Rumors of the AirPods Pro 2 have been fairly quiet, but it remains one of the most anticipated Apple products of 2022, along with the MacBook Air 2022 and iPhone 14.

However, competition in the best wireless earbuds field is stiff, so Apple will need to pull out something special with the next-generation AirPods Pro, which is expected to arrive late next year. Moreover, the new AirPods 3 already have almost all the same features as the AirPods Pro, with the exception of the noise-canceling feature.

So here are the top upgrades we'd like to see from the AirPods Pro 2.

There is nothing wrong with the current AirPods Pro design, with its short stem and clean bud shape. However, that doesn't mean we can't make some improvements. We would love to see the rumored more rounded, bullet-like design, with the stem removed from the bud to make it less noticeable.

Removing the stem could affect control, but the Cupertino folks are good at figuring out how to seem to get more from less. Even if the stem doesn't get shorter, there is still room for improvement in the AirPods Pro 2's design, and the case could be tweaked with more features, such as a metal loop for attaching a strap.

We would like to see the AirPods Pro 2 come with more earphone tip options; the AirPods Pro only ships with three different tip sizes, which limits its ability to fit humanity's diverse ears.

This is a small request, but one that could improve upon the already impressive wireless earbuds. There are also rumors that the AirPods Pro 2 will come in two sizes, which will no doubt help users find the best fit.

The AirPods Pro offers excellent active noise cancellation and ranks on our list of best noise-canceling earphones. However, they are no match for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds or the Sony WF-1000XM4.

So improvements here will be much appreciated, especially as people venture out into the world more and more. The best ANC earbuds also include a transparency mode and adjustable noise filtering, which smartly detects when to disable noise cancellation so you can hear what someone is saying. We would expect that the AirPods Pro 2 could take this further and utilize a new chip with improved smart processing, as suggested in Apple's patent.

Along with ANC enhancements, we would like to see improvements in overall sound quality. Perhaps an emphasis on spatial audio support introduced in iOS 14. Also, the ability to better adjust audio settings with a custom equalizer would be greatly appreciated.

To really stand out from the crowd, we think Apple needs to add something unique to the AirPods Pro 2. And built-in fitness and health tracking features could be the solution.

We have already heard murmurs that the next-generation AirPods Pro could have some form of built-in fitness tracking, perhaps facilitated by an infrared sensor, accelerometer, or gyroscope.

That makes sense, given that many AirPods Pro users wear the earbuds at the gym or when running, combined with Apple's impressive health and fitness tracking features in iOS and Apple Watch, AirPods Pro 2 could be the next must-have accessory for active Apple fans.

The AirPods Pro 2 could also offer another way to capture health and fitness data without having to wear an Apple Watch on the wrist. This possibility is certainly appealing.

An improved IPX rating would be the icing on the cake. After all, the OnePlus Buds Pro (IP55) and the Bowers & Wilkins PI5 (IP54) both have better IPX ratings.

As a matter of course, it would be great if the AirPods Pro 2's battery life was longer than the 4.5 hours that the AirPods Pro offered. Apple has room for improvement here, as the current AirPods Pro is easily outclassed by many ANC wireless earbuds.

The AirPods 3 offers 6 hours of battery life with the case removed, so I hope Apple at least aims for that with the AirPods Pro 2.

There are few leaks or rumors about battery life for the next generation AirPods Pro. But we would be surprised if Apple doesn't work on improving that. This is because Apple is very good at using new, efficient chipsets in their products with each generation.

With all the above possibilities for the AirPods Pro 2, you might ask, should I wait for it or get the AirPods Pro now? That's a tough question and depends on your current earphone situation.

The AirPods Pro are excellent and well discounted, so if you can get them for under $200, they may be worth getting. But if you have good wireless earbuds, you'll have to wait until late 2022 for Apple's offerings.