AirPods Pro 2 may have made a key pivot Apple can’t abandon – 9to5Mac

AirPods Pro 2 have been one of my most beloved Apple devices since launch. They have also introduced a key product pivot that Apple will have a hard time reversing. Here’s why.When I think back to AirPods Pro 2’s 2022 release, I remember with amusement how I originally planned to skip them.I was very happy with my first-gen AirPods Pro, yet after I read up on all the improvements to version 2—especially the improved noise cancellation—I quickly gave in.But ever since then, Apple has made AirPods Pro 2 significantly better. Thanks to the number of feature improvements added via firmware updates, they almost feel like what AirPods Pro 3 should be.Since after AirPods Pro 2 launched, Apple has added the following new features and feature enhancements:All of these new and enhanced features are on top of the improvements Apple shipped with AirPods Pro 2 upon launch.It’s an impressive list that makes one thing clear.Users are going to expect years of big feature upgrades for all AirPods products moving forward.It wasn’t long ago that buying a pair of headphones or earbuds meant you got a fixed feature set.Even with early AirPods products, which did have firmware updates, the core functionality didn’t really change.But AirPods Pro 2 have set a new standard. They’ve made a pivot for AirPods products that Apple can’t turn back from.When AirPods Pro 3 launch later this year, I’m going to expect the initial feature set to grow annually and in significant ways—just like I’ve seen happen with my AirPods Pro 2.Anything less than powerful new features year after year will be a disappointment.AirPods Pro 2’s significant upgrades are partly why last fall’s ‘new’ AirPods Max were such a letdown. The original AirPods Max didn’t benefit from regular feature additions like AirPods Pro 2. And by doing the bare minimum in adding USB-C support, the new AirPods Max are doomed to the same fate.It’s as if Apple has created a problem for itself by making AirPods Pro 2 consistently better. Now, users are starting to expect the same from all AirPods products.It’s not unusual for Apple’s other products to get new features via annual software updates. iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro, Apple Watch, and Apple TV 4K all get new features regularly. It even occasionally happens for the HomePod.But for years, headphones and even AirPods didn’t get the same treatment as these full-fledged products. They were simple accessories.Those days are over. Now, AirPods Pro 2 have proven themselves a proper device deserving the same regular enhancements as Apple’s other products. It’s an exciting new direction, and one I hope Apple is prepared to continue.AirPods Pro 2 are currently available on Amazon for $169, down from the normal $249 price.FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.Manage push notifications

Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/02/10/airpods-pro-2-may-have-made-a-key-pivot-apple-cant-abandon/