They’re in-ear headphones with active noise canceling, and they are not affordable.
Today, Apple published a surprise press release announcing the imminent arrival of AirPods Pro, the business’s long-rumored noise-canceling, in-ear headset.
AirPods Guru will sync with Apple devices in precisely the same manner as AirPods, and they will use the H1 chip located in the second-generation AirPods and some Beats cans . The H1 is a successor to the W1, a chip that allowed for some creative workarounds for the constraints of Bluetooth for syncing with devices. H1 moves from Bluetooth 4.2 to Bluetooth 5, and it enables”Hey Siri” hands-free voice commands.
The new headphones will incorporate another feature called”Adaptive EQ,” that will tune low and mid frequencies to match the shape of your ear–like how speakers such as the Sonos One scan the space and accommodate their output accordingly.
Whereas AirPods were external earbuds, AirPods Guru will be in-ear headset. They will have interchangeable tips in three sizes: large, medium, and small. Apple will incorporate an audio-testing tool to help users decide which size is best for them. And the cans will use a”port system” to”equalize pressure” and”minimize discomfort,” Apple’s discharge claims.
The key pitch, however, is active noise cancelation. Formerly a feature of expensive, over-ear headphones, noise cancelation has been getting into in-ear headphones more recently. The microphones in AirPods Pro will hear outside sound and work to block it in the user’s ear, updating around 200 times per second.
Users will be able to swap between this active noise cancelation and a”Transparency” mode, allowing more external audio, either with a new force sensor on the hardware itself or by bringing up a software menu on the iOS, watchOS, or iPadOS device with which the AirPods Pro are synced.
With multiple in-case charges, the company maintains up to 24 hours of total listening time.
AirPods Pro will cost $249–and will come only in the color white, despite earlier rumors that they might come in additional colors. They’re available to order online today, and orders will ship on October 30. They’ll also be available in Apple retail stores on this date.
