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AirPods Pro 2

best noise canceling headphones
Apple AirPods Pro (second generation) with their charging case.

AirPods Pro 2 — also known as AirPods Pro (2nd generation) — are Apple’s premium in-ear wireless earbuds.

They run on the Apple‑designed H2 chip, offering twice the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) of the original model, more immersive sound through low-distortion drivers and a custom amplifier, and support for personalized spatial audio.

A notable upgrade coming via software is the FDA-authorized OTC hearing aid capability, including a built-in hearing test and clinical-grade processing for mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

The first iteration launched in September 2022 with a charging case that used a Lightning port. The earbuds received a USB‑C design refresh in 2023.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on AirPods Pro 2:

These are my favorite Apple devices of all time

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A stylized Apple logo with a heart in the middle.
It's easy to fall in love with Apple products. Here are my all-time favorites.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

Over the years, Apple has launched hundreds of products — some iconic, others forgettable. I’ve used a fair share of them, with some earning a permanent spot on my “all-time favorites” Apple devices list.

Each of these devices represented Apple at its best, with a sleek design, impressive performance and an experience that few other brands can match. So, here’s my list of Apple devices that have truly stood the test of time.

Live Translation with AirPods: A hands-on test

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Two people, one wearing AirPods, smiling at each other, with an image of AirPods in the middle
AirPods can now connect you to talk to people who speak other languages.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

I put AirPods’ new Live Translation feature to the test and came away impressed with the results. 

I tested the feature with the help of Niléane, a native French speaker and fellow tech blogger. While we hit a few stumbling blocks in our conversation, we were able to have a perfectly good chat for a solid 10 minutes.

I cut it down to a seven-minute video, where you can see it for yourself. Keep reading for my full thoughts and analysis of the fantastic new feature. 

How to use AirPods as an iPhone camera control

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AirPods camera control
Your AirPods can act as a camera control to take group shots with you in them.
Image: Apple/Belle Co/Pexels

AirPods have a new trick that lets them work as a camera remote. Simply pressing the earbuds’ stem can control your iPhone’s Camera app and snap a picture. This proves helpful when you want to set your iPhone to take a large group photo with you in it.

However, the feature is off by default. You need to activate it. Here’s what to do.

Some older AirPods get Apple’s Live Translation feature, too

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Live Translation with AirPods
Live Translation with AirPods breaks the language barrier.
Photo: Apple

You don’t have to buy the just-announced AirPods Pro 3 just to get Apple’s new Live Translation feature. The AI-powered communication option is coming to older models of wireless earbuds, too.

An iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence is required as well.

AirPods Pro 3 rumors: Heart rate monitoring, design changes and more

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AirPods Pro 3 rumors
Here's everything to expect from Apple's premium earbuds.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple looks poised to unveil its highly anticipated AirPods Pro 3 at its Awe Dropping event on September 9, marking the first major update to the premium noise-canceling earbuds since 2022. Multiple sources suggest the third-generation model will bring significant hardware upgrades alongside Apple’s continued software feature rollouts. Check out all the AirPods Pro 3 rumors below.

Get cool new AirPods features early. Here’s how.

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AirPods firmware trick: Try new iOS 26 audio features now
You don’t have to wait. You can easily install pre-release AirPods firmware to try the audio features coming along with iOS 26.
Graphic: Soulful Pizza/Pexels/Cult of Mac

Apple now makes it easy to install prerelease AirPods firmware on your wireless earbuds. The company once reserved this option for only a select few developers. But now, anyone willing to put potentially buggy software on their AirPods can try upcoming features early.

The temptation is understandable. The upcoming iOS 26 brings a range of enhancements to Apple earbuds, but you need unreleased AirPods firmware to take advantage of them. Install the beta AirPods software, and you can try out improved audio recording, auto-pause when sleeping, and many other new features.

Feeling brave? Let’s go.

P.S. Not looking for the prerelease version? We also have a guide on how to install the regular non-beta AirPods software.

Score one of my top AirPods Pro 2 alternatives for sweet 20% off

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Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds outside closed case
White is one of four color options. The others are blue, black and pink.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

As a Cult of Mac review writer and a proud owner of Apple’s top-notch AirPods Pro 2 earbuds, I often compare other wireless noise-canceling earbuds to them. AirPods Pro 2 are hard to beat, but some third-party alternatives that cost less come pretty close — like Soundcore Liberty 5. Right now you can get the Anker subsidiary’s flagship buds on sale for $129 $104, markedly less than this week’s Amazon discount on AirPods Pro 2, $249 $169.

How iOS 26 will upgrade your AirPods experience

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AirPods 4 are coming in 2024
iOS 26 will supercharge your AirPods experience.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 26 will not just make your iPhone better. It will also add several new features to AirPods, improving the already excellent experience of using Apple’s super-popular earbuds.

