I’ve never been an AirPod guy (or an earbud guy). I have big, weird ears and they never fit. They fall out of my round head-holes with ease. However, when Apple announced the AirPods Pro 2 in September, I was intrigued. The list of enhancements was many, including active noise cancellation, improved spatial audio, extended battery life, and a custom fitting process. I was impressed … but not enough to put down the money.

My thinking changed when travel started to ramp up again. I quickly realized I needed a high-end earbud to replace my now-aging Bose QuietComfort over-ear headphones. The Bose have treated me very well (I still love them), but it was time for a change. They aren’t wireless. I experience fatigue when I wear them for long periods, and they take up too much room in my backpack (or carry-on).

Using a small footprint, a comfortable in-ear fit, and killer noise cancellation as key criteria, I made the decision to purchase the AirPods Pro 2. I’m glad I did. For me, they “just work,” and they work well for many reasons.