Apple AirPods Pro 2 Review: A Solid Upgrade for Runners and Everyday Listeners

Introduction

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 arrive at 249 pounds or 249 dollars, which is the same price the original AirPods Pro launched at. Apple has kept the familiar stem-style design and the IPX4 sweat and water resistant rating, while adding a set of meaningful upgrades: deeper bass, double the noise cancellation, a new physical volume control, and a redesigned charging case with a built-in speaker and a lanyard loop.

We spent extended time with the AirPods Pro 2 on runs, races, commutes, and everyday listening to find out whether they earn their upgrade.

Who This Product Is For

If the original AirPods Pro worked for you as a runner, the second generation will too. The fit is very similar, with four sizes of silicone ear tips in the box giving you more options for a secure seal. One of our testers found the buds secure through long runs and races without budging, while another struggled with looseness over time on the run, a common issue with tip-only in-ear designs. In that case, cheap silicone wings purchased online attached easily and fixed the problem immediately without noticeably affecting sound quality.

For everyday use, the fit is comfortable enough to wear for long stretches without irritating the ear. Note that all of the key AirPods Pro features are locked to iOS, so iPhone users get the full experience while other platforms miss out on some functionality.

Main Strengths

The sound quality is the headline improvement. Compared with the original AirPods Pro, the AirPods Pro 2 deliver noticeably more power and a meatier, bass-rich profile without sacrificing the clarity and detail Apple is known for. Vocals in podcasts and audiobooks stay crisp, and the ear scan feature personalizes the sound, in our experience leaning slightly bassier. If you found the original a bit thin, this is exactly the upgrade you were hoping for.

Active noise cancellation is excellent and a massive step up from the first model. It filters out an awful lot of noise on trains and the underground, and the difference is immediately clear when you switch it off. It is not quite best in class against the strongest Sony and Bose competition, but it is very close. Awareness mode is also genuinely usable, with far less wind noise on the run than most rivals, which makes it practical whether you are on the road or in the forest.

Battery life is true to the listed numbers. You get up to six hours of listening with ANC on and seven with it off, 30 hours total with the case, and a five-minute quick charge adds an hour of playback. The case itself is small and easy to pocket, supports wireless charging, and can even charge on an Apple Watch cradle. A built-in speaker now plays low battery tones and helps you locate the case.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The new stem-swipe volume control is a welcome addition but is only realistically usable when sitting or walking. On the run, even at moderate pace, the small stem makes the swipe gesture tricky and sensitive, with a real risk of knocking the buds loose. The squeeze controls carried over from the original work well and give good haptic and audio feedback, but you may find volume control frustrating mid-run.

Fit remains the biggest question mark for runners. The tip-only design sits comfortably in general use but can work loose over time for some ear shapes. If you have struggled with the original AirPods Pro on the run, expect the same, unless you add third-party silicone wings.

On hard downhill running with ANC on, some internal footfall thumping can creep in, though switching to Awareness mode largely removes it.

Buying Advice and Alternatives

If you already own and like the original AirPods Pro, the upgrade case is straightforward: you get significantly better ANC, a bigger and more satisfying sound, a little more battery life, and nicer extras in the case. The fit you know is unchanged.

For runners prioritizing a secure fit above all, wing-tip designs like the Jaybird Vista 2 delivered the most reliable running fit in our testing. Jabra’s Elite 4 Active and Elite 7 Active are also compelling: they fit securely without wings, sound refined, offer solid ANC, and run for longer at less than half the price, though they lack some AirPods polish and are not quite as strong on sound quality and noise cancellation. Jabra’s features also work across platforms, unlike the iOS-locked AirPods.

Within Apple’s range, the standard AirPods can suit runners better thanks to their open, light fit and extra awareness, but they lose out heavily on sound and ANC, and the AirPods Pro 2 are far more enjoyable for everyday life. The Beats Fit Pro offers a more secure winged fit for workouts, but the ear hook irritated one of our testers quickly and felt less comfortable than the AirPods Pro 2 over long periods. Powerbeats Pro remains the most secure in the range thanks to its ear hook, at the cost of being fussier for non-sport use.

As an all-rounder for someone who wants one pair for commuting, work, and running, the AirPods Pro 2 are the strongest option in Apple’s lineup based on our testing.

Conclusion

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are a small but meaningful improvement over a formula that already worked. Noise cancellation is dramatically better, the sound is fuller and more enjoyable, and the case gains genuinely useful extras. Fit inconsistency on the run and a fiddly volume control are the main caveats, and value-focused alternatives exist. But if you live in the Apple ecosystem and want one pair of earbuds for everything, these are easy to recommend.