If You Own AirPods, You Need to Know These 13 Features

Did you get new AirPods this vacation season? Whether or not you’ve a pair of the unique AirPods Professional or Apple’s second-generation ones, there’s lots to find out about your in-ear buds. On this information, we’ll present you all the pieces it’s good to know concerning the AirPods Professional, from the best way to pair them accurately along with your smartphone to profiting from spatial audio for a extra immersive sonic expertise.

In September, Apple debuted a brand new model of its wi-fi earbuds referred to as the AirPods Professional 2. They’ve an extended battery life, a brand new charging case with Discover My assist, up to date microphones, new quantity controls and a brand new H2 chip. 

The second-gen AirPods Professional are a follow-up to the unique that got here out in 2019 and embrace the identical options, like lively noise cancellation for an improved listening expertise and interchangeable silicone suggestions for a extra snug match.

In his AirPods Professional 2 overview, CNET’s David Carnoy mentioned that whereas they will not be good, “they really feel like a way more totally developed, refined product that packs not solely a formidable set of options however top-notch efficiency in a really small design.”

Learn extra: Finest Apple AirPods for 2023

Pairing the AirPods Professional takes just some seconds

After you unbox the AirPods Professional, unlock your iPhone or iPad and open the charging case to your earbuds. A second or two later, a immediate will seem asking if you wish to pair the earbuds.

Faucet Hook up with provoke the pairing, and also you’re completed. Not solely will the AirPods Professional work along with your iPhone, they’re going to even be paired with all Apple units you have signed in to by way of your iCloud account. 

Press, do not faucet, in your AirPods Professional

As a substitute of tapping one of many AirPods, use the stems of the AirPods Professional as buttons. There is not really a button there; as an alternative, it is a pressure-sensitive part that may replicate the way you’d use a button. It is just like how the trackpad on the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Professional do not bodily transfer to click on. 

Utilizing two fingers, squeeze the flat indention on every AirPod. You will hear a click on in your ear with every press. Here is what every button press does:

Single-press: Pause/PlayDouble-press: Skip forwardTriple-press: Skip backwardLong-press: Change between noise cancellation and transparency mode.

Swipe to alter AirPods Professional quantity

A nifty addition for the AirPods Professional 2 is the flexibility to alter the amount utilizing the stems. Swipe as much as increase the amount and right down to decrease. Sure. It is that straightforward.

The best way to monitor battery life

One of many AirPods Professional’s finest options is the battery life. Between the battery within the case and people in every earbud, you possibly can go hours without having to cost. Apple has just a few other ways to observe the battery life of every AirPod Professional in addition to the case.

Everytime you wish to examine the cost stage of your AirPods Professional and the charging case, unlock your iPhone or iPad and open the case subsequent to your machine with the AirPods inside it. An animation will seem, displaying the cost stage of every AirPod and the case.

You can even add the battery widget to your iPhone’s dwelling display screen. When the AirPods are actively paired to your telephone the remaining battery life for every earbud and the case will present within the widget. 

The best way to use lively noise cancellation

The headline function for the AirPods Professional is its lively noise cancellation, or ANC. When it is turned on, noise cancellation blocks practically all background noise that you just’d usually hear with common earbuds or the usual AirPods. For those who work in a loud workplace, for instance, or a house workplace shared with a accomplice and children who’re remote-learning, it will possibly assist block out the chatter and distractions. 

Flip off noise cancellation with an extended press on one of many AirPods’ buttons, or use the Management Middle in your iPhone or iPad. Swipe down from the highest proper nook of your machine’s display screen; then, when the Management Middle seems, long-press on the amount slider. On the backside of the display screen, you may have three choices: Noise cancellation, Off and Transparency. Faucet the setting you wish to use.

Learn extra: AirPods 3 vs. AirPods Professional

Once you change to Transparency mode, you can hear among the sounds in your setting, but additionally nonetheless hear the audio taking part in in your AirPods Professional, which is one thing you’d use when strolling alongside busy streets so you possibly can hear the visitors, or in an airport when it’s good to pay attention for gate adjustments, for instance. 

You’ll be able to change to Transparency mode with an extended press on the AirPods’ buttons or by utilizing the toggle in Management Middle. 

