Apple Explains Why AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) Are Required for Lossless Audio With Apple Vision Pro

Apple has explained why users will need the new AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C to support lossless audio with Apple Vision Pro.

When the company initially unveiled AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, it touted the ability of the new wireless earbuds to support lossless audio with Apple Vision Pro.

AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) will enable Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency to deliver the perfect true wireless solution with Apple Vision Pro. The H2 chip in the latest AirPods Pro and Apple Vision Pro, combined with a groundbreaking wireless audio protocol, unlocks powerful 20-bit, 48 kHz Lossless Audio with a massive reduction in audio latency. When Apple Vision Pro is available early next year in the U.S., customers will be able to enjoy the most advanced wireless audio experience in the industry with the new AirPods Pro for exceptional entertainment, gaming, FaceTime calls, and so much more.




In the announcement, Apple didn't explain why the previous Lightning AirPods Pro 2 could not have the same support. However, in a interview with Brian Tong, Apple VP of Sensing and Connectivity, Ron Huang, explains why...

"To bring in lossless and ultra low latency audio to Vision Pro many things have to work right. As you know, shorter latency lossless means bigger bandwidth, so you need a much more pristine wireless pipe to communicate between the two. With the new Airpods Pro we are able to run it at 5 GHz. Right, if you think back, Bluetooth typically runs at 2.4 GHz which is quite a messy and noisy airspace right, and that's why, take Wi-Fi for example, all the routers you buy today are dual band if not tri-band right. That's because 2.4 is very noisy but 5 gig is much cleaner and so Apple Vision Pro and Airpods Pro are now able to communicate at 5 GHz in addition to H2 allowing
us to build a new audio protocol, but it's also the cleaner airspace that allows us to do that and USB-C AirPods are now 5 gig capable"

Huang also clarified that while AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning) has an H2 chip, it is not 5GHz capable.


You can check out the full explanation in the video below. Also, note that Amazon is having a huge launch sale on the new USB-C AirPods Pro today, discounting them from $249 to just $199.99. Grab the deal while you can and please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more AirPods updates.