Link: Buy the Apple AirPods Pro 2 at the best price available
I’m curious, am I the only one who has given up on traveling with bulky over-ear headphones, and now just uses Apple AirPods Pro 2 (or something similar), because they’re good enough?
In this post:
My experience with the Apple AirPods Pro 2
I recently picked up the Apple AirPods Pro 2, after having the previous generation earbuds for some time, but losing them. I wanted to share my thoughts on these, as I’m quite impressed. For those not familiar, AirPods are Apple’s versatile in-ear headphones, and the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are arguably the best there currently are.
Just to cover the basics of the Apple AirPods Pro 2:
- They offer active noise cancelation (twice as good as the previous generation earbuds), though there’s also a “transparency mode,” if you want more ambient sound awareness
- They come with four different ear tips for a more customized fit
- They’re sweat and water resistant
- They offer easy setup for all Apple devices
- They come with a compact charging case that you can always easily keep with you
- They offer quick access to Siri by saying “Hey Siri”
What’s the battery life like on the Apple AirPods Pro 2?
- On one charge, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 can get you up to six hours of listening time or 4.5 hours of talking time
- The charging case can get you up to 30 hours of listening time or 24 hours of talking time
- Putting the AirPods Pro 2 in the case for just five minutes will get you an hour of battery life, while a full charge takes around an hour
- You can charge the case with a USB-C cable, which is the same as you’d use for an iPhone
As far as the cost goes, Apple AirPods Pro 2 retail for $249. However, they’re sometimes on sale. Right now I even see them on sale for $169, which is among the lowest prices I’ve seen.
I’ve ditched other travel headphones altogether
Back in the day, having Bose over-ear headphones was almost a rite of passage to being a frequent flyer. However, nowadays I’ve completely ditched travel headphones, and instead travel exclusively with Apple AirPods Pro 2.
Admittedly these earbuds aren’t cheap, and they don’t look that exciting, but my gosh, I find that they get the basics right:
- The sound quality and noise cancelation for playing music (or whatever else) are much better than you’d expect
- The microphone is excellent for making phone calls
- Thanks to the customizable tips, they do a good job actually staying in my ears, including when working out, doing cardio, etc.
- They’re so easy to use, as you don’t have to turn them on or off, you just put them back in the case, and they also automatically and easily connect to your linked devices
At this point, I’ve just ditched the Bose QuietComfort Headphones altogether. Do they have marginally better sound quality? Absolutely. But I’m all for traveling light, and I just don’t find that they’re worth lugging around, given how much space they take up, and the limited situations in which I use them.
If I’m walking around a city, or am trying to make a phone call, or am at the gym, I simply prefer Apple AirPods. So a huge pair of headphones is a lot of space to take up when traveling, for the limited amount of time I spend enjoying inflight entertainment.
I should also mention one useful accessory that could be worth having for travelers, in conjunction with Apple AirPods. While we’re increasingly seeing airlines introduce bluetooth audio with inflight entertainment (which I love), that’s still the exception rather than the norm. In other words, you can’t really use AirPods Pro 2 for inflight entertainment, and you’d be stuck with whatever (inferior) headphones an airline offers you (and in some cases you even have to purchase headphones on planes).
Fortunately there’s a useful accessory for that — AirFly is a wireless transmitter and receiver that offers audio sharing for up to two devices. This can be useful on airplanes, since it allows you to hook up your Apple AirPods to virtually any inflight entertainment.
Not losing Apple AirPods is the challenge
Now let me share my one point of frustration with Apple AirPods, or similar devices. They’re not wired and are super small, so the challenge is not losing them. This applies to the entire case as such, plus the individual earbuds, in situations where one might fall down.
I bought my first pair of the previous generation Apple AirPods back in 2021, and I only recently lost them, so I guess it’s not the worst track record on earth, but still, I hate losing things. When it comes to travel, my trick is to always store them in exactly the same place in my bag.
If I’m not using them, the entire case and earbuds are always in one specific pocket of my bag. If I am using them, I still always keep the case in the same place in my bag, and then just take the actual earbuds, so that I don’t forget the case. I’m curious if others have any tips I haven’t thought of.
