I’m going to share my HONEST Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2 comparison, as someone who has purchased both pairs of earbuds with my own money.
Having spent well over six months with the AirPods Pro 2 and several weeks daily-driving the newer AirPods Pro 3, I’ve conducted thorough hands-on testing across workouts, daily commutes, and long editing sessions. In this breakdown, I will crown a winner across every key category:
- Comfort & Fit
- Noise Cancelling Performance (ANC)
- Sound Quality & Acoustics
- Battery Life
- Hardware & Smart Features
- Value & Upgrade Verdict
I’ll be sharing my critical, long-term perspective based on years of testing personal audio gear, IEMs, and everyday tech hardware to help you decide if upgrading is actually worth your money.
Let’s dive right in!
Comfort & Fit
Comfort is the next major improvement: a better fit. Apple re-engineered the internal architecture to make the earbuds smaller. While they maintain the classic AirPods design, Apple shifted the angle where the ear tip attaches to the bud. Less of the bud sits directly inside your ear, which improves comfort. If the previous generation hurt your ears, these are worth trying.
I can wear them for hours without soreness, and they remain secure during workouts without needing constant readjustment. Apple also added a new, smaller ear tip size. Additionally, the water resistance rating increased from IP54 to IP57, meaning the earbuds can withstand freshwater submersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
Noise Cancelling Performance (ANC)
As soon as I put the AirPods Pro 3 in my ears, I immediately noticed a difference. Apple claims they’re twice as good as the AirPods Pro 2, and that feels accurate. They’re significantly better at blocking out background noise. With the AirPods Pro 2, I never found the noise cancellation as effective as my Sony WF-1000XM5s or Bose earbuds, which I often reached for in louder environments like cooking or cleaning.
In my testing, the AirPods Pro 3 match the Sonys—in fact, their noise cancellation is slightly better. That is impressive given the Sonys use all-foam tips. Apple infused the tip of the new AirPods Pro with foam on the inside while keeping a silicone outer covering. This makes them easier to clean and more comfortable for anyone who dislikes all-foam tips expanding in their ear canal.
Sound Quality & Acoustics
The improved fit and foam-infused tips also boost sound quality. The AirPods Pro 3 sound noticeably better than their predecessor. Apple included next-generation adaptive EQ, which adjusts sound based on ear geometry via internal microphones, alongside a multiport acoustic architecture that precisely controls airflow into the ear.
In practice, music features a wider soundstage, greater detail—especially in vocals—and deeper low-end bass extension. Apple didn’t simply boost overall bass; the tuning remains balanced, with punchier sub-bass that avoids overwhelming the mix. By comparison, the AirPods Pro 2 sound slightly less clear in the highs and mids, with weaker sub-bass.
Battery Life
The AirPods Pro 3 deliver 8 hours of playback with ANC enabled—a 33% increase over the previous generation’s 6 hours (decreasing to 7.5 hours with spatial audio and head tracking). You also get up to 10 hours of listening time in transparency mode using the hearing aid feature—a 67% increase from the 6 hours on the AirPods Pro 2. Conversation Boost is now automatic, helping users with hearing loss converse in crowded environments by amplifying speech directly in front of them.
Hardware & Smart Features
Despite these improvements, the AirPods Pro 3 retain the same $249 launch price, with standard retailer discounts likely over time. You can check the product link in the description and pinned comment for current pricing. Apple also upgraded the ultra-wideband chip in the charging case to improve Precision Finding performance.
Heart Rate Monitoring, Live Translation, & Pairing
Apple introduced two hardware additions to the AirPods Pro 3:
- Heart Rate Monitoring: A custom PPG sensor uses infrared light pulses to measure blood flow, allowing you to track up to 50 workout types using just your AirPods and iPhone—no Apple Watch required.
- Live Translation: The earbuds translate spoken languages in real time using your iPhone’s processor. This feature remains in beta with limited language support, and it is also compatible with the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4.
Apple also removed the physical pairing button on the back of the case. Pairing mode is now activated simply by opening the case and double-tapping the front.
Also Checkout: How to reset AirPods, Pro or Max
Final Words
At $249, the AirPods Pro 3 are well worth the upgrade. It has been a long time since an Apple update offered this substantial an improvement over its predecessor.
Share your thoughts on the new AirPods Pro in the comments. Subscribe for the full review and upcoming comparisons against the AirPods 4, and explore my other earbud reviews.
