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The AirPodsPro 3 (proper) look just like the AirPods Pro 2 (left) on the floor, however have a barely totally different form and new eartips together with a heart-rate sensor in every bud. David Carnoy/CNETWith Apple releasing the AirPods Pro 3, of us who already personal the AirPods Pro 2 could also be questioning whether or not it is value upgrading. A superb portion of my full evaluate of the AirPods Pro 3 is dedicated to discussing the variations between the 2 fashions. Here’s how I conclude my evaluate: “Several new features, such as Live Translation, will be available for the AirPods Pro 2, so many AirPods Pro 2 owners won’t feel the need to upgrade right away. But if you’ve been using AirPods Pro 2 for a while, it might be worth passing them on to a friend or relative and upgrading to the Pro 3s.”Read extra: Best wi-fi earbuds of 2025 Like
Design upgrades to the buds and eartips enhance their match
Noise cancellation has been upgraded and is now top-notch
They sound higher with improved bass response and extra readability
Built-in heart-rate monitoring with new sensors
Excellent voice-calling efficiency (upgraded microphones)
Battery life is rated for as much as 8 hours (up from 6 for AirPods Pro 2)
Don’t like
They nonetheless use the H2 chip discovered within the AirPods Pro 2
Heart-rate monitoring is buried in health apps
While they work with Android, lots of their options are unique to Apple units
Some new colours can be good
Why I like themWhile I did not get a brand new H3 chip and I hoped that the charging case would be capable of convert right into a Bluetooth transceiver to make use of the buds on a airplane with an in-flight leisure system, I did get most of what I used to be in search of within the AirPods Pro 3. The modifications could seem incremental to some of us, however all the important thing components, similar to match, sound high quality and noise cancellation, have been noticeably leveled up together with single-charge battery. They’re about as shut as earbuds get to being full: glorious noise cancellation, robust voice-calling efficiency and sound high quality that rivals the perfect. Few buds excel in all three areas — and the Pro 3s handle it whereas packing in loads of additional options, together with their new heart-rate monitoring function. Read my full evaluate.Reasons to buyAs I mentioned, these buds are considerably improved within the 4 most necessary areas: match, sound high quality, noise cancellation and battery life. The result’s that you do not really feel such as you’re making any compromises when shopping for the AirPods Pro 3 should you’re an Apple person.Reasons to skip/preserve wantingWhile they work with Android units, you lose lots of the AriPods 3’s additional options should you’re not utilizing them with Apple units (iPhones and iPad specifically). They additionally may be a little bit too costly for a lot of of us. Read our Apple AirPods Pro 3 evaluate.
AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: What’s stayed the identicalThe AirPods Pro 3’s listing value continues to be $249 (£219, AU$429). That wasn’t a given with all of the uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration tariffs, however we’ll see how the value shakes out on Amazon and different retailers, the place AirPods fashions typically get discounted.The AirPods Pro 3 are powered by Apple’s H2 chip, the identical one which powers the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 and Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. Rumors pointed to an H3 chip, however that did not occur. No new shade choices; white continues to be the one possibility.The AirPods Pro 3 stick to Bluetooth 5.3, similar to the AirPods Pro 2 (although some true-wireless earbuds have already jumped to Bluetooth 6.0).The buds nonetheless function a MagSafe charging case with USB-C and wi-fi charging. However, no USB-C charging cable is included (Apple additionally omitted a charging cable with the AirPods 4, although most individuals have a USB-C cable). AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: What’s modifiedWhile they give the impression of being just like the earlier mannequin, the AirPods Pro 3 have been redesigned. Their geometric form has modified a bit, with the angle of the bud shifted. They’re the identical size however barely smaller width-wise, barely bigger depth-wise and weigh a contact extra (5.55 grams vs. 5.3 grams on the AirPods Pro 2).The AirPods Pro 3 include new foam-infused silicone eartips in 5 sizes, together with a brand new extra-extra small measurement.The AirPods Pro 3 are geared up with heart-rate sensors just like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.2x higher noise cancellation in comparison with the AirPods Pro 2, based on Apple.While the AirPods Pro 3 have 10.7mm drivers just like the AirPods Pro 2, these drivers have been upgraded to reap the benefits of the buds’ new multiport acoustic structure, which strikes extra air by way of the buds and improves sound high quality.The AirPods Pro 3’s microphones have been upgraded.The AirPods Pro 3’s Transparency Mode has been enhanced.New Live Translation function (additionally obtainable for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 sequence, however not the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2).The AirPods Pro 3’s battery life has improved to 8 hours with noise cancellation on and as much as 10 hours in Hearing Aid mode with transparency on. The AirPods Pro 2 are rated for as much as 6 hours of battery life with noise-canceling on.Instead of being IPX4 splash-proof just like the AirPods Pro 2, the AirPods Pro 3 acquired an IP57 ranking (so did their charging case), which suggests they’ll stand up to a sustained spray of water. (I poured water on them and so they survived simply nice.) They’re additionally dust-resistant.The AirPods Pro’s case now features a U2 chip, boosting Precision Finding vary within the Find My app by 1.5x (requires an iPhone 17). The AirPods Pro 2’s case has the U1 chip.Like with the AirPods 4, the AirPods Pro 3’s case not has a button for Bluetooth pairing. You merely double-tap on the entrance of the case to place the buds into Bluetooth pairing mode. The AirPods Pro 2 have a bodily button for Bluetooth pairing. The AirPods Pro 3’s new geometric form and eartips are among the many largest modificationsWhile the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2 look very related at first look, they do really feel totally different in your ears. That’s as a result of the AirPods Pro 3’s new eartips are fabricated from silicone however infused with foam towards the entrance of the ear tip. Also, the angle of the bud has been adjusted so the eartips level extra instantly into your ear canals.