Bottom line
This is a travel blog and not a tech blog, but I still like to share the accessories that I find really useful for travel. Personally I’m very happy with the Apple AirPods Pro 2, which I recently upgraded to. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting they’re life changing, or anything, but I find that they’re very good. For those of us in the Apple ecosystem, I think they’re worth having.
I used to travel with Bose over-ear headphones back in the day, but I just don’t find that to be worthwhile anymore. They take up a lot of space, and my Apple AirPods have excellent noise cancelation, and are much easier to carry around.
Where do you stand on Apple AirPods, and on the general value of still traveling with over-ear noise canceling headphones?
The new regular AirPods 4 have a built-in speaker in the case that you can make beep when you need to find it. They also have fantastic noise canceling. I’ve stopped taking my Beats Studio Pro with me when I travel now.
I gave up on the Bose over the ear headphones after my last pair died. I snapped up Apple AP Pro 2 when they went on sale after they announced that they would work as hearing aids.
You can scan a pic of the audiogram your audiologist gives you after a hearing test and/or do a hearing test in the settings app.
I love them, and they really help me hear conversations clearly in...
I gave up on the Bose over the ear headphones after my last pair died. I snapped up Apple AP Pro 2 when they went on sale after they announced that they would work as hearing aids.
You can scan a pic of the audiogram your audiologist gives you after a hearing test and/or do a hearing test in the settings app.
I love them, and they really help me hear conversations clearly in crowded, noisy places (restaurants) in addition to doing their normal job of being excellent n/c headphones.
Getting a good fit with the included silicone ear tips might be challenging, lots of reddit threads on other third party ear tips. I ended up with Foam Masters.
I like them except that I find they cause me to eventually have impacted ear wax, which I then need to get removed from by a doctor. I took a year off from them and didn't have this issue.
I go for the bests fit pro. The noise cancellation is almost as good as the air pods pro 2 but they have the ear tips built in so they don’t fall out even when sleeping. And they’re slight more bulkier so certainly easier to find if you drop them.
I have both the AirPods Pro and Max, and while I love the Max and use them daily while at home, I now travel with only the Pro to save some space in my carry on but I learned a lesson recently. Last December, about an hour before landing in Tokyo, just as I was thinking "I need to be very careful not to drop them", I dropped one of the earbuds inside the seat...
I have both the AirPods Pro and Max, and while I love the Max and use them daily while at home, I now travel with only the Pro to save some space in my carry on but I learned a lesson recently. Last December, about an hour before landing in Tokyo, just as I was thinking "I need to be very careful not to drop them", I dropped one of the earbuds inside the seat on a Turkish Airlines 787. After we landed, a a flight attendant spoke to a ground technician, who said he would try to recover it for me later, but I had no hope whatsoever. The next day I got an email from [email protected], saying that they had recovered the earbud and would like to return it to me. In the end, they sent it to my hotel using Yamato (which cost ¥870), and I got it back. I was very lucky that this happened on arrival in NRT.
Horrible ear buds. How much did Apple Pay you to endorse them. Bose headphones work. Beats work. AirPods are miserable.
Although they are excellent for music they are awful when it comes to taking calls. You will hear perfectly fine but the other person will really struggle to hear you if you are in a public or noisy place. They have made some improvements with noise isolation but it still is not good enough if you are trying to take a call from a bus or some other public place.
Dunno how anyone wears in-ear headphones for 4+ hours at a time. I just get sore ears :(
Earbuds just don't have the battery life for long haul flying, probably not even for a short hop from Tokyo to Bangkok. And too few airlines have facilities for connecting Bluetooth to the IFE. My go to for flying is a pair of Sony WF-1000XM5, battery will last a return trip Tokyo London, and I can connect to IFE and my private devices with equal ease. How many times would I need to charge the...
Earbuds just don't have the battery life for long haul flying, probably not even for a short hop from Tokyo to Bangkok. And too few airlines have facilities for connecting Bluetooth to the IFE. My go to for flying is a pair of Sony WF-1000XM5, battery will last a return trip Tokyo London, and I can connect to IFE and my private devices with equal ease. How many times would I need to charge the earbuds on a 14 hour flight?
