on the plane. What do noise-canceling in-ears do? What are the strengths and weaknesses? Apple Headphones? In my AirPods Pro test, I checked the in-ears extensively for suitability for everyday use and, above all, for possible uses on vacation, during sports (especially jogging) and on business trips.

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To clarify where the AirPods Pro in the hierarchy of Headphones I have to go back a little: small and light earplugs have always been the first choice, especially for those who travel a lot. Long before the first smartphones even came onto the market, the small, then still wired headphones were used in every situation in everyday life, during sports and of course when traveling, especially on flights or in the Vacation found at the pool.

However, the in-ear headphones only became really sexy when the manufacturer Apple it shipped with the first iPods - that must have been around 2001, so a little longer ago. To explain where the AirPods Pro are in the hierarchy of headphones, I have to clarify: 

The time to compromise on headphones is over

In-ear headphones have always had a lot of competition: the compact design made the headphones the first choice compared to larger headphones (over-ear headphones) for athletes and travelers who wanted to carry around as little luggage as possible. It's only been a few years since these small and compact earphones have ditched their cables in favor of a Bluetooth connection.

Although the models were no longer connected to the end device for a long time, they were still connected to each other by cable. This brought the current models the designation "truely wireless" - i.e. really wireless, to make it clear that no cable is really needed anymore.

AirPods helped Bluetooth headphones make their breakthrough

Bluetooth in-ears were sometimes difficult to connect to a smartphone or other device - permanent disconnections included. All of this has only started with the next generation of in-ear headphones like the first generation of the AirPods (test), but also changed with models like the Samsung Galaxy Buds, the Sony WF-1000XM3, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless and the Beoplay E8 - and should at least change for users from the Apple- Develop the cosmos once again with the AirPods Pro.

After my detailed AirPods Pro test, I have to say: Decades of headphone evolution at the manufacturer Apple flow into these in-ears. I checked the powerful earplugs in detail in my big AirPods Pro test and share my experiences with you here.

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AirPods Pro test – ideal headphones for travel

A quick overview

• The AirPods Pro are the high-end version of the popular in-ear Bluetooth headphones from Apple
• With a strong noise suppression, they block out the surrounding noise
• With the help of spatial audio (3D audio) and the detection of head movements, the AirPods Pro create a three-dimensional surround sound that has never been known before
• The design of the AirPods Pro has been further developed compared to the normal AirPods and the headphones have been made more compact
• I tested the AirPods Pro intensively on my trip to Thailand - I'll tell you about my experiences and test results here

Buy AirPods Pro on Amazon

AirPods Pro review: my first impression when traveling

I actually listen to music all the time while working at home in the office, doing sports and traveling, and have always had a deal with myself: at home, at the desk at work and on all occasions where enjoyable listening is on the program I have on my premium over-ear headphones like that Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 (test) or the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 (Test) resorted to.

I used the in-ear earplugs for all activities outside the home, such as flying, traveling and on vacation, doing sports and especially jogging, and as a hands-free device when making phone calls - various models over time - most recently this one Apple AirPods 2nd generation.

That silent arrangement was about to be turned on its head with the new AirPods Pro. Because the new AirPods Pro make an excellent impression right from the first impression: you take them out of the packaging, connect the charging case to the smartphone within a few seconds - in my case that iPhone 11 Pro Max (test) and now the iPhone 13 Pro Max – plug in your ears and you’re good to go.

I have never configured headphones so quickly. You can then make some fine adjustments to the AirPods Pro, check the fit in the ears and assign the buttons as you wish. Basically, the new AirPods Pro are ready for use after 30 seconds after they come out of the box. 

And already in the first field tests show the headphones with the Active Noise Canceling full performance: If you switch on the noise suppression on a busy street, next to a vacuum cleaner or kitchen blender, the ANC is heavenly quiet. The first impression of the AirPods Pro in the test is convincing across the board.

The small headphones offer almost the performance of the large over-ears - but at the same time they are much more comfortable. So will I only need one pair of headphones in the future? The answer is yes and no - but more on that later in my AirPods Pro review. 

