AirPods Pro 2
11% of reports < 12 months old
~1 in 3 microphone failures
Buy only if you value best-in-class sound and noise cancellation and can tolerate a real failure pattern.
The most-recommended wireless earbuds we track, but ~1 in 3 long-term reports describe a failure — sound and ANC win fans while reliability splits the room.
sound quality and noise cancellation are your top priorities and you're comfortable with Apple's warranty process.
hardware longevity — ~1 in 3 long-term reports describe a failure, often landing outside warranty.
The 49% who would still buy them cite sound quality and noise cancellation as best-in-class and accept the failure risk as the cost of admission.
What the 2,093 mentions are about
grouped into themes · share of opinionated mentionsThe failure mode
~1 in 3 long-term reports mention a failure, most commonly the microphone or earbuds, typically appearing within the first 13 months. Warranty outcomes lean unresolved — more cases landed outside coverage than were resolved under it.
26% report a serious failure.
Most common concern: A vocal minority says ANC performance is inconsistent or degraded, sometimes after a firmware update.
Based on observed owner reports, not a sampled failure rate. ~1 in 3 of the long-term owner reports we analysed mention a failure — not the same as ~1 in 3 of units failing.
How sentiment ages
Early ownership sentiment is cautious, with only 35% positive takes in the first stretch.
Long-term sentiment strengthens considerably to 63%, suggesting the experience genuinely grows on owners who don't encounter failures.
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 — owners who compared directly rated it inferior — there is no vetted alternative to recommend.
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 costs $17 more — staying on this generation saves that.
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 best-in-class sound and noise cancellation and can tolerate a real failure pattern. The most-recommended wireless earbuds we track, but ~1 in 3 long-term reports describe a failure — sound and ANC win fans while reliability splits the room.
What is the most common complaint about the AirPods Pro 2?
A vocal minority says ANC performance is inconsistent or degraded, sometimes after a firmware update. The recurring failure shows up in about 1 in 3 long-term owners: ~1 in 3 long-term reports mention a failure, most commonly the microphone or earbuds, typically appearing within the first 13 months. Warranty outcomes lean unresolved — more cases landed outside coverage than were resolved under it.
What should I buy instead of the AirPods Pro 2?
Reddit's usual alternative is the AirPods Pro 3 — if owners who compared directly rated it inferior — there is no vetted alternative to recommend.