There’s still no official Apple AirPods Pro 2 release date however we can definitely make a decent estimation based on what we do know, and on the predictions of reputable commentators and leakers. Read on for everything you need to know about the likely AirPods Pro second generation release date. Also check out our AirPods Max 2 release date page for the latest installment of Apple’s on-ear headphone range.

AirPods Pro 2 release date prediction

Reputable Apple commentator Ming-Chi Kuo has stated his belief that he expects the AirPods Pro 2 release date to be sometime in Q4 2022. Ultimately it’s obvious that Apple would want to release their new product in time for Christmas shoppers to pick one up, and the original AirPods Pro were released on October 30, 2019, so we think October – November 2022 is a good bet.

AirPods Pro vs AirPods Pro 2 design changes

As yet there are no definitive details on the AirPods Pro 2 design, but between the predictions of Ming-Chi, plus the undisclosed sources of 9to5Mac, the following are probable inclusions.

Form factor

There’s been conflicting reports about the form factor of the AirPods Pro 2, with Ming-Chi Kuo positing earlier in 2022 that he thought a full redesign was likely, with the end product looking more like the in-ear Beats Fir Pro from 2021 – a more aerodynamic appearance without the current ‘stem’ section.

More recently however 52audio leaked an image (shown below) that was apparently of the new AirPods Pro 2, looking much the same as the previous one, except with different ear tips. It pays to be a tad skeptical about such things, however, the site was right in the past when it came to predicting the AirPods 3 design ahead of release.

AirPods Pro 2 release date AirPods Pro 2 form factor

H1 chip update & LC3 codec

The current audio processor from Apple is the H1 chip, and the AirPods Pro 2 are likely to see an updated version of this processor. This new chip should allow LC3 codec support, meaning improved sound quality for both music and voice calls, as well as greater stability, power efficiency, and Bluetooth 5.2 support.

ALAC lossless support

Apple Lossless Audio Codec, or ALAC for short, is Apple’s proprietary audio compression technology, that enables the user to enjoy music with absolutely no loss of data and therefore audio quality, compared to the original recording. For this reason, it obviously takes up more bandwidth/storage space on your device. Up until now, this hasn’t been possible on Bluetooth earphones, but it’s thought that the AirPods Pro 2 will be the first to change this.

Will the AirPods Pro 2 support Lighting or USB-C ports?

Again there’s been conflicting reports on this matter. In the tweet below you can see that Ming-Chi Kuo has stated his belief that the charging case of the AirPods Pro 2 will continue to support Lightning connection, rather than upgrading to USB-C.

However, 9to5Mac have stated that USB-C connection will be a reality for the new wireless earbuds. We should know soon enough one way or another.

Advanced head tracking

A patent has been discovered from Apple which suggests advanced head tracking may feature in the latest AirPods Pro 2, which should help to make Spatial Audio more accurate. This may also work well with Apple Fitness+ for users doing various exercises, to prompt them to tweak their posture.

Unlikely AirPods Pro 2 features

Despite previous rumors about various fitness tracking features the AirPods Pro 2, such as a heart sensor, oxygen meter, and body temperature reader from inside the ear, Mr. Mark Gurman has thrown cold water on this idea. We may see these features in the future, as apparently, Apple is exploring them, but not for this generation.

AirPods Pro 2 price prediction

It’s been a good while since the last AirPods Pro were released (October 2019 to be exact), so we can’t expect the AirPods Pro 2 to cost the same amount as these did upon release i.e. $249 / £249 (Gad daymn inflation).

iDropnews estimates the price at anywhere between $249 – $299, and we think something closer to the latter number is the most likely.

Here’s how other premium wireless earbuds from competing brands are currently priced on Amazon:

Apple AirPods Pro 2 improvements in iOS 16

In the latest iOS 16 Beta there have been a couple of improvements which improve the functionality of Apple audio devices, that will be rolled out the AirPods Pro 2 when both the full version of iOS 16 and the AirPods Pro 2 are released.

Automatic Switching – a feature that lets you seamlessly transition between listening audio inputs from your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Personalized Spatial Audio – improved spatial audio for when you’re using your AirPods Pro along with your iPhone, using its TrueDepth camera.
L3 codec firmware support – (which we’ve already mentioned the AirPods Pro 2 will be coming with above).

Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro

The two biggest competitors to the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the recently released Google Pixel Buds Pro. We’ll have to wait until all three of these premium earbuds are released and given in-depth reviews to see how they match.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 name?

There’s been some talk about whether or not the AirPods Pro 2 will actually be called ‘the AirPods Pro 2’. Alternative names doing the rounds online are ‘SoundPods’ and ‘AudioPods’, but these are completely baseless and unlikely in our opnion (not least because they sounds a bit naff and redundant). Ultimately the name AirPods Pro 2 is by far the most likely, as it fits into Apple’s existing naming conventions and is a well-known brand.

Final Word

For all the latest updates on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 release date as they come out, plus for the iPad 2022 release date, iPad Pro 2022 release date, and iPhone 14 release date, stay locked onto WePC.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 release date rumors *THE LATEST*

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