AirPods Pro test - product features

AirPods Pro	Features
noise cancellation	Active Noise Canceling (ANC)
Audio Properties	Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, adaptive EQ, ventilation for pressure equalization, high excursion Apple Woofer and special amplifier with a large dynamic range
Sensors	Two beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphone, two optical sensors, accelerometer with motion detection, accelerometer with speech recognition, and a pressure sensor
Processor	H1 headphone chip
water resistance	Protected against sweat and water (IPX4)
Battery life	depends heavily on usage - up to 4,5 hours of playback with one charge, 5 hours without ANC use - up to 24 hours of playback with intermediate charges in the charging case - five minutes of recharging in the charging case increases the playback time by up to one hour
Weight	5,4 grams per earbud, 45,6 grams for the charging case
charging Case	Charging via Lightning connector or with Qi certified chargers
send email now	Bluetooth 5.0
What's in the box	AirPods Pro, wireless charging case, silicone tips in three sizes and Lightning on USB-C cable

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AirPods Pro test: noise canceling, transparency mode and easy operation

The great strength of the AirPods Pro has been proven to be intuitive from the very first second. If you take them out of the pack, they are connected in no time and music enjoyment can begin. The small in-ear headphones have compared to the little brother - because the conventional AirPods will continue to sell in the future as stripped-down version - gained a lot of functionality.

1. Noise suppression of the AirPods Pro in the test

As expected, the noise cancellation of the new AirPods Pro is good. The earphones do not seal completely and do not come close to the premium over-ear models when it comes to active noise canceling. The headband headphones shield a little more. Of course, the small white earplugs can't quite keep up.

But considering how small and compact the AirPods Pro are, the noise-cancellation is phenomenally good. You only have to toggle once between transparency mode and noise cancellation to notice a massive difference. In view of the compact design, the manufacturer has already implemented considerable ANC quality.

2. AirPods Pro test: revised operation of the in-ears

There is now a pressure-sensitive button on each earbud that can be operated by pressing once, twice or three times, or operated by a press and hold. One press starts or stops music, double press for next song, three presses for previous song, and long press on the right earbud of AirPods Pro toggles between noise canceling and transparency mode. Press and hold on the left earbud to turn on the voice assistant Siri.

However, these settings can be changed individually, and the hold-down function can also be assigned in reverse. And voice control via Siri command has also become much more pleasant. The in-ear headphones can now be operated reasonably reliably using the Hey Siri command. You say something like: "Hey Siri, play song XY". The function worked very reliably when jogging. This operation makes a lot of sense, especially during sports and in all situations where you have to have your hands free.

3. Lossless Audio, 3D Audio, Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos: new sound settings

To a whole new level Apple The AirPods Pro have been enhanced by introducing sound settings and sound quality settings with a series of updates. These new features bring the sound quality of the various Apple Headphones to a new level. The newly introduced quality settings include at least the AirPods Pro, AirPods Max and AirPods 3:

• Lossless Audio and High Res Lossless Audio: The whole Apple Music catalog is marked with ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) encoded in resolutions from 16 bit / 44,1 kHz (CD quality) to 24 bit / 192 kHz. It has to be said, however, that the hearing can hardly perceive the difference to conventional AAC. This setting has hardly any real effect on the sound.
• 3D Audio (Spatial Audio) and Dolby Atmos: The sound seems to come from different directions and creates a sense of space. The effect is really clearly audible. You can also switch it off if you wish and then you will hear the clear difference.
• Dynamic head tracking: The sound appears to come from a different direction when you turn your head. My AirPods Pro test showed a powerful effect that is really a joy for the ears.

Using these new audio functions, the manufacturer has Apple the sound quality of the headphones has been raised to a new level. In particular, 3D audio (spatial audio) makes a much more audible difference. You really get the feeling that the sound is coming from different directions. This feeling is reinforced by dynamic head tracking, as the sound changes direction when you turn your head.

Interim conclusion – Solid sound quality with the AirPods Pro in the test

The conventional AirPods deliver an excellent sound - mind you, considering the compact shape. Of course, high-end over-ears can - provided they have the appropriate audio sources - a little more. I've always wondered how two small white earbuds can develop such a sound, especially in terms of bass. In a direct comparison between the conventional AirPods and the new AirPods Pro, the sound quality is not that much better.

