Looks like the rumours were true—Apple has just announced new AirPods Pro, coming to Canada on October 30.
AirPods Pro come with a new design aimed at sticking in your ears with three customizable eartips included. The earphones have Active Noise Cancellation and an Adaptive EQ based on a user’s ear. They are powered by the same H1 chip as AirPods and feature always-on “Hey Siri”.
Active Noice Cancellation “uses two microphones combined with advanced software to continuously adapt to each individual ear and headphone fit. This removes background noise to provide a uniquely customized, superior noise-cancelling experience,” explains Apple.
Apple says better sound will be part of AirPods Pro, as “a custom high dynamic range amplifier produces pure, incredibly clear sound while also extending battery life, and powers a custom high-excursion, low-distortion speaker driver designed to optimize audio quality and remove background noise. The driver provides consistent, rich bass down to 20Hz and detailed mid- and high-frequency audio.”
There’s also a Transparency Mode which allows one to “simultaneously listen to music while still hearing the environment around them, whether that’s to hear traffic while out for a run or an important train announcement during the morning commute.”
This is possible through a “pressure-equalizing vent system and advanced software that leaves just the right amount of noise cancellation active, Transparency mode ensures that a user’s own voice sounds natural while audio continues to play perfectly,” explains Apple.
Users can switch between Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency modes via a “force sensor on the stem. The force sensor also makes it easy to play, pause or skip tracks, and answer or hang up phone calls,” says Apple. Switching modes will also be possible within Control Center on iOS.
“AirPods are the best-selling headphones in the world. The one-tap setup experience, incredible sound and iconic design have made them a beloved Apple product, and with AirPods Pro, we’re taking the magic even further,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The new in-ear AirPods Pro sound amazing with Adaptive EQ, fit comfortably with flexible ear tips and have innovative Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. We think customers are going to love this new addition to the AirPods family.”
As for battery life, AirPods Pro have the same battery life as AirPods–five hours of listening time. Apple says ANC mode offers 4.5 hours of listening and 3.5 hours talk time on a single charge. The Wireless Charging Case brings over 24 hours of listening time and over 18 hours of talk time.
Apple says AirPods Pro are sweat- and water-resistant for non-water sports and exercise and have a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529.
New AirPods Pro will be priced at $329 CAD in Canada (they include free engraving), available to pre-order today with delivery to B.C. by November 1, 2019. The new AirPods Pro will require iOS 13.2 or later, iPadOS 13.2 or later, watchOS 6.1 or later, tvOS 13.2 or later, or macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or later, so expect these updates to be released this week.
Update: Apple has just released iOS 13.2, iPadOS 13.2, tvOS 13.2 and iOS 12.4.3 this morning.
…developing, more to follow
