New Apple AirPods Pro: Everything You Need to Know and How to Preorder

The second-generation AirPods Pro are almost here! Apple announced the newest addition to the AirPods lineup during a special event where the company also unveiled four new iPhone 14 models and three new Apple Watch models. And while the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island and the new Apple Watch Ultra are both garnering a lot of attention right now, the updated $249 AirPods Pro are sure to be a hit.

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New and Improved Apple AirPods Pro

The design of the new AirPods Pro remains relatively unchanged. They still have a stem that comes out of the earbud, but you can now swipe up or down on it to make volume adjustments and squeeze it to control playback.

Apple, of course, has improved sound quality using a new H2 chip that helps eliminate twice the amount of background noise as the first generation model when Active Noise Cancellation is enabled. The updated Adaptive Transparency mode does a better job of allowing you to hear ambient noise, such as overhead announcements, but it now reduces loud sounds such as a passing car or construction tools.

Related: We Spoke With Apple's VP of Health to Unpack the Health app, Activity Tracking, Privacy and More

If you have an iPhone with Face ID, you can now use the TrueDepth camera on the front of the phone to scan your ears to create a personalized Spatial Audio experience. But to be clear, this isn’t something that’s specific to the new AirPods Pro—you can use this feature with the first-generation AirPods Pro after updating your iPhone to iOS 16.

Battery life for the new AirPods Pro has been boosted to six hours in a single listening session with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. If you include the amount of recharge power in the redesigned charging case, you’ll now get 30 hours of listening time before you’ll need to charge the case again.

Speaking of the case, it can now be charged using a MagSafe charger, your Apple Watch charger, any Qi-compatible wireless charger or the good old-fashioned way using a Lightning cable that plugs into the bottom of the case.

The charging case now also features sweat and water resistance and has a lanyard loop to attach it to your wrist or put it on a hook to secure it in your backpack. A U1 ultra wideband chip inside the case makes it easier to locate its precise location with your iPhone and Apple’s Find My network. The case also boasts a speaker that you can trigger to help locate it.

Finally, Apple will now let you customize the new AirPods Pro case with Memoji or Animoji, which sounds like a ton of fun.

How to Order the New AirPods Pro

The new AirPods Pro will be available to preorder Friday, Sept. 9 starting at 5 a.m. Pacific/8 a.m. Eastern for $249. Deliveries will follow two weeks later, on Sept. 23 (the same day you’ll be able to walk into an Apple Store and buy the second-generation AirPods Pro, assuming they don’t sell out right away).

• Preorder at Amazon.com

• Preorder at BestBuy.com

Related: Can Earbuds Give You an Ear Infection? Listen Up! We've Got the Info

Apple AirPods Pro - 2nd Gen ($249; amazon.com)

Apple AirPods Lineup On Sale

Apple’s AirPods are all discounted during the new release, and the lineup now consists of the original Apple AirPods (second and third generation) starting at $99.99 on sale, the Apple AirPods Pro (first generation) on sale for $179.99, and the over-ear Apple AirPods Max starting at $429 on sale.

Apple AirPods Pro - 1st Gen ($179.99, originally $249; amazon.com)

Apple AirPods - 3rd Gen ($149.99, originally $179; amazon.com)

Apple AirPods - 2nd Gen ($99.99, originally $159; amazon.com)

Apple AirPods Max ($429, originally $529; amazon.com)

Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.