The Pro model is slightly above the level of its little brother, maybe if you listen closely and depending on Quality the source, of course, maybe even a tad better. The key difference is the background noise. In quiet or silent environments hardly any difference.

Particularly efficient in noisy environments

The real strengths are played by the AirPods Pro as soon as you move around in noisy environments and active noise cancellation comes into play. Here it could happen with the conventional AirPods, that one in the Fitness center at the Jog was on the treadmill and couldn't understand the audio book properly because of the ambient noise. This is where the conventional AirPods started to lurch and the sound quality suffered a lot in such situations.

The AirPods Pro no longer have this problem. Our first tests while jogging in the fitness center showed that the AirPods Pro really close and suppress the ambient noise. Thus, the sound quality remains high even in noisy environments Level, which she only has in quiet environments with the conventional AirPods.

With the introduction of Lossless Audio, 3D Audio, Spatial Audio, and Dolby Atmos Apple the quality of the sound reproduction has been raised to a new level. In particular, the combination of 3D audio (spatial audio) and dynamic head tracking could significantly increase the sap factor in my AirPods Pro test.

AirPods Pro test: Buy in-ears at Amazon.de

AirPods Pro test travel - and the world becomes silent?

Especially in noisy environments, the new AirPods Pro can fully exploit its strengths compared to other in-ear headphones and also compared to its small brother AirPods. At the airport or train station, on the plane with snoring co-travelers or with children playing at the hotel pool or on the beach, the noise suppression works wonders.While you choose decent sound quality or silence, choose large and heavy over-ear headphones to go on vacation had to drag or had to buy ear plugs, now suffice the only 5,4 gram lightweight AirPods Pro.

The big ironing headphone can stay at home on the next vacation, the AirPods Pro are made for any form of mobility and bring enough power to save the expensive earphones with Active Noise Canceling for the home. When traveling and on vacation, the new AirPods Pro can also take over the functions of hearing protection plugs - you do not necessarily have to listen to music while wearing the small, white headphones. Who in the Airplane wants to sleep, can put his AirPods Pro in the ears instead of the plug from the drugstore. Due to the stable seat they should not fall out.  

AirPods Pro Test Sport and Jogging – This is how the in-ears perform in the test

In sports, not only does the active noise suppression work, but also the new fit. If you had to struggle with the conventional AirPods to keep them in your ear while jogging and not lose them, nothing slips or wobbles with the new AirPods Pro. Even during an intensive workout, while jogging or other fast movements, the AirPods sit firmly in the ear - without pressing, mind you.

In addition, the small earphones are protected against splash water, so that sweat and rain no longer cause problems for the gadgets. Anyone who went jogging with the conventional AirPods may also have them Experience made that the metal parts tarnished over time through sweat and the headphones no longer charged properly due to stuck contacts. Such problems should no longer occur with the new AirPods Pro.

AirPods Pro test – making calls now much more pleasant

The AirPods have always served me as a practical hands-free device when I wanted to make calls while doing sports, driving or at work. It's not uncommon for me to use the AirPods more for making calls than listening to music on busy days. However, there was always one or two complaints with the previous model that the sound quality and the connection were not particularly good.

I have now tested phoning with the AirPods Pro with several participants - and everyone attested the best sound quality of the AirPods Pro when making calls. In addition, the outside noise can also be suppressed during a telephone call using noise suppression, so that telephone calls can be conducted more smoothly and the sound quality is better.

Strengths and weaknesses of the new AirPods Pro in the test

The AirPods Pro in the test score with many strengths, which are offset by only a few weaknesses. My experiences with the ANC in-ears have been consistently positive. The AirPods Pro still make a huge leap from the normal first and second generation AirPods. In particular, the strong noise suppression, which can be switched on with the intuitive operation via Force Touch, is convincing.

You don't even have to take out the headphones anymore if you want to speak to everyone, because you can simply switch to transparency mode. My experience with the AirPods Pro is that they fit incredibly well, so you can easily wear them for hours. I use it quite intensively for business calls, because the sound of the conversation partner is very good and you have your hands free when making calls.

On the negative side, it currently says that the AirPods Pro are only available in white - I would really like a version in black. In general, the design is too curved for me and not Apple-typically straight. The battery doesn't last forever, especially when you're on the phone for longer. There is definitely still room for improvement. In addition, the price is of course steep. The AirPods Pro are now available from numerous retailers.