The changes will further deepen the AirPods integration with the iPhone. Find out all the ways iOS 26 will improve your AirPods experience.

Apple’s Back to School sale brings free AirPods with Mac or iPad

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Apple 2025 Back to School Promo
Apple's 2025 Back to School promo will get you a free AirPods.
Screenshot: Apple Store

Apple’s yearly Back to School sale is now live in the United States, India and other countries. As part of the deal, eligible students and teachers can get Macs and iPads on education pricing, along with an accessory worth up to $179.

Unlike the last few years, Apple will not bundle a gift card with your purchase. Instead, it will bundle a free accessory, ranging from the Magic Keyboard to AirPods 4 with ANC.

Hidden iOS 26 features Apple didn’t talk about at WWDC25

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iOS 26 hidden features
There are plenty of smaller, hidden improvements in iOS 26.
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult Of Mac

Apple focused heavily on the new Liquid Glass design language during the iOS 26 unveiling last week. But there’s more to the operating system than the glossy new look that’s coming to all the company’s operating systems.

While Apple highlighted iOS 26’s major features during the  WWDC25 keynote, many meaningful quality-of-life improvements flew under the radar. Here are some of the smaller, hidden features in iOS 26 that you shouldn’t miss.

First iOS 26 beta hints at AirPods Pro 3 coming soon

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AirPods Pro are the best Apple wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation
Will Apple launch the AirPods Pro 3 this year?
Photo: Apple

iOS 26 developer beta hints at Apple launching the AirPods Pro 3 sooner rather than later. The first beta of the OS contains references to the upcoming wireless earbuds.

Conflicting reports surround the AirPods Pro 3 launch. Some point to a fall 2025 release, while others suggest the earbuds might not arrive until 2026.

iOS 19 may turn your AirPods into a remote camera button

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Apple AirPods 4 review
iOS 26 could make the AirPods Pro even better.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 19/iOS 26 will reportedly enhance the AirPods experience by introducing new head gestures. The earbuds will also become smart enough to stop audio playback when you fall asleep while wearing them. Plus, you may finally be able to use the AirPods as a remote shutter for the camera.

With every new major iOS release, Apple added new features to AirPods as well. It appears the company may continue that trend this year as well.

Grab refurbished AirPods Pro 2 for less than $160

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AirPods Pro 2
Get your pair of refurbished AirPods Pro 2 at a discounted price!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We can’t say it often enough: AirPods Pro 2 are the best earbuds for any Apple fan. If you want to pick up a pair of these noise-canceling earbuds on the cheap, jump on this refurbished AirPods Pro 2 deal, which knocks the $249 list price down to just $159.99.

That’s $30 cheaper than the current best deal on new AirPods Pro 2.

Why some audiophiles choose AirPods Pro 2 over wired headphones and earbuds [Setups]

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wireless earbus vs. wired earbuds - AirPods Pro 2
Say what you want about high-quality wired headphones and earbuds. This user finds AirPods Pro 2 irresistibly convenient.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

In a face-off like wireless earbuds vs. wired earbuds and headphones, most self-described audiophiles will insist wired wins. But Bluetooth headphones and earbuds have come a long way in recent years in terms of solid audio quality and reliable connectivity. That’s a big part of the reason why today’s featured MacBook Pro setup user chooses AirPods Pro 2 almost all of the time, despite owning excellent wired headphones and in-ear monitors. It really just comes down to convenience.

Don’t miss your chance to get AirPods Pro 2 at a huge discount

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AirPods Pro 2 in hand with case opened
Save big on the AirPods Pro 2.
Source: Unsplash

AirPods Pro 2 are — hands down — the best earbuds for iPhone users. They offer high-quality audio while also seamlessly switching between Apple devices as needed. And AirPods sales from multiple retailers mean you can pick up a pair at a sweet 32% off.

And there are more sweet discounts, including AirPods 4 at up to 22% off, and AirPods Max at up to 13% off.

Apple Hearing Study: The whole country gets louder on Super Bowl Sunday

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Super Bowl noise
You don't need to be at the big game to suffer excess noise exposure.
Photo: Pixlr Image Generator

Noise on Super Bowl Sunday (February 9 this year) increases throughout the United States, almost everywhere, according to new Apple Hearing Study research findings this week from Apple and the University of Michigan.

The findings highlight the importance of being mindful about noise exposure during major sporting events, even when watching from home. Even those not at the big game get exposed to higher levels of noise, often for several hours, and all the more so at boisterous public viewings in bars or at parties. And that could factor into hearing loss for some, researchers indicated.

