This is the year I realized I wasn’t a Pro anymore. Instead of switching from the iPhone 15 Pro to the iPhone 16 Pro, I It plans to pre-order the iPhone 16. Instead of buying that sweet Satin Black Apple Watch Ultra 2, I did Apple Watch Series 10 pre-ordered Jet Black.
Now, I’m even thinking of giving up AirPods Pro 2 for new AirPods 4. I’ve already pre-ordered and am willing to potentially replace the last Pro Apple product I’ll own (after switching from a Pro iPhone to an Apple Watch Ultra, basically a Pro Apple Watch).
Why should I get rid of AirPods Pro 2 when they get some software upgrades and still have what will be better noise cancellation? Well, it has to do with two things.
Noise cancellation and compatibility are factors
The first reason — and a big reason — I’m considering switching from the AirPods Pro 2 has to do with compatibility. While the AirPods Pro 2 are great, the biggest problem I always have with them is that whenever I do any exercise or chew a lot of gum – they fall out of my ears.
If I go for a run, I’ll adjust the AirPods Pro’s ear tips again and again. If I go for a walk, the same thing will happen. And don’t even try to sit up or push up – these babies come out no matter how hard I try to secure them.
I’ve found open-back headphones to be more comfortable, so I want to test the AirPods 4 to see if they’re not only up to par, but also feel more secure in my ears. This is a big question because the AirPods Pro 2 offer four different ear tips for a more personalized fit, but I’ve heard from many people that the regular AirPods actually fit better in their ears than the pros. I’ll have to see if I fall into that camp.
The second reason I’m considering the switch is because the AirPods 4 get a feature I really latched onto with the AirPods Pro: noise cancellation. This is the most important feature of my headphones, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Being able to drown out external noise while trying to focus at work, on a plane, or while exercising is an in-demand feature today.
When it comes to AirPods 4 with noise cancellation with this open ear design, I wonder if they would be a better choice for someone like me who has compatibility and comfort issues with the AirPods Pro 2. I know that the noise cancellation of the AirPods 4 will not be as good as the noise cancellation of the AirPods Pro 2, but as long as I get a little better performance, they are good enough.
So here I am. If the AirPods 4’s noise cancellation is good enough for my use cases, and if they solve my compatibility and comfort issues with the AirPods Pro 2, they may once again make me jump from a Pro to a non-Pro Apple product.
We’ll see what happens when it comes out on September 20th. I already have a pre-order!