Power

• strong active noise cancellation
• solid sound quality
• intuitive operation via Force Touch and speech
• transparency mode
• Firm fit in the ear while exercising without pushing
• good telephony properties

weaknesses

• The battery could be a little bit stronger
• the design is too curvy and swinging
• The AirPods Pro are currently only available in white
• the price is juicy at 279 euros (RRP incl. VAT)

Compatibility with others Apple Products and third parties

Compatibility with others Apple Products is really outstanding with the new AirPods Pro. As mentioned at the beginning, they can be connected to the smartphone within 30 seconds of unpacking. In addition, the small earplugs over the Apple ID automatically with all other devices from the manufacturer that use the same Apple ID are logged in to be connected.

This means that you can switch back and forth between devices virtually seamlessly. In the practical test, this worked perfectly. For example, the music on the AirPods is played on the iPhone while you are on your Apple Watch can regulate the volume. Even with that Apple The small earplugs can be connected to the TV, which should bring completely new possibilities when watching television, especially for the hearing-impaired.

Also with the Gadgets of a Bluetooth connection was made relatively quickly. Comprehensive and overarching connectivity is one of the great strengths of the new AirPods pro. Unfortunately comes to date no third-party even approach. Even my big, high-end earphones, which are state-of-the-art and support AirPlay 2, often need to be reconnected - once you're in the Bluetooth settings, you're ready to connect. The AirPods Pro, however, are almost immediately connected to all devices. Whether the pairing of AirPods Pro with third-party products works just as well, I can not say so far unfortunately. 

AirPods Pro alternatives – depends on your own preferences

There are currently many AirPods Pro alternatives on the market. The large and powerful over-ear headphones from the premium segment are of course the first choice, especially for at home. And there are numerous attractive in-ear headphones models for on the go,  which are also very appealing and already offer active noise canceling. However, the coherent overall package of the AirPods Pro ensures that the small plugs do not have to hide from the competition. In terms of price, too, with an RRP of 279 euros (price including 19% VAT), they are in the good average of premium in-ear headphones - even if the price initially feels gigantic

FAQs AirPods Max - the most important questions and answers about the different Apple AirPods models

Before you buy your first AirPods - AirPods, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, you have many questions about the small and powerful in-ear headphones that you can use to listen to music in everyday life, while exercising and when traveling. I have therefore put together the most important questions and answers about the various AirPods models for you.

1. FAQs - AirPods Pro test: the most important questions and answers about in-ear headphones

2. FAQs - AirPods test: the most important questions and answers about in-ear headphones

3. FAQs - AirPods Max test: the most important questions and answers about over-ear headphones

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AirPods Pro in combination with Apple Watch use

One of the most pleasant things about the AirPods Pro is that it's so easy to use Apple Watch let connect. Anyone who has previously listened to some music or an audio book on the Apple-Smartwatch charged, you can leave the smartphone in your pocket - at least when it comes to music, audio books and telephony.

The headphones are on the Apple Watch displayed automatically and can be easily selected and connected. A cumbersome connection via Bluetooth does not have to take place. That makes everyday mobile life much easier - on the way to the office, when jogging and on the plane, the smartphone can stay in the pocket much more often.

Conclusion - AirPods Pro test: the new lightness for sports and traveling?

My conclusion of the AirPods Pro test is clear: The small ANC headphones are awesome and an absolute buy. I've been using them for months now and I'm basically very satisfied with the small in-ears. If you want to read more test results for the AirPods Pro, you can find them at hifi.de. On my last vacation in Mauritius, in addition to the conventional AirPods of the 2nd generation, I also had my large over-ears from B&O with me because I wanted to be on the safe side when I was chilling by the pool and not be surrounded by the chatter of other vacationers or kids playing disturb while relaxing.

If the AirPods Pro are now part of your travel equipment, the headband headphones can easily stay at home in the future. The AirPods Pro really show off their strengths when traveling, as my detailed AirPods Pro test report showed. No matter whether you listen to your favorite playlist or simply ensure silence through noise canceling.

AirPods Pro review - which in-ear headphones do you use? Share your experiences in the comments. 

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