Earbuds are fine for many things particularly the gym. But I also notice that being on the receiving end of a call where the other end uses earbuds is often pretty poor sound quality.
The AirPods charge super quickly though. I just pop them back in the case when I’m not using them (even for a few minutes like going to the restroom). Worst case, somewhere in the last quarter of the flight end of the flight, I have to take them off for 10 minutes, and that’s enough for the last couple of hours.
I had QC15s and QC35 IIs, both were great headphones, but are much bulkier. I haven’t taken them on a trip in years.
The other point they really don't solve is IFE. I then need to carry a Bluetooth dongle, that I probably have to charge as well. Until more airlines get on to the Bluetooth IFE connection, and make it work better than it does these days.
And for hours of continued use, I find the over ear far more comfortable. But that is more personal preference.
I have a pair of the Bose QuietComfort earbuds and I highly recommend them. They're still quite compact (just a little bigger than the airpods case), and they're much more secure in the ear.
The sound quality and noise cancellation is also top notch.
The only downside is it takes ~30 seconds from the time you take them out of the case until they pair to your device, which gets annoying. Also, it doesn't have...
I have a pair of the Bose QuietComfort earbuds and I highly recommend them. They're still quite compact (just a little bigger than the airpods case), and they're much more secure in the ear.
The sound quality and noise cancellation is also top notch.
The only downside is it takes ~30 seconds from the time you take them out of the case until they pair to your device, which gets annoying. Also, it doesn't have multi-device bluetooth (ability to connect simultaneously to multiple devices).
But other than that, the actual audio quality is quite good, and I haven't found the need to lug big over-the-ear headphones in a long time.
We've loved our two pairs of Bose QC20 wired earbuds. The wired version means we never lose one and they still take minimal space and can even charge while in use. Too bad they're not produced anymore...
Love my Airpods Pro 2, been using them basically since they came out. On my second set because I had one fall out when I dropped the case and it disappeared. Tried using the "play sound" function on "find my" off my phone but it refused to connect to the airpod so I couldn't hear it, and didn't see it anywhere. This is why I still bring my Bose over ear headphones when I travel...
Love my Airpods Pro 2, been using them basically since they came out. On my second set because I had one fall out when I dropped the case and it disappeared. Tried using the "play sound" function on "find my" off my phone but it refused to connect to the airpod so I couldn't hear it, and didn't see it anywhere. This is why I still bring my Bose over ear headphones when I travel - I'm not worried about those falling off my head or the tray table and disappearing somewhere under the seats, maybe where I can't reach them.
Waste of money for me. I buy a much less costly set with over ear loops and a longer battery life. The case can be used to recharge my phone in an emergency. Specs are way worse that Apple in frequency response, I'm sure. But, I have the hearing of a person of my age. I own apple stock (through ETFs), I'll never again waste money on their overpriced line.
They are the best. My go to. However I clean pools and have lost two going falling into the pool while servicing them. Prob shd get wing tips for my next ones.
This is going to sound odd, but about a year ago I decided to join the "cool kids" and buy some air pods. Because I wasn't sure I would like them, I bought a REALLY cheap $15.00 or so on Amazon. Guess What ? They are AMAZING ! noise cancelling, dynamic sound, blue tooth pairs with iPhone and Delta... I am not spending hundreds for a more expensive brand.
I actually just did the opposite. I was using air buds for a while but like some others, I can't seem to get them to securely stay in my ears for long periods of time. So I switched to wireless BOSE NV. Yes, they are bulkier and take up more space but they do a better job of canceling noise and never fall off. I was also losing the buds or leaving them behind.
I miss the perfection of my Bose but just dislike the added weight these days. The AirPod Pro 2 are my go to these days. Just did the Seattle-Singapore flight, found when I got up and walked around or ate, the headphones charged enough for sleep. Noise cancellation plus a white noise app (on the Iphone’s low power mode) was a perfect combo. AirFly Pro. That I didn’t have but have needed. Thx!
I have been a user of Bose Quiet comfort too, but got the AirPods Pro 2 at the $169 price before Christmas. I really do not use them much as I also bought them to travel light on the plane. My concern is that they do not fit that great, and there is no way that I can feel comfort walking or jogging with them as they will fall out. I've used them on short...
