Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3: which wireless earbuds are better?

Apple calls AirPods the "most popular wireless headphones in the world" for good reason: these little buds are everywhere. Chances are if you’ve got an Apple device, you’ve thought about getting a pair of AirPods (or already own one). But which AirPod is the right one for you? Because not only are there different models to choose from, but there are different generations, too.

Apple’s current range of wireless earbuds includes the 'open' style AirPods 4 with ANC (a pair without noise-cancelling is also available) and the more expensive, flagship AirPods Pro 2, which feature swappable eartips, improved sound quality, and advanced features for a higher price tag. But if you look hard enough, the older ANC-less and eartip-less AirPods 3 are still available from other retailers.

With those newer AirPods 4 now on the scene, though, there might be fewer good reasons to consider the older model, especially considering how their prices are likely to be affected.

But if you find yourself trying to decide between a pair of AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3, below you’ll find everything you need to know about these two pairs of Apple earbuds.

AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3: price

The Apple AirPods 3 originally sold for £169 / $179 / AU$279 when they launched in 2021, and oddly, that price (regardless of charging case variant) has remained pretty fixed, although it depends where you live. In the UK it's gone upwards slightly to £179, US buyers can find a pair for $170, and in Australia it’s stayed the same.

The flagship AirPods Pro 2 launched in 2022 at £249 / $249 / AU$399, and they dropped in the UK to £229 when the USB-C case replaced the Lightning connector case last year. The Pro 2nd generation buds have received far more tempting discounts recently and can be picked up now for closer to £200 in the UK, have even been seen for exactly the same price as the AirPods 3 in the US ($170), and cost AU$300 down under.

The AirPods 3 are technically the cheaper pair, then, but the white elephant in the room here is the AirPods 4, which are available for just £129 / $99 / AU$219 without noise-cancelling (or £179 / $179 / AU$299 with it), which makes the cost of the older, similarly ANC-less AirPods 3 look like an absolute rip-off.

The AirPods 4 might not be part of this versus, but their existence (and overall better performance) means we can’t in good conscience award this one to their more expensive predecessors. The AirPods Pro 2 might be pricier than both, but for your money you get more features, a newer chipset, better sound and a better fit.

**Winner: AirPods Pro 2*

AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3: design and comfort

The biggest design difference between the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2 is the use of eartips. Both pairs of AirPods have Apple's now-iconic stem-and-bud design, with the AirPods 3 featuring shorter stems than the older, long-stemmed AirPods 2.

The AirPods 3 don’t have swappable silicone tips like many earbuds do these days, which allow you to change depending on the size of your ears to get the most secure fit and best seal for sound. Instead, the 'open' AirPods 3 are a one-size-fits-all approach, which, in our experience, means they don't actually fit very well for everyone.

Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 2 come with silicone eartips that you can change (there are four sizes) and we find these to be far more useful for finding not just the best fit, but for getting the best sound and ANC quality. A good seal means solid bass and better isolation from the outside world – two areas that the users of AirPods 3 have to compromise on.

Both AirPods are lightweight designs and are comfortable to wear. They operate in the same way too. The stems have a sensor where you can 'pinch' them to play, pause and skip tracks, take calls and, on the Pro 2, press longer to change ANC noise modes. Additionally, AirPods Pro 2 have a touch-capacitive layer on their stems that you can swipe up and down on to control volume, which is a pretty solid quality-of-life improvement, considering how responsive touch control is.

The AirPods 3 don't feature on-bud volume controls.

The AirPods 3 have an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance, while the Pro 2 add dust resistance with an IP54 rating.

Both charging cases have MagSafe and Qi support for wireless charging. On top of this, the AirPods Pro 2 case is compatible with Apple Watch chargers, has a built-in speaker to emit tones, Precision Finding support for locating a lost case, and a built-in lanyard loop.

For context, the IP54-rated AirPods 4 are a bit like a cross between the two, with shorter stems but no swappable tips. You also only get wireless charging and the other neat tricks if you opt for the pair with ANC.

**Winner: AirPods Pro 2**

AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3: features, ANC, battery life

The advantage of Apple-made products is that they work seamlessly with iOS devices, which means both the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2 are a breeze to use when connected to an iPhone, iPad or MacBook. They both benefit from quick pairing, support for Siri and automatic switching between devices in an Apple ecosystem.

