Airpods Pro 3 Vs. Airpods Pro 2: I Compared Both Earbuds, Here's Who Should Upgrade

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Apple's AirPods Pro 3 are officially here, and they debut pinch upgrades for illustration subtle creation changes, improved sound cancellation, and longer artillery life. The AirPods Pro 3's astir important upgrade, however, is their onboard bosom complaint sensor, a welcomed characteristic for group who for illustration to deterioration AirPods while they exercise.

If you person AirPods Pro 2, they're anyplace from 2 to 3 years old, depending connected their charging connector. If your AirPods Pro 2 are still successful mint condition, are nan Pro 3 really worthy different $250 purchase?

Also: Apple iPhone 17 arena recap: Reactions to iPhone Air, Apple Watches, AirPods Pro 3, more

Both premium Apple earbuds support Live Translation, proceeding protection features, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, spatial audio, and tally connected nan company's H2 audio chip. The much palpable differences betwixt nan 2 earbuds are mostly successful nan smaller hardware upgrades. Despite being small, they make a existent effect connected your personification experience. Here's what you should know.

Specifications

You should bargain nan AirPods Pro 3 if...

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1. You want each nan wellness features

Apple fitted nan AirPods Pro 3 pinch its suite of proceeding wellness features, including Hearing Aid mode, which turns your AirPods into an over-the-counter proceeding aid. These AirPods besides support proceeding protection features, at-home proceeding trial compatibility, and automation speech boost erstwhile nan earbuds are successful Hearing Aid mode. The AirPods Pro 2 are compatible pinch nan aforesaid proceeding wellness features.

Also: Upgrading your headphones? 5 things I urge doing pinch your existent brace first

In summation to proceeding health, nan AirPods Pro 3 person a bosom complaint sensor, allowing some earbuds to way your bosom rate, burned calories, and clip spent exercising erstwhile nan earbuds are engaged successful an progressive workout done nan iPhone's Fitness app. 

2. You want much h2o guidance

The AirPods Pro 3 athletics an IP57 particulate and h2o guidance rating, compared to nan AirPods Pro 2's (USB-C) IP54 and nan AirPods Pro 2's (Lightning) IPX4. If you're still rocking nan Pro 2 (Lightning), this durability upgrade is substantial. The Pro 3 earbuds are amended protected from capacity issues owed to particulate ingress from being successful your pouch aliases container compared to nan Pro 2 (Lightning).

Also: You should cleanable your AirPods ASAP, particularly earlier you see an upgrade this week

If you person nan Pro 2 (USB-C), nan Pro 3 earbuds are amended protected from water, acting arsenic nan culprit of capacity issues. The Pro 3's h2o guidance upgrade from 4 to 7 intends nan earbuds and charging lawsuit tin past submersion successful h2o up to 3 feet for up to 30 minutes. 

Although I don't urge dunking your AirPods and their charging lawsuit successful water, nan charging case's enhanced durability is impressive, considering Google, Samsung, Bose, and Sony's premium earbuds' charging cases are not officially rated for immoderate h2o protection.

3. You want all-around improved capacity

Although Apple gave nan AirPods Pro 3's bosom complaint search characteristic astir of nan airtime during nan hardware event's keynote, nan Pro 3 earbuds received a facelift, but each nan specifications weren't arsenic newsworthy.

Also: Live Translation isn't conscionable for AirPods Pro 3 - cheque if yours are compatible

The Pro 3 earbuds person a refined earbud shape, 2 much hours of continuous playtime, upgraded 10.7mm drivers, and caller acoustic architecture, a deeper bass response, caller eartips, and improved sound cancellation and transparency mode.

The Pro 3 besides person Apple's updated U2 ultra-wideband spot (UWB). If you person an iPhone 15 aliases newer, your iPhone besides has nan U2 chip. When some devices' U2 UWB chips communicate, you tin usage your iPhone to find your AirPods pinch much precision complete greater distances.

You should bargain nan AirPods Pro 2 if...

Jada Jones/ZDNET

1. You want nan cheaper action

In this case, cheaper doesn't mean lesser, arsenic nan AirPods Pro 2 are still a coagulated brace of premium AirPods. They activity seamlessly pinch your Apple devices, and stock nan aforesaid package features, speech from in-ear bosom monitoring.

Also: I've utilized my AirPods Pro 2 since 2022 - here's why they're still legit successful 2025

During waste seasons, nan AirPods Pro 2 tin beryllium purchased for arsenic debased arsenic $179, and I expect their prices to beryllium little now that nan caller exemplary is available. The only caveat is that you tin nary longer acquisition them straight from Apple; you'll person to get them astatine retailers for illustration Best Buy aliases Amazon.

2. You don't request nan extras

The AirPods Pro 2 are perfectly tin earbuds. In fact, they mightiness beryllium much than capable for astir people, particularly if you only request your earbuds for listening to music, talking connected nan telephone hands-free, and for their sound cancellation.

Also: Should you bargain AirPods Max successful 2025? A long-awaited upgrade will entice professionals

The AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 2 stock Apple's H2 headphone chip, and, connected paper, nan Pro 2 aren't excessively acold down nan newcomers. The Pro 2 earbuds still supply awesome sound, capable sound cancellation, and plentifulness of package features.

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