I have been a user of Bose Quiet comfort too, but got the AirPods Pro 2 at the $169 price before Christmas. I really do not use them much as I also bought them to travel light on the plane. My concern is that they do not fit that great, and there is no way that I can feel comfort walking or jogging with them as they will fall out. I've used them on short flights, but am concerned about using them on a long flight especially if I fall asleep as I do not want to lose them somewhere in the seat. I used to use wired Shure and Etymotic earbuds and they had tips that fit deep into the ear canal. I liked them a lot other than being wired. I have not been able to find aftermarket tips for the Airpods Pro 2 that fit better, so I am asking anyone reading this if they have found tips that work better?
I’m curious, am I the only one who has given up on people who uses Apple AirPods Pro 2 (or something similar), because they’re like mentally challenged person talking to themselves?
When sleeping, I remove the Air Pods and put in foam ear plugs. I sleep like a baby and who cares if they fall out and are lost.
My biggest issue with my Samsung Galasy buds is when one dies before the other. I use them both at the same time, but this has been a constant issue with my pair. 3hrs of listening and 30 hour case like the Airpods, but at $60 it's still cheaper to buy a second set and alternate as they charge in the case.
*Galaxy
Hearing Aids: I got my Pro 2 Airpods about a week before a trip to Rome, after boarding the flight i realized i had left the charging case for my hearing aids at home. i remembered that ios 18.1 and above has hearing health and the Airpods Pro 2 can work like hearing aids. did a quick hearing test with my iPhone and the Airpods (<5 minutes) and they immediately functioned almost as well as...
Hearing Aids: I got my Pro 2 Airpods about a week before a trip to Rome, after boarding the flight i realized i had left the charging case for my hearing aids at home. i remembered that ios 18.1 and above has hearing health and the Airpods Pro 2 can work like hearing aids. did a quick hearing test with my iPhone and the Airpods (<5 minutes) and they immediately functioned almost as well as my hearing aids. saved my vacation. the only downside was the charge was good for 5-6 hours, but a 30 minute nap in the case and they were good to go again.
Noise cancelation is almost as good as over the ear Bose.
I have a friend who just got some mostly for the hearing aid aspect. He doesn't have sufficient hearing loss (yet) to justify regular hearing aids, but it has been an issue at home or about, so now he uses some pro 2 airpods and that solved his problems (for now).
My go to earbuds are N-09A that I have been using for over 3 years. They are fantastic. Only paid about $25 for them.
I agree, Airpods are more than good enough considering the space savings, definitely for anything <5h, unless it's a transcon or long-haul.
I've never actually liked the idea of wireless earphones because I am certain that I would lose them in no time.
After the SIM 'drawer' of my brand new ZenFone got lost inside a LX flat seat back in '22 rendering it useless [until the amazing cabin crew managed to retrieve the missing part], I have lost any interest in even trying these things out.
Soundmagic make some really solid wired earphones, and I stick with them.
I use them occasionally, but I find the noise cancellation to not be as good as I really prefer. My go to headphones are still personally molded Ultimate Ear monitors that are far more expensive, but make it so that I don't hear anything on flights. No announcements, no babies crying, nothing but silence and I can wear them easily for 15+ hours.
@ Ben - How do you manage the 6 hour battery life on long 12+h flights ? Do you re-charge them at cruising altitude when the plane engine sound is less ?
For shorter flights I recently bought the Bose QuietComfort Ultra ear buds and they have a fantastic noise cancellation. It works great when vacuuming the house too !
That's easily an 18 hour day from door to door too. I also have this problem.
I bought after-market memory foam tips for mine. The fit is tighter and more secure while also more isolating and comfortable.
Comply brand works great for me.
While I do agree all the points in the article these are a great set of earbuds, no matter what I do I can't seem to keep the left one from falling out of my ear. Tried all of the little attachments too with no go. It's happened with other brand earbuds as well, so I don't think it's the fault of the hardware and more my ear anatomy lol.
I'm always afraid that one will fall out if I sleep on the plane so I still bring my Bose QC35s
The fix is simply to being some gaffer/duct tape with you. Just a small piece across your ear is sufficient - no need for an entire wrap around your head (even with breathing holes).
