Oliver Haslam on October 28, 2019, 10:51 pm

Apple AirPods Pro Announced With Noise-Cancelling Feature, New Design, Water-Resistance, More; Cost $249

After weeks of rumors, they’re here. Apple has announced AirPods Pro via a post to its Newsroom website. No big event, no fanfare. But at least they’re here.

Just as the previous leaks and renders showed, these are AirPods but with an in-ear component. Instead of sitting on your ear, these fit snugly inside and will come with three differently sized pairs of ear tips to make sure the fit is just right.

Apple also says that the new Adaptive EQ tech will make sure that the Active Noise Cancellation will do its job well, including a Transparency mode that will allow the wearer to hear what’s happening around them.

“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.”

That noise cancellation is where AirPods Pro will really earn their $249 asking price. They listen to the outside noise and then adapt the audio 200 times each second, according to the press release.

The first microphone is outward-facing and detects external sound to analyze environmental noise. AirPods Pro then create an equivalent anti-noise that cancels out background noise before it reaches the listener’s ear. A second inward-facing microphone listens toward the ear, and AirPods Pro cancel remaining noise detected by the microphone. Noise cancellation continuously adapts the sound signal 200 times per second.

Unfortunately we don’t appear to have the color options that had been rumored, but beyond that everything is as we expected. AirPods Pro also have a slightly wider charging charging case, too. Apple says AirPods Pro are good for more than 24 hours of listening, too.

You can place your AirPods pre-order now for $249. They arrive on October 30th and free engraving is also available if that’s your bag.