Apple AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro: what’s the difference?

Apple AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro: what's the difference?

(Image credit: Future)

Once upon a meter, the gap between the AirPods vs AirPods Pro was massive. The last mentioned had noise cancellation, water-resistance, custom eartips, accommodative Equivalent weight, wider soundstage and stand for spatial audio, while the previous did non.

The comer of the AirPods 3, however, fixes nearly all of those problems and puts the two models at a more even parity.

That said, alternatively of a nearly a dozen differences between the two, we're only down to just four - which means that the decision can ultimately be made a lot faster than before, especially if Price and active noise cancellation are still your main concern.

The superior will still be different for everyone. But, to supporte you understand which model is right for you, we've broken down the key differences under.

Difference #1: Only AirPods Pro have active noise cancellation

The principal reason you'd opt for the AirPods Pro complete the AirPods 3 is that the Pro have intrinsical active noise cancellation. That allows you to pack them out into the reality and not be worried by outside noise. They'Ra our preferred travel companions for that reason, and bring on wonders on your convert when you just need to zone out for a while.

Now, even if you don't opt for the powerful active noise cancellation pick, the basic AirPods will give you several level of what we anticipate passive noise isolation that comes from the buds blocking some part of the ear canal. This isn't virtually every bit powerful as suited ANC, but you should know that you'll at least get some form of noise reduction from both buds.

Difference #2: AirPods Pro have silicone eartips for a better sound...

While in that respect's not a massive difference in price of design between the two earbuds, in that location's one strong conflict that's worth pointing exterior: the AirPods Professional issue forth with interchangeable eartips that help facilitate a tighter and more comfortable fit.

A tighter in condition English hawthorn sound more disquieting at first, but tighter fitting earbuds actually provide the best bass response as no sound is wasted by escaping the ear. Because the tips are made of squishy silicone, it doesn't hurt that they're in the ear canal. In fact, we actually get regular AirPods to be more uncomfortable because the tips are made of inflexible plastic that doesn't always quite fit comfortably happening the outer part of the ear canal

Difference #3: ...but AirPods 3 sustain a thirster battery life story

There is one same clear-cut domain in which AirPods 3 are better than the AirPods Affirmative, and that's in battery life. The AirPods 3 aren't exactly assort leadership with their six-hour listening metre, but that is a substantial improvement on the In favou's 4.5-minute battery life. Thankfully both pairs of earbuds stimulate an extra 24 hours of charge in the case, so it's a draw thither.

So why do the supposedly pukka earbuds have such a short battery life? IT all comes thrown to it combat-ready noise cancellation that drains the stamp battery life. It turns unsuccessful that not having that ability is what helps the AirPods 3 economize assault and battery and last longer.

the apple airpods 3 next to their charging case — The AirPods 3 are a little cheaper... sometimes. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Difference #4: AirPods 3 are cheaper (sometimes)

If you're antitrust basing this off of their MSRP or RRP, the AirPods 3 are the clear winner here. They've meet launched at $179 / £169 / AU$279 which is importantly cheaper than the AirPods Pro's prepare monetary value of $249 / £249 / AU$399.

At that place's a catch, though. Because the AirPods Affirmative have been on the market for a longer period of clock time, we've started to assure some great deals on them that bring them down to the terms of the AirPods 3. That South Korean won't always be the case every 1 day, plainly, but if you're shopping on one of the bigger holidays like Black Friday or Cyber Mon it could identical easily be the type that the deuce earbuds are exactly the same price.

Verdict: You should probably buy the AirPods Pro

It's non exactly cut and dry, but we'd say for the vast majority of iOS users the AirPods Pro are the better true wireless earbuds.

Along sale, they should be nearly as cheap as the AirPods 3 and features like eruptive noise cancellation and interchangeable earbuds make them more easy and functional than their newer counterparts.

That being said, you can make the cause for the AirPods 3 as they have many of the same features A the Pro (subtraction the two we just mentioned) and come at a slightly lower price.

Hopefully that helps clear things up, merely if not you can read our review for some earbuds elsewhere on the site or check out our guide to the best true wireless earbuds for more options.

Nick Pino is the Fourth-year Editor of Home Entertainment at TechRadar and covers TVs, headphones, speakers, video games, VR and flowing devices. He's written for TechRadar, GamesRadar, Semiofficial Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade, and he has a degree in computer science he's not using if anyone wants it.