AirPods 3 vs. AirPods Pro: Which one should you buy?

Those shopping for a new pair of AirPods now have three types of earbuds to choose from. Apple’s $179 third-generation AirPods (£169, AU$279) became available on Oct. 26 after the tech giant announced them during its recent event on Oct. 18 The new earbuds are essentially a cross between the high-end $249 AirPods Pro (£239, AU$399) — currently on sale for less — and the entry-level $129 AirPods (£119, AU$219), both of which are available alongside the new model. (Here’s our full review of the AirPods 3.)

Read more: The best deals on wireless earbuds, and an unbeatable AirPods deal.

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Comparing AirPods 3 to AirPods Pro: Which is right for…

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True to the rumors, Apple’s new AirPods have a lot in common with the high-end AirPods Pro. The stems are shorter and the earpieces are shaped more like the AirPods Pro’s, except they retain the older model’s open design rather than changeable tips. (Here’s the $15 AirPods accessory we swear by.)

The AirPods 3, which you can get with free case engraving, also come with spatial audio support and are water-resistant, unlike the standard AirPods. 

The main difference between the new AirPods and the AirPods Pro continues to be active noise cancellation, which is still exclusive to the pricier model. But the new AirPods still offer significantly better audio with improved bass compared with Apple’s long-stemmed second-generation AirPods. 

Here’s a breakdown of how the third-generation AirPods and the AirPods Pro compare. And if you’re wondering, here’s what to know about trading in your old AirPods.

Read more: MacBook Pro 2021 review: Apple’s M1 Max chip makes a big difference

Design: The AirPods 3 have a similar shape, but no silicone tips

If the new AirPods look familiar, that’s because they borrow a lot of design cues from the AirPods Pro. Like their pricier sibling, the third-generation AirPods have an earpiece that’s narrower than the standard AirPods. It’s not quite as slender as the AirPods Pro’s earpiece, but it’s certainly not as round as the standard AirPods’. The new AirPods are also water- and sweat-resistant like the AirPods Pro, which could make them a more appealing option for those who plan to frequently use them during exercise and outdoor activities. 

The case for the new AirPods also looks like a cross between the case for the standard AirPods and the AirPods Pro. It’s much shorter and wider than the entry-level AirPods case, but it’s not quite as wide as the holster for the AirPods Pro. You can also charge the third-generation AirPods case via wireless charging, including Apple’s MagSafe charger, or by plugging it in. 

The third-generation AirPods’ stems are also shorter, another characteristic that resembles the AirPods Pro. These new stems have the same Force Touch sensor as the AirPods Pro, which enables you to control audio playback and launch Siri.

The biggest difference between the two in terms of design is that the new $179 AirPods don’t have interchangeable silicone tips like the AirPods Pro, which include three sizes to choose from. The new AirPods are also lighter than the AirPods Pro at 0.15 ounce versus 0.19 ounce. 

The announcement lines up with rumors that surfaced ahead of Apple’s event. Last year, Bloomberg and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors) both reported that Apple’s entry-level AirPods would gain a new look with shorter stems.

Audio: No active noise cancellation, but other audio improvements

You’ll still have to splurge on Apple’s top-of-the-line earbuds to get active noise cancellation and transparency mode. But the new AirPods are inheriting a couple of other audio features from the AirPods Pro: spatial audio and adaptive EQ.

Spatial audio is essentially like virtual surround sound, as my colleague David Carnoy describes it. The technology generally makes audio feel more enveloping and mimics the experience of being in a movie theater. Apple introduced the feature to the AirPods Pro in last year’s iOS 14 update and it’s seemingly becoming a core part of the AirPods experience. Both the new $179 AirPods and the $549 over-ear AirPods Max headphones have the feature. Adaptive EQ adjusts audio based on the shape of your ear and was previously exclusive to the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. 

Read more: Instead of removing the iPhone 13 notch, Apple added one to the MacBook Pro

Performance and battery: The AirPods 3 have longer battery life but the same chip as the AirPods Pro

The new third-generation AirPods should have longer battery life than their predecessors. Apple says they will last for 6 hours on a single charge and up to 5 hours with spatial audio enabled. You’ll also get up to 4 hours of talk time and the charging case should provide up to 30 hours of listening time. 

The AirPods Pro, by comparison, should last up to 4.5 hours on a single charge and 5 hours if you disable active noise cancellation and transparency mode. They offer 3.5 hours of talk time and the case provides 24 hours of total listening time, according to Apple.

Both the third-generation AirPods and AirPods Pro feature Apple’s H1 chip, so they should offer similar performance when it comes to tasks like summoning Siri and quickly connecting to Apple devices. 

Overall, the AirPods 3 seem like they’ll bring Apple’s earbuds up to speed in the two areas that matter most: comfort and audio functionality. That’s especially important as the market for true wireless earbuds has become more competitive, with new offerings from Samsung, Amazon, Google and many of Apple’s other rivals. 

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The third-generation AirPods were announced at Apple’s Unleashed event on Oct. 18. 

The AirPods Pro are Apple’s high-end true-wireless earbuds, and its only true wireless model to offer active noise cancellation. They retail for $249 at the Apple Store, but they generally go for between $179 and $200.