Apple Explains Why Second-Generation AirPods Pro Ear Tips Are Incompatible With Original AirPods Pro

by

Apple today explained why the new silicone ear tips for the second-generation AirPods Pro are not officially compatible with the original AirPods Pro.

new airpods pro ear tips
In an updated support document, Apple said the original AirPods Pro ear tips have "noticeably denser mesh" than the second-generation ear tips. Apple did not provide any additional details, but the mesh density could result in acoustical differences.

"Ear tips have been designed specifically for their AirPods Pro generation, to deliver the highest-fidelity audio experience," the support document says. "As a result, use the ear tips that come with your AirPods Pro. AirPods Pro (1st generation) ear tips have noticeably denser mesh than AirPods Pro (2nd generation) ear tips."

Despite the mesh differences, the second-generation ear tips do fit the original AirPods Pro, so they are still physically compatible.

airpods pro 1 tip mesh

The mesh on the original AirPods Pro ear tips

The second-generation ear tips are available in a new XS option, while the original ear tips remain available in small, medium, and large only. Both generations of ear tips are available on Apple's online store in sets of two for $7.99 in the United States.

The new AirPods Pro will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores over the next day. The first reviews of the new AirPods Pro were shared earlier today, providing a closer look at improvements to sound quality, active noise cancellation, battery life, and more. The second-generation AirPods Pro remain priced at $249.

Update: The Verge's Chris Welch tested both generations of ear tips with the new AirPods Pro and did not notice any obvious sound differences:

Could a looser mesh pattern really make any difference to sound quality? If it's there, it's extremely subtle. Swapping back and forth between the first- and second-gen tips on the latest AirPods Pro, I didn't notice any immediate or obvious sound changes. Noise cancellation also remained just as effective with both pairs. Maybe lab testing equipment can reveal some differences between the tips, but your ears will probably have a harder time at it.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 With Apple's Own 5G Modem 'Confirmed' to Launch in March

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:12 pm PST by
Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley and his colleagues recently traveled to Asia to meet with various electronics manufacturers and suppliers. In a research note this week, outlining key takeaways from the trip, the analysts said they have "confirmed" that a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem is slated to launch towards the end of the first quarter next year. In line with previo...
Read Full Article • 117 comments
airtag purple

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch Next Year With These New Features

Sunday November 17, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three over and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is rumored to be in development. Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag. Timing Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman....
Read Full Article • 99 comments
Magic Mouse Next to Keyboard

No, Apple CEO Tim Cook Didn't Say He Prefers Logitech's MX Master 3 Over the Magic Mouse

Sunday November 17, 2024 3:03 pm PST by
While the Logitech MX Master 3 is a terrific mouse for the Mac, reports claiming that Apple CEO Tim Cook prefers that mouse over the Magic Mouse are false. The Wall Street Journal last month published an interview with Cook, in which he said he uses every Apple product every day. Soon after, The Verge's Wes Davis attempted to replicate using every Apple product in a single day. During that...
Read Full Article • 327 comments
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

Apple Releases iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 With Security Fixes

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 come three weeks after the launch of iOS 18.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 17.7.2 for...
Read Full Article • 28 comments
at t turbo indicator iphone 16 pro max v0 8hrh7w5f3w1e1

AT&T Turbo Indicator Showing Up in iPhone Status Bar for Subscribers

Wednesday November 20, 2024 3:42 am PST by
AT&T has begun displaying "Turbo" in the iPhone carrier label for customers subscribed to its premium network prioritization service, according to reports on Reddit. The new indicator seems to have started appearing after users updated to iOS 18.1.1, but that could be just coincidence. Image credit: Reddit user No_Highlight7476 The Turbo feature provides enhanced network performance through ...
Read Full Article • 91 comments
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 1 Redux

'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Surpass iPhone 6 as Thinnest iPhone Ever

Monday November 18, 2024 1:07 pm PST by
In a research note with Hong Kong-based investment bank Haitong today, obtained by MacRumors, Apple analyst Jeff Pu said he agrees with a recent rumor claiming that the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" will be around 6mm thick. "We agreed with the recent chatter of an 6mm thickness ultra-slim design of the iPhone 17 Slim model," he wrote. If that measurement proves to be accurate, there would be ...
Read Full Article • 155 comments
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Make Sure to Update: iOS 18.1.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 Fix Actively Exploited Vulnerabilities

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:52 am PST by
The iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 updates that Apple released today address JavaScriptCore and WebKit vulnerabilities that Apple says have been actively exploited on some devices. With the JavaScriptCore vulnerability, processing maliciously crafted web content could lead to arbitrary code execution. The WebKit vulnerability had the same issue with maliciously crafted...
Read Full Article • 69 comments

Top Rated Comments

entropys Avatar
entropys
28 months ago
A lot more detail that could otherwise be summarised as “profit”.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Isentropic Avatar
Isentropic
28 months ago
Ahem…The tips are financially incompatible with each other.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
macduke
28 months ago

Despite the mesh differences, the second-generation ear tips do fit the original AirPods Pro, so they are still physically compatible.

They simply won’t fit. Because the mesh is thicker in the original. I’ve rarely heard anyone whinge about things becoming thinner…. Except in this forum. It astounds me when people draw their own conclusions without actually reading the article.
BRO you didn't read the article and then complained about someone else not reading the article are you even for real.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
InuNacho Avatar
InuNacho
28 months ago


Attachment Image
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
appleguy123 Avatar
appleguy123
28 months ago
Did Apple improve the sound quality partly by shielding them less from ear wax ingress?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
steve09090 Avatar
steve09090
28 months ago

Planned obsolescence. FTFY
So they planned to change an ear tip to force everyone to upgrade? Seriously?



So in other words if you want the smaller tip don’t spend $8 for them on their own…. We much rather you spend $249 for them along with the new AirPods Pro
They simply won’t fit. Because the mesh is thicker in the original. I’ve rarely heard anyone whinge about things becoming thinner…. Except in this forum. It astounds me when people draw their own conclusions without actually reading the article.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments