AirPods Pro 2
22% of reports < 12 months old
~1 in 4 microphone failures
Buy only if you value sound quality and noise cancellation and are deep in the Apple ecosystem.
The most-recommended wireless earbuds we track, but ~1 in 4 long-term reports describe a failure — strong buy for Apple loyalists who accept that trade-off.
sound quality and comfort matter most and you're already invested in Apple devices.
reliability is non-negotiable — ~1 in 4 long-term reports mention a failure, often within the first year.
The ~50% who would still buy it cite sound quality and noise cancellation as best-in-class for the Apple ecosystem and treat the elevated failure risk as an acceptable cost of admission.
What the 1,502 mentions are about
grouped into themes · share of opinionated mentionsThe failure mode
~1 in 4 long-term reports mention a failure, typically appearing within the first 11 months. Components span microphone, transparency mode, the case, and connectivity. Warranty outcomes lean slightly unresolved (39 unresolved vs. 33 resolved), so coverage is not a sure safety net. At rank 2 of 4 wireless earbuds we track for failure rate, this sits above the category midpoint — not the worst, but elevated enough to notice. Failures do arrive faster than the category baseline onset of 5 months suggests is typical.
24% report a serious failure.
Most common concern: A vocal minority find ANC inconsistent or degraded, especially after firmware updates.
Based on observed owner reports, not a sampled failure rate. ~1 in 4 of the long-term owner reports we analysed mention a failure — not the same as ~1 in 4 of units failing.
How sentiment ages
Early ownership sentiment is cautious — only 29% of early-window reports are positive, reflecting setup friction and initial fit concerns.
Long-term sentiment climbs sharply to 65%, meaning the product genuinely grows on owners who keep a working unit.
Where to buy
Discontinued — out of production; anything still on sale is remaining stock. Successor: Apple AirPods Pro 3
Outbound links may earn a commission. It never changes the verdict.Buy this instead if…
AirPods Pro 3 — threads that mention it rate it inferior to the Pro 2, so there is currently no vetted alternative we'd point you toward.
See its verdict →Verdicts re-weigh with every crawl — if this one moves tiers, watchers hear first.
Every generation we’ve covered
arrows mark direct successionApple AirPods Pro 3 is the generation that replaced this one. It is $35 cheaper: this older model is priced higher on run-out stock, which is scarcity, not a discount.
How it compares in Audio
See all Audio verdicts →Questions people keep asking
Is the Apple AirPods Pro 2 worth it?
Reddit's verdict is Risky Buy. Buy only if you value sound quality and noise cancellation and are deep in the Apple ecosystem. The most-recommended wireless earbuds we track, but ~1 in 4 long-term reports describe a failure — strong buy for Apple loyalists who accept that trade-off.
What is the most common complaint about the AirPods Pro 2?
A vocal minority find ANC inconsistent or degraded, especially after firmware updates. The recurring failure shows up in about 1 in 4 long-term owners: ~1 in 4 long-term reports mention a failure, typically appearing within the first 11 months. Components span microphone, transparency mode, the case, and connectivity. Warranty outcomes lean slightly unresolved (39 unresolved vs. 33 resolved), so coverage is not a sure safety net. At rank 2 of 4 wireless earbuds we track for failure rate, this sits above the category midpoint — not the worst, but elevated enough to notice. Failures do arrive faster than the category baseline onset of 5 months suggests is typical.
What should I buy instead of the AirPods Pro 2?
Reddit's usual alternative is the AirPods Pro 3 — if threads that mention it rate it inferior to the Pro 2, so there is currently no vetted alternative we'd point you toward.