If you want to spend money on the best earbuds Apple makes, you can choose between the $249 AirPods Pro 2 or the $169 AirPods 3.The newest AirPods Pro are the best you can get. They have great noise cancellation (ANC), great sound quality, and easy-to-use touch controls, which made it easy to choose them as the best wireless earbuds for Apple users. The AirPods 3 take some of the best features of the Pros, like their sleek design and immersive Spatial Audio, and put them into a simpler, cheaper design that gives up things like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and a secure silicon fit.
At first glance, these two earbuds may look the same, but after putting them through a lot of tests, there’s a clear winner. The best thing about the AirPods Pro over the regular AirPods is that they have active noise cancellation, which is even better on the new model. The AirPods Pro 2 have some of the best active noise cancellation (ANC) we’ve ever seen on a pair of earbuds.
They turn noisy subway cars and construction sites into a blissfully quiet hum. When you do need to hear the outside world, the AirPods Pro 2’s Transparency mode does a better job than ever of amplifying nearby sounds so you don’t miss that important airport announcement.
Price and Availability
AirPods 3 cost £169 ($179, AU$279) when they first came out, and that’s about what they still cost today. The first AirPods Pro cost £249 ($249, AU$399), and the new AirPods Pro will also cost £249 ($249, AU$399).
Apple didn’t automatically raise the price of the new pair, which is a good thing. Yes, the AirPods 3 are cheaper on paper, but keep in mind that the Pro 2 has noise cancellation and a different design and chipset.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3 Comparison Table
| airpods pro 2 | airpods 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| ANC | Yes | No |
| Spatial Audio: | Yes | Yes |
| Water resistance: | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Battery | 6hrs | 6hrs |
Design
The AirPods 3 look and feel like Apple’s classic headphones, while the AirPods Pro 2 have interchangeable tips and look and feel more like your average wireless earbud, though the Pros still have stems while competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM4 don’t.
The AirPods 3 don’t have silicone tips that can be swapped out like many other earbuds do, so you can’t change them to suit your taste or the size of your ears. They have the same design as Apple’s lower-end headphones, which means that one size fits all. If you’re lucky, AirPods 3 will be the perfect fit for you.
However, AirPods Pro give you more options. The Pros come with those familiar silicone tips that can be switched out. We found that this was a great way to find the best fit for you. Also, the new AirPods Pro have a fourth XS tip that was not there before.
Both buds have IPX4 water and sweat resistance, and the AirPods 3 charging case works with both MagSafe and Qi. The charging case for AirPods Pro 2 (2022) works with both MagSafe and Qi chargers, as well as Apple Watch chargers. The AirPods Pro 2 case also has a built-in speaker, Precision Finding support for finding a lost case, and a built-in lanyard. Know more about this earbuds on official website.
Controls
The controls on the AirPods 3rd Gen and AirPods Pro 2nd Gen are better than on the AirPods 2 and old AirPods. With one tap on the stem, users of the AirPods (3rd Gen) and AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) can play, pause, or answer a phone call. With two taps, users can skip forward, and with three taps, they can skip back.
You can also gradually change the volume on the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) by swiping up and down on the touch control sensor. When you press and hold the force sensor on the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), you can switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode. On the AirPods (3rd Gen), it will launch Siri, since only the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) have Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode.
Transparency Mode on the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) lets you listen to your favourite song and hear what’s going on around you at the same time. On AirPods 2, double-tapping is the only way to control the device. Users can set the left and right AirPods to do different things when they double-tap them, but the controls are limited to Siri, the next track, the previous track, play/pause, and the next track/previous track. When you get a phone call, you can answer it with a double tap.
Features
The AirPods 2 don’t have key features like Spatial Audio, resistance to sweat and water, and MagSafe charging. These features are on both the AirPods 3 and the AirPods Pro. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and a transparency mode are also built into the AirPods Pro.
Adaptive EQ is something that the AirPods 2 don’t have, but the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro do. Inside the silicone tips of the AirPods Pro, there is a vent system that helps equalize the pressure in your ear. This is something that neither the AirPods 2 nor the AirPods 3 have or need.
Audio quality
Active noise cancellation and transparency mode are still only available on Apple’s most expensive earbuds. Apple says that the second-generation AirPods Pro, which have the new H2 chip, can block out up to twice as much noise as the first-generation AirPods Pro. On the second-generation model, Transparency Mode has also been made better.
When you are in Transparency Mode, the new chip can cut down on loud sounds around you. This should make sounds like a car passing by less startling. The new H2 chip gives the AirPods Pro 2 better sound, which makes them even more different from the AirPods 3. In his review, my colleague David Carnoy said that the H2’s processing power lets the AirPods Pro handle a wider range of frequencies.
On the AirPods Pro 2, you can also use a swipe to change the volume. The AirPods 3 only have Apple’s force sensors, which you can press to skip ahead, pause music, or answer calls. But both the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 3 have adaptive EQ and dynamic spatial audio. The first one is basically a simulation of surround sound, while the second one changes the sound to fit your ears.
Battery life
The official battery life for the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) is 6 hours. In our tests, the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) come out on top with a battery life of 6 hours and 21 minutes, while the AirPods Pro only last 5 hours and 43 minutes (2nd generation).
You might notice this difference, but you can add more to either one from the case. Both cases give you up to 24 extra hours of playtime. Due to flaws in battery technology, you will get about the same number of charge and discharge cycles. This means that you can only use them every day for a few years.
Which One Should You Consider?
The lower price of the AirPods 3 may make it seem like a better deal, but you won’t get Active Noise Cancellation, the latest H2 chip, and other features. The AirPods 3, on the other hand, are a great choice if you don’t need ANC or Adaptive Transparency.
The AirPods Pro 2 has been updated on the inside, has a newer charging case, and has some new features. If you have the money, it’s the obvious choice. Also, it’s up to you if you want to pay the extra $80 for the extra features of the AirPods Pro 2.
FAQs
What is the difference between AirPods Pro 2 and 3?
Aside from the new design, which should fit most ears better than the AirPods 2nd Generation (though not very small ears), the biggest change is to the sound quality: It’s gotten much better. Also, the AirPods 3 have a longer battery life and are now officially water-resistant.
Is AirPods 2 better than 3?
With a single charge, the second-generation AirPods can be used for up to five hours, while the third-generation AirPods can be used for an extra hour. When spatial audio is turned on, the battery life of the third-generation AirPods drops to five hours.