For those who prefer the "other" earbud shape, Amazon has a number of comparable alternatives. Same features, longer lasting, and a fraction of the price. And, given the lower price, shelling out for back-up pairs is not even a thought should the primary pair be misplaced.
I recently purchased the top of the line Bose QC over ear headphones and have been very impressed. Ironically I ONLY use them on planes and everywhere else (running, car, phone calls etc I use my non NC AirPods)
For me I travel with both, I just find the comfort and extra noise cancellation is worth it due to how close proximity everyone is on a plane (even in business) that extra NC makes a...
I recently purchased the top of the line Bose QC over ear headphones and have been very impressed. Ironically I ONLY use them on planes and everywhere else (running, car, phone calls etc I use my non NC AirPods)
For me I travel with both, I just find the comfort and extra noise cancellation is worth it due to how close proximity everyone is on a plane (even in business) that extra NC makes a noticeable difference.
Granted they do take up a lot of space but what I do is I don’t travel with the case and I either wear them around my neck as I board and go through security or hold them by the headband - works a treat!
Tip: if you live in the UK and have Revolut Ultra, when purchasing from the app store with the URL from the Revolut App you get 21 points per £ spent. That converts 1:1 to most airlines, but I find BA Avios being the best value.
I still do both. Sony xm-5s for longhaul and sleeping. Airpod 2 pros for shorter flights. The airpods are small enough to not matter.
Thanks I’m considering switching from my wired Bose NC earbuds but share the concern about losing one.
I switched from over ear Bose after losing my 2nd pair years ago - loft on plane but why I’m concerned about the iPods ;-)
But like my 25 year old Briggs & Riley Baseline wheelie, I’ll use my wired Bose earbuds until they quit or go missing :-)
I prefer the Sony xm5 earbuds for sound and anc. Airpods win for iPhone compatibility but not enough to make me switch. I still lug around the QCs for long haul. Better anc for sleeping, and not worth the risk in case somebody inconsiderate brings their crying baby on board.
DO THE BOOGIE WOOGIE BOOGIE YEAH YEAH YEAHHHHHHHHH
The "Find My" feature, and playing a sound on them is definitely useful for finding either the case or one of the pods. But definitely agree it's an issue trying to keep track of them. I like over-ear headphones for the convenience of putting the headband around my neck, and the longer battery life. But agree it's hard to beat the combo of size and capability of the AirPod Pros. The instant connect with Apple devices is my favorite feature.
Yes, and actually airpods double as an extra airtag - they are just as traceable and can help you find your luggage / backpack
Worked great on recent Newark to Madrid flight 3/4 yo screamed the whole flight even before boarding at the gate and then saw a newborn baby as quiet as a mouse sleeping, I put my AirPods Pro 2 on noise cancellation and slept great.
Would you consider getting separate over-ear headphones especially for those long-haul flights or the AirPods would be good enough for you?
@ Mike O. -- The AirPods are good enough for me. I no longer travel with over-ear ones, including on long haul trips.
Do you find the noise-cancelling capabilities sufficient on the AirPods, comparing to over-ear style headphones?
As a regular air traveler, one has to agree with those who praise these AirPods.
As for those who express concerns about sleeping with them in, again one has to agree, however, my solution is to remove them when intending to sleep and replace them with old fashioned foam ear plugs. These are far less expensive to replace.
Get the AirFly pro deluxe, for the 2pin adapter (or get the adaptor alone off Aliexpress) on some more older airplanes.
Same here, 3x different PLT UC 8200s over ears ANC that I use at home but gave up travelling with. Airpods are perfect, including business travel needs.
Be careful sleeping with them on planes, the can easily fall and into the seat. I've sadly lost a single bud this way and while you can buy just the single bud it's pretty steep. Totally agree though, my over ear headphones are for home. My Samsung equivalent buds are for the road.
I use a silicone strap that wraps around the base of each AirPod to tie them together. Then if one falls out, it won't go far. It is a hassle to remove the strap whenever you want to put them back in the case, but worth it for the peace of mind when I'm sleeping. Just search "AirPods silicone strap" on Amazon for options.
aquarium tubing works like a charm !