What to expect from AirPods in 2025

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Product photo of AirPods with text
Big upgrades could be in store for Apple's AirPods lineup in 2025.
Image: Cult of Mac

AirPods Pro 3 keep generating buzz as we approach the launch of Apple’s next-generation premium wireless earbuds. Here’s what to expect from AirPods Pro 3, which probably will arrive in early 2025.

While the current AirPods Pro 2 model dominates the market two years after launch, rumors say its successor will bring substantial improvements and new features. Unfortunately, you probably shouldn’t expect changes to the recently updated AirPods 4 and AirPods Max in 2025. We could see updated earbuds or headphones from Apple subsidiary Beats, though.

Why AirPods Pro 2 can make a life-changing gift

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AirPods Pro 2 gift
AirPods Pro 2 are more than entertaining, they can be life changing for someone with hearing loss.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

There’s an important new reason you might put AirPods Pro 2 on your gift list this year. If you know someone who resists getting the hearing assistance they need, Apple’s wireless earbuds can change their life.

It’s not hype — AirPods Pro 2 really can help people with mild to moderate hearing loss thanks to a software update released this autumn.

Try not to start crying during Apple’s Christmas ad for AirPods

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Screenshot of Apple's Heartstrings AirPods hearing aids ad.
Apple's new seasonal ad will bring a tear to your eye.
Photo: Apple

You’d better get the tissues ready before watching Apple’s new seasonal holiday ad, appropriately titled “Heartstrings.”

I know I got a little misty.

The ad depicts a moving father-and-daughter moment on Christmas morning to showcase the new hearing aid feature in AirPods Pro 2.

Watch the ad below.

Powerful M4 Pro MacBook replaces trusty M1 Pro laptop [Setups]

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M4 Pro MacBook Pro setup
It's a beautiful laptop, and yet I've pretty much hidden it in my computer setup. It's on the vertical stand behind the right-hand display.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

I’ve focused on my own workstation just a few times in several years of handling Cult of Mac setups coverage (this is setups article number 569 for me, by the way). Well, now it’s that time again, thanks to two major new upgrades in my personal rig. First, I replaced my trusty silver M1 Pro MacBook Pro with a brawny M4 Pro model in space black. And second, I installed a set of bookshelf speakers right in the workstation for the first time.

Inside Apple’s Audio Lab: Creating the ‘interface to the ear’

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Apple Audio Lab
The Fantasia Lab uses a spherical array of 50 loudspeakers to simulate hundreds of real-world sound scenes.
Photo: Apple

Apple developed its groundbreaking Hearing Health experience for AirPods Pro 2 in its state-of-the-art Audio Lab in Cupertino. The innovative features, available in a free software update, turn AirPods Pro 2 into hearing aids and offer advanced tools for testing and protecting the hearing of people who wear the earbuds.

As one Apple engineer put it, with the new Hearing Health features, AirPods Pro 2 become “truly the interface to the ear.”

AirPods Pro 2 firmware update preps for new hearing-aid features

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AirPods Pro 2 firmware update - hearing aids
The new AirPods Pro 2 firmware update will enable hearing aid functionality coming with iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1.
Photo: Apple

A new AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid firmware update sets the soundstage for the new Apple Hearing Health features expected with Monday’s public release of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1. Apple began rolling out the update Thursday. The new features are Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection.

Intended for both Lightning and USB-C versions of the earbuds, firmware version 7B19 updates from the previous version 7A305.

Feature-packed Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro earbuds make a great choice for most [Review] ★★★★

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Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro earbuds★★★★
The upgraded charging case with display and touch bar is pretty cool, especially for keeping tabs on battery level.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

The new Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro wireless noise-canceling earbuds are the flagship of Anker’s Soundcore earbuds lineup, promising and delivering great sound and high-end features at a more accessible price point than some competitors, like AirPods Pro 2. After putting the Liberty Pro buds through their paces in various scenarios, I’m happy to recommend them for most users in this Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro earbuds review.

And that nifty new charging case with display screen and touch bar is pretty cool. But it’s a bit of a gimmick because it doesn’t do anything you can’t do with the app or touch controls. That said, most earbuds charging cases don’t have those features at all (yet).

AirPods acting as hearing aids score FDA approval

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AirPods Pro can soon double as hearing aids
Your AirPods Pro can help with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple just got the approval it needs from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make the latest AirPods Pro into medical-grade hearing aids.

Once Apple releases a software update for the wireless earbuds, they’ll be able to help those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

AirPods Pro can soon double as hearing aids

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AirPods Pro can soon double as hearing aids
Your AirPods Pro can help with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple It's Glowtime Event:AirPods Pro 2 will soon go beyond providing music and podcasts as the wireless earbuds become genuine medical-grade hearing aids.

“We’re adding this groundbreaking capability to help more than 1 billion people living with mild to moderate hearing loss,” said Sumbul Desai, MD, Vice President of Health at Apple.