Discover My AirPods Professional 2 case

One of the vital welcome options to the second-generation AirPods Professional is the flexibility to make use of Discover My and exactly find a misplaced AirPods Professional case. Open the Discover My app in your iPhone and faucet on the Units tab. Faucet in your AirPods Professional within the checklist to see its location on a map. For those who’re inside 30-feet or so of the case, press the Discover Close by button. Then observe the prompts onscreen to be guided to it.

Spatial Audio is a formidable expertise

Spatial audio supplies an immersive encompass sound expertise, delivering 360-degree soundscape that adjusts to your motion. The expertise is comparatively new, and is on the market on the AirPods Professional (together with the latest addition of Dolby Atmos for Apple Music) — it is only a matter of enabling the function in your settings.

Activate Spatial Audio by going to Settings > Bluetooth > faucet the “i” subsequent to your AirPods Professional after which slide the change subsequent to Spatial Audio to the On place. You’ll be able to then take heed to a demo to see how the function works by choosing See & Hear How It Works.

Now, at any time when you’re watching a video in an app like Apple TV and utilizing your AirPods Professional, you must hear the audio in encompass sound, shifting round you as issues occur on display screen or as you progress your head. 

In case you have the AirPods Professional 2, you possibly can personalize Spatial Audio utilizing the TrueDepth digicam in your iPhone. The primary time you place your AirPods Professional in, you may be guided on organising Customized Spatial Audio, a customized profile based mostly in your head’s geometry. The profile syncs throughout your units — thanks iCloud! You can even discover the function within the Settings app beneath Bluetooth. Select your AirPods Professional and faucet the Data button. Then scroll right down to Customized Spatial Audio.

Use your Apple Watch to regulate AirPods Professional

In case you have an Apple Watch, you possibly can faucet on the AirPlay icon within the Now Taking part in app to change between noise cancellation and transparency modes at any time when your AirPods Professional are in use.

AirPods Professional case attachments

Yep, the AirPods Professional 2 case has a lanyard loop on the proper aspect. You’ll be able to connect the case to a backpack, purse, keys, and many others.

Use your Mac to regulate AirPods Professional

When utilizing your AirPods Professional along with your Mac, you possibly can change between noise cancellation and transparency mode with out having to squeeze your AirPods Professional. In your Mac, you may see an AirPods icon when your earbuds are efficiently related to your laptop. Click on on it, then change the mode.

Get the proper match by switching suggestions

Included within the field along with your AirPods Professional 2 are three further sizes of ear suggestions; the medium measurement comes preinstalled. Attempt these out first, and in the event that they really feel uncomfortable, you possibly can swap out for a special measurement. The unique AirPods Professional lacked the XS suggestions. There is not any trick to getting the tip off of every AirPod, simply pull to slip it off and push to suit one other pair on. It might really feel like you are going to rip it, however from the few swaps I’ve completed, they finally come off. 

Do the Ear Tip Match Check to search out one of the best match

For those who dive into the AirPods Professional settings, you are able to do the Ear Tip Match Check (attempt saying that out loud just a few instances). The take a look at will play some sounds utilizing the AirPods’ microphones after which let you know if the ear suggestions you’ve put in are the proper measurement to your ears. 

To run the take a look at, open the Settings app in your iPhone, choose Bluetooth and faucet on the “i” subsequent to the identify of your AirPods Professional. Choose Ear Tip Match Check, after which observe the prompts. 

I’ve run the take a look at with each medium and small ear suggestions, and each handed. So do not feel locked into the primary ear suggestions you take a look at with; there could also be one other measurement that works and feels extra snug. 

Extra audio recommendation

See cost standing when wirelessly charging the case

The case that comes with the AirPods Professional will wirelessly cost on the identical wi-fi charging pads that work with the iPhone. It additionally works with MagSafe chargers, it simply will not magnetically keep on with the charger like an iPhone 12 or 13 does. Place the case on the pad with the small mild dealing with as much as begin charging it. The case’s mild will mild up when it is first positioned on the pad, letting you already know it is charging. Nevertheless, it’ll finally day out and switch off. Faucet on the case to examine the cost standing of the case (inexperienced means it is totally charged).

There’s loads extra to the AirPods Professional; these different suggestions and methods apply to all AirPods, and may show you how to fully grasp your new wi-fi earbuds. In case you have a brand new iPhone, ensure that to take a look at these settings.