Noise control
Active Noise Cancellation
Eight of the nine microphones work on noise cancellation. SoundGuys measured about 89.4% of outside noise attenuated, slightly above the first generation.
Every feature, explained
Noise control, sound, translation, controls and design.
Noise control
Adaptive Audio and Transparency
Adaptive Audio adjusts noise control to your environment automatically, and Transparency lets the world in when you want it.
Noise control
Conversation Awareness
Lowers your media volume when you start speaking, then restores it when the conversation ends.
Noise control
Loud Sound Reduction
Reduces loud sounds in your surroundings to help protect your hearing.
Calls
Voice Isolation
Three microphones pick up your voice. SoundGuys found Voice Isolation rejects noise much better than the standard mic mode, though it is not the default.
Sound
Apple-designed driver and amplifier
A dynamic driver paired with a custom high dynamic range amplifier, tuned in real time by Adaptive EQ.
Sound
Personalized Spatial Audio
Dynamic head tracking with a personal profile created on an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera. Not all content is in Dolby Atmos.
Sound
Lossless audio over USB-C
Plug in over USB-C for Lossless Audio and ultra-low latency with compatible apps. SoundGuys noted settings cannot be changed over a wired connection.
Translation
Live Translation
Translates conversations through your headphones. It is in beta, and SoundGuys noticed a delay in conversation.
Personalization
Personalized Volume
Learns your listening habits and adjusts volume to match.
Recording
Studio-quality audio recording
Record with studio-quality audio using the built-in microphones.
Controls
Digital Crown and listening mode button
Turn the Digital Crown for volume, press to play, pause or answer, press twice to skip forward and three times to skip back, and hold for Siri. A dedicated button switches listening modes.
Controls
Head gestures and camera remote
Nod or shake your head to answer or dismiss calls and notifications, and press the Digital Crown to trigger the camera. Audio Sharing is supported too.
Design
Aluminum and mesh construction
Aluminum ear cups, a stepless metal frame, a mesh canopy headband and magnetic ear cushions. Weighs 386.2 g with cushions.
Case
Smart Case
Puts the headphones into an ultra-low-power state to preserve charge. There is no dedicated power button.
Battery life
ANC onUp to 20 hours of listening on a full charge.
Quick charge5 minutes of charging gives around 1.5 hours of listening.
Measured by SoundGuysAbout 21 hours with ANC on. The reviewer called it below average for flagship headphones.
StorageThe Smart Case preserves battery charge in an ultra-low-power state.
Apple test conditions: 50% volume, 358-track playlist, fixed Spatial Audio.
