When people ask me to recommend some normal headphones, I most often recommend the current model AirPods Pro 2nd generation with Type-C. Especially for owners of Apple technology.
They are not the best value for money and are quite expensive. They sound worse than many other models, especially over-ear ones. And the charging case inevitably gets scratched after a couple of months, which you can’t get rid of.
So why AirPods Pro 2nd generation with Type-C? The thing is, These are the most comfortable headphones for daily use in the Apple ecosystem.
AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (2022) Review: Is It Time to Upgrade?
I’m not pretending these are the latest models, but for me today the hierarchy of wireless headphones looks like this:
AirPods Pro 2nd generation with Type-C → AirPods Pro 2nd generation with Lightning → AirPods Pro 1st generation → AirPods 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation → other TWS in-ear headphones → Open TWS headphones → Over-ear wireless headphones.
Now I will explain why I think so.
Content:
- What makes overheads durable?
- Why is it more practical to be open?
- How to work in an ecosystem
- Why are the second better than the first?
- What makes Type-C different
- Summary of the article
1. Instead of over-ear headphones, it is better to buy TWS headphones
Over-ear headphones just won’t fit in the palm of your hand.
In fact, I consider myself a big latent supporter of wireless over-ear headphones.
I like their urban aesthetic, higher sound quality, and full active noise cancellation.
My favorite model is the Monitor II ANC from Marshall. These headphones look and feel strongly stylish, and I play in my own way perfectly, and they protect me from the hum of everyday life quite well.
However, as with any other wireless headphones, there are a number of disadvantages when observing most TWS models.
▸ You can’t always carry it with you. The headphones clearly won’t fit in your pocket or a conventional banana bag, and constantly wearing them around your neck between uses is not always appropriate.
Plus, if you want to be more or less light, in city mode there is not always room for them either.
▸ You can’t wear it with glasses. The headphones are literally incompatible with the temples of even the most compact and weightless sunglasses or frames with lenses for vision.
This applies to both the Marshall Monitor II ANC, which was mentioned above in the text, and any other options.
In any case, no matter how many over-ear headphones I tried together with headphones, it never helped, as they read together on the head. Uncomfortable, and that’s it!
▸ It’s also uncomfortable in the gym. Some might argue, but I don’t see the point in burning calories on a treadmill or doing weight training with over-ear headphones.
They are usually just hot. They often interfere with interaction with the environment. During movements, they can simply fall off your head.
📃 First conclusion: It’s good to have cool over-ear headphones to listen to music somewhere from time to time, but in 80–90% of cases, TWS models will be more reliable.
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2. In-ear TWS headphones are most often open.
Replaceable ear pads make TWS in-ear headphones more comfortable and versatile.
In general, there are two opposite types of TWS headphone users.
The first one is crazy about open-type models, because they seem to be almost not felt in the ears, so you can use them all day long.
The United States disagrees, as there are several obvious drawbacks to open-back TWS earbuds within the in-ear models.
▸ It stays in the ears worse. If open-type TWS headphones constantly fall out, there is absolutely no way to save them. This means you are unlucky and need to look for a model that is more suitable in shape.
In-ear headphones usually have replaceable ear pads, from which you can choose the most suitable ones.
For example, with my AirPods Pro 2nd generation, I use custom SpinFit Superfine ML (they can be adjusted well in the photo above). In terms of size, they are somewhere between the standard M and L, and this option suits me perfectly.
▸ They don’t play nearly as well. In-ear headphones almost always produce a deeper sound, with confident low and high frequency reproduction.
▸ There is no active or passive noise protection. It is impossible to implement ANC in headphones in an open way. For obvious reasons, they also provide almost no physical protection from the city noise.
Plus, normal in-ear TWS models always have a transparency mode, which, if necessary, amplifies surrounding sounds when the owner is riding a bicycle along the edge of the roadway, running in the park, or just walking around the city.
📃 Second conclusion: open TWS headphones, which pass through the ear canal, sound worse, do not protect against ambient noise, and simply fall out noticeably more often than in-ear headphones.
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3. AirPods Pro fit better into the Apple ecosystem.
The headphones switch perfectly between any number of devices.
Based on sound quality and active noise cancellation effectiveness, the Sony WF-1000XM5 are among the best TWS in-ear headphones.
