Apple's AirPods Pro 2 will look very different

AirPods have an iconic design and one that's been copied by several other brands, but that look will apparently get a drastic overhaul with Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro when they arrive in late 2022. Apple makes headphones under two brands - the popular AirPods and Bate lines. 

While there are similar features between the different lines, the design is one of the main differences.

AirPods are one of the best-selling headphones, with the company shipping millions of units each year. Apple currently offers – the AirPods 2 which retails for $129, the AirPods 3 is priced at $179, and the AirPods Pro at $249. In late 2020, the company also extended the AirPods brand name, the AirPods Max, retail for $549.

Apple's AirPods are known for having a stem that sticks out of the wearer's ears. However, when AirPods Pro launched in 2019, they had shorter temples. The 2021 AirPods 3 also arrived with stems, but that might not be the case for the upcoming AirPods Pro 2.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who often shares details about Apple's plans, the next-gen AirPods Pro will ditch the swabs entirely, stems in favor of a design that more closely resembles Beats Studio Buds. If correct, this will be a pretty radical change considering the stem was originally popularized by Apple.

The AirPods Pro 2 is expected to launch later this year, possibly alongside the iPhone 14 series. A previous report stated that the wireless headphones will have a new chip that replaces the H1 chip within the current model. The headphones are also rumored to support Lossless Audio via a new connectivity method as Bluetooth does not support the codec. Another reported feature, this time related to design, is a new carrying case with a built-in speaker. The speaker will make sounds when a user tries to find their headphones using the Find My app.

While Apple appears to be adopting a new stemless design for the AirPods Pro, there are several brands that have been offering stemless headphones for years. Among the most popular are Samsung's Galaxy Buds range, Google Pixel Buds A-Series, and Sony's WF-1000XM series. 

Of course, even if Apple joins the rodless design train, that's not to say the selection of AirPods Pro colors will be any better than they are now.

How fast does AirPods charge?

Apple claims that after 15 minutes in the charging case, the AirPods 2 may provide up to 3 hours of listening time. Apple also confirmed that the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro provide around an hour of listening time after only 5 minutes of charging. Fast charging periods are essential for any set of wireless earbuds, and Apple has offered this feature in every AirPod model so far.

It's amazing to have a lot of battery life from just a few minutes of charging, but how long does it take to fully charge AirPods from 0% to 100%? 
While Apple does not publish official data on its website, a lot of accounts from real consumers offer a good picture of what to expect. According to Music Critic, a full charge of the AirPods 2 takes between 20 and 30 minutes.

For comparison, 15 minutes of charging time recharge the AirPods to more than half of their maximum capacity.

Rapidly recharging Li-Ion batteries is bad for your health in the long term, therefore Apple will likely ensure that battery performance remains robust for as long as possible by slowing down the charge when the AirPods Pro reaches 90 percent or higher.

Regardless, the primary conclusion from all of this is that the AirPods 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods Pro all have quick charging times in the majority of situations.

Full charge times aren't the best, but obtaining 3 hours of use in 15 minutes or 1 hour in 5 minutes is nothing to scoff at.