Is it worth buying AirPods Pro 1st generation in 2023? Airpods Pro 1st gen is cheaper now because of the release of Airpods Pro 2 on September 2022.
For budget-conscious buyers, both have similar designs, so Airpods Pro 1st gen may seem like a good deal.
Although you can no longer buy the Airpods Pro 1st Gen from the official Apple Store, you still can buy it from third-party sellers on both Shopee and Lazada.
In this article, I will discuss the differences between the AirPods Pro 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen, and see whether is it okay to buy the AirPods Pro 1st Gen in Malaysia.
Also, should one upgrade to AirPods Pro 2 or wait for AirPod Pro 3?
Comparing Airpods Pro 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen
| AirPods Pro (1st Gen) | AirPods Pro 2 | |
| Price | RM899 | RM1099 |
| Buds dimension | 30.9×21.8x24mm, | 30.9×21.8x24mm |
| Buds weight | 5.4g | 5.3g |
| Case dimension | 45.2×60.6×21.7mm | 45.2×60.6×21.7mm |
| Case weight | 45.6g | 50.8g |
| Processor | H1 | H2 |
| Driver | 11 mm driver | low-distortion audio driver |
| Battery life | 4.5 hours | 6 hours |
| IPX rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Stem touch volume control | No | Yes |
| Sound Quality | Good | Good |
| Noise-cancelling | Good | 2X Better |
| FindMy Integration | No | Yes |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes |
| Integrated lanyard loop | No | Yes |
| Built-in speaker on case | No | Yes |
AirPods Pro vs AirPods Pro 2 Price Malaysia
AirPods Pro is currently selling for only RM899, which is RM200 cheaper than the AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 2 sells for RM1099 right now.
>> Check the best AirPods Pro deal on Lazada
>> Check the best AirPods Pro deal on Shopee
AirPods Pro vs AirPods Pro 2 Price Design
Both AirPods Pro 1st generation and 2nd generation share a similar design. However, the devil is in the details.
Although the buds look the same for both 1st and 2nd gen, the AirPods Pro 2 has an inward-facing microphone that makes your voice sounds more natural when you’re on calls.
And also, the stem of buds of AirPods Pro 2 comes with touch control. Now, you can swipe or down to adjust the volume of the audio.
AirPods Pro 2 have an integrated lanyard loop on its charging case, but AirPods Pro 1st generation does not.
AirPods Pro vs AirPods Pro 2 Dimensions and Weight
Both 1st and 2nd gen charging cases have similar dimensions, which are 45.2×60.6×21.7mm.
The 1st gen charging case weighs 45.6 grams while the 2nd gen weighs 50.8 grams.
The 2nd generation charging case is slightly heavier due to the built-in speaker and the new U1 chip that enables precision finding on Find My App.
AirPods Pro vs AirPods Pro 2 Sound Quality
The AirPods Pro 2 uses a new H2 chip, which is said to deliver crispier high notes and a deeper base than the 1st Gen AirPods Pro.
According to an audio test by the soundguys, both models of AirPods Pro sound very close to each other. The AirPods 2 sounds slightly better but the improvement is marginal.
AirPods Pro vs AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancellation
With the new H2 chips, the Airpods Pro 2 have proven to be more effective at active noise cancellation. It blocks noise better than the AirPods Pro 1st Gen. This is especially useful when dealing with air conditioner hums, engine noises, and chit-chatter in crowded places.
AirPods Pro vs AirPods Pro 2 Battery Life
The 1st Gen Airpods have only 4.5 hours of battery life with ANC turned on, and get a total of 24 hours with their charging case.
The 2nd Gen Airpods have a longer battery life of 6 hours with ANC enabled. It can last up to 30hours of total listening time with the charging case.
AirPods Pro vs AirPods Pro 2 Features
Find My APP Precision Finding
With AirPods 2 Pro, the built-in speaker on the charging case and the better integration of Find My App make a big difference.
If you lost your AirPods Pro 2, you can use Precision Finding which can direct you to the exact location of your AirPods. You can use your iPhone as a compass with an interface that shows an arrow pointing in the right direction to your AirPods.
And you can also play a sound to help find your charging case.
Additional XS silicon tips
AirPods 2 Pro also comes with four pairs of silicone tips to fit a wider range of ears. Now it comes with an XS size tip, on top of the existing S, M and L.
Conclusion
If you don’t own a 1st gen AirPod Pro, then I would recommend buying the AirPods Pro 2 because it has many useful upgrades over their predecessors. You have the new H2 chip for better audio quality and ANC.
There’re also stem touch controls that let you swipe for volume adjustment. Thanks to the built-in speaker on the charging case and Precision Finding, you have a very low chance of losing your AirPods Pro 2.
All of these improvements are definitely worth the additional RM200. Alternatively, you can purchase affordable wireless earbuds such as those from Jabra, Tronsmart or Xiaomi Haylou if the AirPods Pro are not in your budget.