This story was written in December 2019.

They sound great and last for hours on a single charge. Apple AirPods Pro pack impressive noise cancelling into a tiny space. At NZ$450, the price is competitive if you’re looking at more traditional noise-cancelling headsets.

Apple’s original AirPods were a surprise hit. You see them everywhere and almost everyone who owns a pair loves them. At one point, reports suggested they accounted for six out of every ten wireless earbuds sold worldwide, which helps explain why rivals like Huawei pushed in with products such as FreeBuds.

My old AirPods are the second-generation model. They fit my ears and work better than you might expect.

AirPods Pro are a step up in every dimension. Apple added active noise cancellation to an already successful recipe, improved the fit and upgraded the functionality. They look like another hit.

AirPods Pro wake-up

My first AirPods Pro demo was in a noisy cafe with hard floors and background clatter. We connected them to an iPhone.

From the outset the earbuds blocked out most of the noise. I could hear music with unexpected clarity.

It got better fast.

There’s a built-in feature that checks how well the earbuds fit your ear. Unlike the original all-hard plastic AirPods, Apple uses removable soft tips. Three sizes come in the box. Mine needed changing. It’s a little fiddly, but only takes a minute.

After swapping, the new tips blocked even more background sound. The quality is astounding for something so small.

Later, I listened again on the bus ride home. The experience was even better than the cafe. I’m not sure I’ve heard such clear sound on public transport.

At home, I can be blissfully unaware when helicopters pass overhead or when the Royal New Zealand Air Force takes off from nearby Whenuapai.

Both types of music

AirPods Pro work well with all kinds of music, which matters because I listen to all kinds. One acid test I use for speakers or headphones is piano recordings. Both classical and jazz tracks came out close to perfect — on a bus. There’s no artificial bass boost, which may or may not suit your taste.

I’ve enjoyed noise cancelling for a few years. When I reviewed Sony’s MDR-1000X headphones, I liked them enough to buy a pair. They proved their worth on long-haul flights.

There is some colour to the MDR-1000X sound. That’s not necessarily bad. They sound fine with my favourite music. In comparison, AirPods Pro are flatter and more accurate.

In the past I thought over-ear designs like the MDR-1000X were more comfortable for long sessions, say on a trans-Pacific flight. I haven’t flown since getting the AirPods Pro, but I have used them for extended listening. They remain comfortable for hours and are far easier to slip into carry-on luggage. I expect them to replace my older noise-cancelling headphones.

On most measures, AirPods Pro match or beat the Sony headphones. The Sony controls may be easier, but that could be familiarity; I’ve only had the AirPods a few days.

The flat response is good enough that I can use them as a reference when mixing tracks on my iPad without waking the house.

During testing I never heard lag or had trouble connecting. If you pull an AirPod out to talk, the music pauses. That’s not always necessary, as we’ll see later. Apple Music behaves well, but some third-party apps can stop altogether and need restarting.

Controls

AirPods Pro have shorter stalks than the older AirPods and are fractionally heavier, though you won’t notice. They come in a slightly larger snap-top case.

You store them in the case when not in use. It charges the earbuds via a Lightning connector or wirelessly. The case holds its own reserve, so you can top up between sessions.

A single charge gives around four hours of listening. With the case, Apple says you can stretch that to 24 hours. That more or less matches my experience.

There’s a squeezable control surface. Squeeze once to pause, twice to skip tracks. Squeeze and hold to activate Siri or switch noise cancelling modes.

You can also say “Hey Siri” to read messages or use the microphones to pipe in outside sound. That’s handy if, say, a flight attendant wants your attention.

One of the more magical features is how AirPods Pro pair across Apple devices. Once connected to one, they’re available to all. Open the case near a device and a prompt shows the remaining charge.

Verdict

AirPods Pro show Apple at its best. They feel a little like magic. It’s rare for someone who has spent decades reviewing gadgets to break into even a modest smile, but these did it.

They are comfortable, sound excellent and have enough battery life for most situations short of a long-haul flight. The noise cancelling is on a par with far more expensive headphones. They also work with Android phones and Windows devices. Best of all, they slip into a pocket.

The price looks high, but you get value for money. Good noise cancelling is never cheap.

Their success also came at a time when iPhone sales were faltering — a reminder that Apple’s strength isn’t just in phones, but in the ecosystem built around them.