Apple announced AirPods Pro on October 28, 2019, and released them two days later on October 30, 2019. They include features of standard AirPods, such as a microphone that filters out background noise, accelerometers and optical sensors that can detect presses on the stem and in-ear placement, and automatic pausing when they are taken out of the ears. Control by tapping is replaced by pressing a force sensor on the stems. The AirPods Pro use the same H1 chip found in second generation AirPods that supports hands-free "Hey Siri". They have active noise cancellation, accomplished by microphones detecting outside sound and speakers producing precisely opposite anti-noise. Active noise cancellation can be turned off or switched to "transparency mode" that helps users hear surroundings. Noise cancellation modes can also be switched in iOS or by pinching the stems of the AirPods using a new "force sensor". Battery life is equal tothe 2nd generation AirPods, 5 hours, but when noise cancellation or transparency mode is on, the battery is slightly shorter at 4.5 hours due to the extra processing of either modes. They are rated IPX4 for water resistance. They come with three sizes of silicone tips. In iOS there is a software test called the Ear Tip Fit Test that " the fit of your AirPods ear tips to determine which size provides the best seal and acoustic performance" to ensure a correct fit, as well as a feature called "Adaptive EQ" which automatically adjusts the frequency contour, claimed to better match the wearer's ear shape. The charging case advertises the same 24 hours of total listening time as the standard AirPods case. It features Qi standard wireless charging compatibility. Like AirPods, AirPods Pro have received criticism for their battery life. In the beginning of 2020 Apple started selling tip replacements for AirPods Pro on their website. On June 22, 2020 at WWDC Apple announced spatial audio would be coming to AirPods Pro via a firmware update that will come with iOS 14.
Firmware Issues
Firmware for the AirPods Pro is automatically updated silently in the background. Users have complained that firmware version 2C54 reduced the effectiveness of the active noise cancellation feature. Apple stopped updating customer AirPods Pro to firmware version 2C54. In May 2020, firmware version 2D15 was released. After the release of 2C54, users speculated that the launch firmware with the strong noise cancellation may have degraded the lifespan of the product, and Apple had to weaken the noise cancelling feature in order to preserve the lifespan of the hardware.
Compatibility
Support for AirPods Pro was added in iOS 13.2, watchOS 6.1, tvOS 13.2, and macOS Catalina 10.15.1. They are compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth, including Windows and Android devices, although certain features such as automatic switching between devices are only available on Apple devices using its iCloud service.
