Does AirPods pro mic pick up background noise?

Answered by Stephen Mosley

The AirPods Pro is equipped with an inward-facing microphone that is designed to pick up unwanted internal sounds. This microphone is located inside the earbud, close to your ear canal. Its purpose is to detect and analyze the background noise that may be present within your ear and counter it with anti-noise.

When you wear the AirPods Pro, the microphone continuously listens to the sounds inside your ear. It detects any unwanted internal noises, such as the rustling of clothing, the movement of your jaw, or even the sound of your own breathing. These internal sounds can be distracting and affect the overall audio quality of your listening experience.

To counter these unwanted internal sounds, the AirPods Pro utilize active noise cancellation technology. This technology generates anti-noise that is specifically designed to cancel out the detected internal sounds. By emitting anti-noise that is phase-inverted to the unwanted sounds, the AirPods Pro effectively neutralize them and provide you with a more immersive and uninterrupted audio experience.

In addition to active noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro also offer a transparency mode. This mode allows you to hear what’s happening around you by letting outside sounds in. When transparency mode is enabled, the inward-facing microphone plays a crucial role in capturing and amplifying the external sounds, ensuring that you can stay aware of your surroundings while still enjoying your audio playback.

The microphone used in the AirPods Pro is specifically designed to pick up internal sounds and provide accurate noise cancellation and transparency mode functionality. It works in conjunction with the built-in sensors and advanced algorithms to analyze and process the audio signals. This combination of hardware and software ensures that the AirPods Pro deliver a high-quality audio experience, free from unwanted internal sounds.

While the AirPods Pro’s inward-facing microphone is effective in canceling out unwanted internal noises, it’s important to note that it may still pick up some background noise from your environment. External sounds, such as people talking, cars passing by, or the sound of wind, may still be audible to a certain extent. However, the active noise cancellation technology and transparency mode help to mitigate these external sounds and allow you to focus on your audio or be aware of your surroundings, respectively.

It’s worth mentioning that the effectiveness of the microphone in picking up background noise may vary depending on factors such as fit, ear shape, and the specific environments you are in. It’s always recommended to properly adjust and fit your AirPods Pro to your ears to optimize their performance.

The AirPods Pro utilize an inward-facing microphone to detect and counter unwanted internal sounds. This microphone, along with active noise cancellation and transparency mode, ensures an immersive audio experience while still allowing you to be aware of your surroundings. While some background noise may still be picked up, the overall performance of the AirPods Pro’s microphone is designed to provide a high-quality and personalized listening experience.