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Close up of the AirPods Pro 3’s new ideas and heart-rate sensors. David Carnoy/CNETIf you are somebody who could not fairly get match with the unique AirPods Pro or Pro 2, the brand new design may very effectively allow you to get a snugger, safer match. The reality is {that a} tight seal is essential for optimum sound and noise-canceling efficiency, and Apple redesigned the eartips to verify customers may hear the sound and noise-canceling upgrades with the AirPods Pro 3.Alas, the brand new AirPods Pro 3 ideas do not work with earlier AirPods Pro fashions; they connect otherwise. Do you really want the AirPods Pro 3’s heart-rate monitoring?I personally do not feel that heart-rate monitoring is a must have function, notably should you already personal a smartwatch with the function. But for some of us, it is going to be a welcome addition. The heart-rate sensors have been custom-designed for the AirPods Pro 3 (they’re Apple’s smallest heart-rate sensors) and are not similar to those within the Powerbeats Pro 2, however the expertise utilizing the heart-rate monitoring function is identical.How significantly better are the AirPods Pro 3 than the AirPods Pro 2?It’s at all times laborious to place a precise proportion on how improved one technology of a product is to the following, and there are at all times some individuals who will favor the older mannequin for no matter purpose. But for me, the AirPods Pro 3 are about 20-25% higher. While they each use the H2 chip, the latest AirPods have been redesigned on the inside and outside, and most of the people ought to discover the enhancements to sound high quality, noise cancellation and match.
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Testing the AirPods Pro 3 within the streets of New York. David Carnoy/CNETIf you personal the unique AirPods Pro, I would not hesitate to advocate upgrading, particularly in case your battery life has decreased. If you are completely happy together with your AirPods Pro 2, there is not any hurry to improve except your battery life has turn into a problem (some individuals have the older AirPods Pro 2 with a Lightning connector for charging as an alternative of USB-C). The earlier technology helps many of the identical options because the AirPods Pro 3 (other than heart-monitoring), together with Live Translation and Hearing Aid mode.It’s value stating that the AirPods Pro 3 provide barely higher speech readability for Hearing Aid mode (with Automatic Conversation Boost) and higher battery life — as much as 10 hours with Transparency and Hearing Aid mode. That makes the AirPods 3 the higher selection you probably have small to average listening to loss and plan to make use of your AirPods as listening to aids. AirPods Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods 4 with ANC spec comparisonAirPods Pro 2AirPods Pro 3AirPods 4 with ANCWeight (every earbud)0.19 ounce (5.13 grams)0.20 ounce (5.5 grams)0.15 ounce (4.3 grams)Weight (case)1.79 ounces (50.8 grams)1.55 ounces (43.99 grams)1.22 ounces (34.7 grams)Water resistantIPX4IP57IP54SensorsSkin-detect sensor, Optical in-ear sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer,Speech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensorSkin-detect sensor, Optical in-ear sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer,Speech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensor, heart-rate sensorOptical in-ear sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer,Speech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensorMicrophonesDual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphoneDual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphoneDual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphoneChipH2H2H2ConectivityBluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.3Active Noise Cancelation,Transparency modeYesYesYesConversation Awareness,Adaptive AudioYesYesYesVoice Isolation,Personalized volumeYesYesYesBattery lifeUp to 6 hours+30 hours with caseUp to 8 hours+24 hours with caseUp to 5 hours+30 hours with caseWire in boxYesNoNoLaunch Price$249$249$179