I’m upgrading to the AirPods Professional 2 with USB-C regardless of all of the pink flags
It’s official — I’ve an issue. At present is iPhone 15 assessment day as embargos are dropping, and which means we get our first impressions of the brand new USB-C port in all its glory. When Apple revealed that the iPhone was lastly getting a USB-C port at its “Wonderlust” particular occasion final week, it additionally quietly introduced a brand new model of AirPods Professional with a USB-C port.
Once I first noticed the brand new model of AirPods Professional 2, I rapidly dismissed them. I have already got the Lightning model of the earbuds, so it wasn’t like I used to be upgrading from the primary technology of the wi-fi headphones. The upgrades had been additionally comparatively minimal in comparison with the soar Apple constructed from the primary to the second technology, so who would improve?
Me. I’m the issue, it’s me. The extra I thought of it (and on account of a surprising deal), I pulled the set off on upgrading now moderately than ready for the third technology of the earbuds. Let me break down why.
I’m in all probability getting the Imaginative and prescient Professional
The primary purpose that it made sense to improve to the USB-C model of the AirPods Professional 2 is the lossless audio high quality customers will take pleasure in when pairing them with the Imaginative and prescient Professional. In keeping with Apple, solely the USB-C model of the earbuds will allow lossless audio high quality with its upcoming headset:
AirPods Professional (2nd technology) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) will allow Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency to ship the right true wi-fi resolution with Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. The H2 chip within the newest AirPods Professional and Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, mixed with a groundbreaking wi-fi audio protocol, unlocks highly effective 20-bit, 48 kHz Lossless Audio with an enormous discount in audio latency.
As somebody who is certainly an early adopter on the subject of Apple merchandise, I’ve a powerful feeling that I’ll find yourself preordering the Imaginative and prescient Professional when it goes on sale early subsequent yr. I instantly jumped in when the corporate launched the AirPods and Apple Watch, and this feels much more substantial of a product than each, so I undoubtedly need to begin experiencing Apple’s model of digital and blended actuality as quickly as I can.
So, if I need the FULL Imaginative and prescient Professional audio expertise, these USB-C AirPods Professional 2 are going to be key.
I’m going all-in on USB-C
One apparent purpose to improve from the Lightning AirPods Professional 2 to the USB-C model is, nicely, USB-C. Like many Apple followers, the announcement of the iPhone 15 has despatched me on a Imaginative and prescient quest (see what I did there) to transform all the pieces I presumably can to USB-C in order that I can actually reside in that world the place I solely must carry one cable that may cost all of my units.
That’s already the case with my M2 MacBook Air and M1 iPad Air, and now, with my iPhone 15 Professional approaching Friday, all of my transportable Apple units — save my Apple Watch Extremely — have a USB-C port. So, as dumb because it sounds, it began to trouble me, figuring out that I would want to maintain a Lightning cable hanging round ONLY for my AirPods Professional.
If I needed to reside within the USB-C future, there was just one factor to do, and that was to chunk the bullet now and improve to the brand new model of AirPods Professional 2. Lastly, after I’m touring, I can carry simply two cables: one USB-C cable for my iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods, and one to cost my Apple Watch.
Now I simply want to attend for Apple to launch the MagSafe Duo Charger with USB-C and I might get that down to 1 cable. What a utopia that may be!
The mud resistance is definitely significant to me
One of many upgrades that you could have missed, because it hasn’t been highlighted as a lot because the port or the audio, is that the USB-C model of the AirPods Professional 2 added mud resistance. The second technology was already waterproof for individuals who needed to take their earbuds operating within the rain or to sweat it out within the health club, however mud resistance was nonetheless elusive.
That’s modified with the USB-C model of the AirPods Professional 2. The brand new model upgrades the earbuds from an IPX4 water resistance ranking to IP54 (water and dirt resistance):
An improved IP54 ranking for the earbuds and case additionally gives extra mud resistance, so customers can carry them on their favourite rugged adventures.
As somebody who usually takes my AirPods Professional when visiting my household on the seashore and on the path after I’m climbing or backpacking, that added mud resistance is definitely a significant improve for me. It provides me that additional piece of thoughts that the headphones received’t crap out on me in the event that they get dropped into the sand or filth.
The USB-C model was already on sale
Whereas all the above causes had been pushing me in the direction of upgrading, it wasn’t till I noticed the sale occurring at Greatest Purchase that I pulled the set off. Extremely, the USB-C model of AirPods Professional are already $50 off at Greatest Purchase if you preorder the brand new earbuds (as of the writing of this text). It’s uncommon to see gross sales like this on AirPods Professional — even for those which have already been out for a yr — so this can be a uncommon deal.
Along with Greatest Purchase already having the USB-C AirPods Professional 2 on sale for $199 as a substitute of $249, I additionally discovered that BackMarket, an internet site that sells refurnished expertise merchandise, was providing virtually $100 for my Lightning AirPods Professional 2. That was 4 instances what I used to be going to get from Greatest Purchase and infinitely greater than what I’d get from Apple since they nonetheless don’t provide cash for AirPods Professional trade-ins (they’ll recycle them, although)!
Between the sale and the trade-in worth, I’ll find yourself with the ability to improve for about $100. That made it a way more affordable choice for me — a minimum of in comparison with dropping $250 for the above options and advantages.
It’s Apple’s fault
If the iPhone 15 didn’t have a USB-C port and Apple wasn’t releasing the Imaginative and prescient Professional subsequent yr, I in all probability wouldn’t be doing this improve. Nevertheless, since each exist (or will exist quickly), it was the proper time for me in order that I received the most effective value with the most effective trade-in worth.
I’m wanting ahead to lastly eliminating that Lightning cable, as soon as and for all!