They are really very technological, so outside the Apple ecosystem I definitely used them. However, when you are surrounded on all sides by Apple technology, this or any other response choice due to the fact that one does not look very logical.
▸ There is no quick change of source in the Apple ecosystem. Only AirPods Pro among TWS in-ear headphones can trigger fast switching between other Apple devices that are assigned to the same Apple ID.
Right now, for example, I’m working on a MacBook while listening to music on AirPods Pro. If a call comes in on the iPhone, it will immediately pause and the headphones will switch to the smartphone.
This works great when you turn on a video on the big screen via Apple TV during a break. The same story with Apple Watch, iPad and everything else where you can connect your account.
📃 Third conclusion: AirPods simply connect to any device that matches your Apple ID and sync seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
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4. Today, it is worth buying only AirPods Pro 2nd generation.
The second generation AirPods Pro plays noticeably better than the first.
When discussing the most suitable most TWS headphones, it is worth changing the disadvantages of the AirPods Pro 1st generation before the second.
▸ It’s hard to get or the battery will be dead. Before the 2nd generation AirPods Pro, I used the 1st generation of these TWS headphones.
One of the reasons why the decision was made to replace was the frankly standard batteries in previous models. They are often not enough even for an hour-long call. Therefore, in order to save money, I definitely do not recommend buying the first Proshki from someone else.
It is quite difficult to find new ones on sale today. I just asked a friend from Gorbushka about this. He answered that sometimes he thinks about it, but very rarely.
▸ The first generation plays much worse than the second. It is the current AirPods Pro models that are also worth paying attention to if you are going to listen to music at least occasionally.
They have noticeably deeper bass, noticeably clearer midrange, and better-developed upper frequency range.
📃 Fourth conclusion: AirPods 1st generation can only be found on the secondary market today, so they will have dead batteries, and permanently much lower sound quality.
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5. AirPods Pro 2nd generation with Type-C is made from Lightning.
It’s great not having to carry around a bunch of different types of measuring instruments.
Today, for work and leisure, I use an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a 15-inch MacBook Air, and 2nd-generation AirPods Pro with Type-C. Of the devices that require Lightning, the only ones left at home are the 3rd-generation AirPods and the Apple TV 4K remote.
Actually, that’s why I didn’t have much choice in which model of completely wireless headphones to buy.
However, even if you use an iPhone with Lightning, I still recommend buying AirPods Pro 2nd generation with Type-C for the future.
▸ Apple will no longer release devices with Lightning. In the near future, the company will release all new smartphones, tablets, computers and any accessories only with USB-C ports.
The proprietary 8-pin interface manufacturer, which I find more reliable, remains a bright spot in Apple’s history, but nothing more.
📃 Fifth conclusion: The current AirPods Pro 2nd generation will come with a single Type-C cable that will charge any device.
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Instead of a conclusion – everything described above is as short as possible
❶ TWS headphones are convenient to carry with you. Over-the-ear models are too big for backpacks and bags, and are uncomfortable to wear with glasses.
❷ In-ear TWS are better performing and less likely to fall out of your ears. You can select custom-sized ear pads for them, which is not possible with open-type headphones.
❸ AirPods Pro work seamlessly within the Apple ecosystem. They do a great job of automatically switching between devices assigned to the same Apple ID, which is unlike other manufacturers’ models.
❹ AirPods Pro 2nd generation play better. The entire frequency range in them is worked out more competently, and they also cope with active noise cancellation.
❺ In the future, USB Type-C Lightning will be a thing of the past. Apple will no longer release devices and accessories with its proprietary interface, which is a thing of the past.
In general, based on this simple logic, plus or minus, I don’t see any point in buying any other headphones except the 2nd generation AirPods Pro with Type-C.
However, all this is only true if we are talking about a user who prefers Apple technology and is also looking for one universal pair of headphones for every day.
If there is something specific specifically for sound quality or training, this is already a reason for a separate discussion.
🔎 More interesting thoughts:
▸ 10 useful things for every day that I’ve been carrying with me for years. My must-have set of equipment
▸ What’s wrong with the top-end iPhone 15 Pro Max. I’ve been using it since it went on sale and I’m upset about some things
📸 All photos in the article:
Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
