Apple AirPods Pro revealed with noise-cancelling sound and sweat-proof design

Apple’s popular AirPods are getting an all-new Pro version and they sound mightily impressive. These new Bluetooth-powered earbuds feature a refreshed design for extra comfort and a more compact fit in your pocket. The redesign has also enabled Apple to bring noise-cancelling technology to the small earbuds for the first time.

This active noise cancellation means you should be able to go about your daily commute, or upcoming plane journey without hearing any background audio disturbing your favourite tracks. Apple promises the new earbuds will give users an uninterrupted audio experience, something the previous AirPods – which are still available at the same price – don’t offer.

Apple says it’s AirPods Pro use two microphones combined with advanced software to continuously adapt to each individual ear and headphone fit.

This clever technology removes background noise to provide a customised noise-cancelling experience that allows a user to focus on what they’re listening to. The first microphone is outward-facing and detects external sound to analyse environmental noise.

AirPods Pro then create an equivalent anti-noise that cancels out background sound before it reaches the listener’s ear. A second inward-facing microphone listens toward the ear, and AirPods Pro then cancel any remaining noise detected by the microphone.

Noise cancellation continuously adapts the sound signal 200 times per second.

And if you’re worried about the world around you being blocked out a little too much (for example, you’d like to block out the screaming kids in the Departures lounge of the airport, but you don’t want to miss an important announcement about your flight…) there’s a new “Transparency Mode” that provides users with the option to simultaneously listen to music while still hearing the environment around them. This can be toggled by squeezing the earbud, making it easy to quickly switch between modes depending on what is going on around you.

This force sensor also makes it easy to play, pause or skip tracks, and answer or hang up phone calls. Users can also press on the volume slider in Control Center on iPhone and iPad to control settings, or on Apple Watch by tapping on the AirPlay icon while music is playing.

Like the original AirPods, these new devices get an instant refill once they are popped back in their case with them lasting for around five hours once in your ears.

“AirPods are the best-selling headphones in the world. The one-tap setup experience, incredible sound and iconic design have made them a beloved Apple product, and with AirPods Pro, we’re taking the magic even further,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

“The new in-ear AirPods Pro sound amazing with Adaptive EQ, fit comfortably with flexible ear tips and have innovative Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. We think customers are going to love this new addition to the AirPods family.”

If you fancy a pair of AirPods Pro, these new earbuds certainly don’t come cheap.

AirPods Pro will be available for a hefty £249 – that’s around £100 more than the current entry-level AirPods, which stay at the same price.

Apple says they will be available to order now online and in the Apple Store app in the UK. The new wireless earbuds will begin shipping on Wednesday October 30, 2019.

source: express.co.uk