The biggest difference is that the AirPods Pro 2 feature active noise-cancelling, while the AirPods 3 don't. The Pro 2 are powered by the latest H2 chip, which brings with it massive improvements to ANC, sound quality and battery life compared with the first-gen Pro model. There are optimised acoustic vents and repositioned mics that further aid the Pro 2's sound and ANC qualities, and the flagship model's ability to deliver effective noise-cancelling is vastly improved.

With the new Pros, we found they were effective at eliminating background noise to a murmur with ANC on, whether that's the soft hush of background office chatter or the bass-heavy roar of an oncoming train.

Rival class leaders such as the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds push the ANC boundary even further, but we like the open, airy, organic feel of how the AirPods Pro 2 suppress environmental noises. A new adaptive audio feature constantly monitors outside noise to dynamically blend full ANC with Transparency Mode to find the best ANC level for you, and we find it's also effective at damping down sudden loud, harsh noises.

The AirPods 3 run on the older H1 chip, but are no slouches. Like the Pro 2, they also support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos music tracks, along with dynamic headtracking. Adaptive EQ (that optimises sound quality), Audio Sharing (the ability to play audio simultaneously through two pairs of AirPods) and wear detection (which auto pauses when an AirPod is taken out of an ear) are all features you can enjoy on AirPods Pro 2 as well as AirPods 3.

The AirPods Pro 2 include an additional Conversation Mode, which senses when you're speaking and lowers the volume of the music playing so you can have a quick chat. Neat. Various hearing health features have also been added to the Pro 2 at no extra cost.

All of these features are available provided you're using the AirPods with an iOS device; those with Android devices will miss out on some of these Apple-specific features, but both AirPods will still connect and play music as standard.

The AirPods 3 have great battery life, offering up to six hours on a single charge and increasing to 30 hours in total with the charging case. The AirPods Pro 2 match the AirPods 3’s battery life, offering up the same six and 30 hours respectively.

Of course, the AirPods Pro 2 manage this great battery life with noise-cancelling activated, making the battery life on the new Pros all the more impressive.

The AirPods 4, meanwhile, have more in common with the AirPods Pro 2, but only as long as you opt for the pair with ANC.

**Winner: AirPods Pro 2**

AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3: sound quality 

The AirPods 3 sound good with a smooth, clear, detailed and tonally even sound. A new low-distortion driver in each bud allows for cleaner, clearer detail, and that tonal neutrality we've always liked in Apple's sound returns here.

We said in our original review that they're "now slightly fuller in general, with a bolder bass and smoothed out top end sandwiching a lush midrange. That bottom end is more shapely and precise too, giving basslines a sharper kick and helping to will them along."

The new AirPods 4 push this performance even further, as you can read in our Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3 article.

The AirPods Pro 2, however, sound even better, with greater subtlety, dynamism, rhythmic capability, punch and drive delivering a far more musically satisfying experience. With new custom drivers and high dynamic range amplifiers, coupled with the re-positioned vents, the Pro 2 offer a richer, more powerful and more open sound. They're the first in-ear Apple earbuds to receive a five-star rating, and they remain a satisfying, entertaining pair to listen to two years on.

We said in our review: "There’s a superb sense of drive. The AirPods Pro 2 are rhythmically agile and nimble, songs flow with an easy fluidity, and they communicate both high-energy tracks and ones that are more contemplative with ease." Plus they have a wonderful way with voices, sounding natural, nuanced and characterful, while "there are more layers and textures to dynamic shifts, keeping you hooked on a song." For a flagship pair, they're only bettered by the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QC Ultra Earbuds at this price level.

If sound is your top priority, then the AirPods Pro 2 are the easy choice here (and they sound better than the AirPods 4, too).

**Winner: AirPods Pro 2**

AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3: the verdict 

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the AirPods Pro 2 have emerged victorious from this battle.

Their convincingly effective ANC, advanced features, better comfort and fit, and superior sound quality, mean the AirPods Pro 2 are a no-brainer, especially with the arrival of the AirPods 4 making the AirPods 3 feel very much like yesterday’s news.

In fact, even if you can find a pair of AirPods 3, they’d only be worth considering if they were significantly cheaper than the cheapest AirPods 4, which isn’t something we’ve seen. Apart from that there is no reason to buy a pair of AirPods 3 when the AirPods 4 are available.

That means you’re probably now wondering which pair to buy between the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. But don’t worry, we’re one step ahead of you. You can read our head-to-head between those two pairs of earbuds by clicking the link below.

**Winner: AirPods Pro 2**

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