AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro vs AirPods: the differences

The AirPods 3 are here, but the cheaper old AirPods and the more expensive AirPods Pro can create confusion. Which one should you buy? We explain the differences, because the truth is that there are three models that point to different pockets, but you must know what you will receive in each of them.

In this comparison we will see everything that has improved since the AirPods 2, but everything that still separates it from the Pro version , as well as those characteristics that it did adopt to have news to offer and attract the captive audience of the Apple ecosystem.

Design

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Apple took various elements of the Airpods Pro design, vitaminized them, and incorporated them into the new look of the AirPods 3 . They sport a more elongated design and with a better angle to adapt to the ear cavity, thus better sealing the outside sound, something that perhaps was still lacking in the previous generation.

The stem of the new AirPods 3 looks much shorter than its predecessor and they are closer to the AirPods Pro, so this is a point in favor of the new design that makes it look more discreet, it is more comfortable and does not affect its performance. This model also included the force sensor of the Pro model.

What if you will not see in this model and that continues to keep it within the range of regular AirPods, is that it does not include in its design the ergonomic rubber bands that the Pro model has, something that could be missing.

The MagSafe wireless charging case is larger and wider than the one on the AirPods 2, but it looks more like the case on the AirPods Pro.

It is also necessary to highlight the incorporation of the skin sensor in the new AirPods 3 , which allows the headphones to differentiate if they are really in the user’s ear, or if they are (for example) in a pocket, so you can activate or not the music.

Performance and sound quality

Imagen - AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro vs AirPods: las diferencias

Certainly the rumors suggested that the new AirPods 3 would feature active noise cancellation, something the AirPods Pro does have, but is not in the AirPods 2, however it did not happen. It remains in its range and, like its previous generation, does not include this functionality.

Another important element for performance is resistance to water and dust, something that did finally arrive in the AirPods 3 and that is also present in the AirPods Pro with IPX4 certification, something that the second generation AirPods lack, but which are especially important for those who use this accessory to go for a run or exercise on a daily basis.

Spatial audio came to the new AirPods 3, a feature that is known from the AirPods Pro and that offers the user the possibility of listening to the sound in high quality, which can place the sound practically anywhere in space, which together with Dolby Atmos makes AirPods sound much better than their previous generation.

It is also important to note that the new AirPods 3 include adaptive equalization and the high excursion controller designed by Apple, two features that are also present in the AirPods Pro , but that are not available in the AirPods 2.

When we refer to the sound quality, we can notice that the new AirPods 3 are very close to the AirPods Pro, since they offer quite defined bass and the quality of the bass is superior , something that can be lost a bit in the second-class AirPods. generation.

All three models include the H1 chip , which allows you to manage the headphones, talk to Siri, manage the battery, but the optimization has allowed it to improve from the second to the third generation things related to autonomy.

Something else that the H1 chip can offer and that is available in all three models, is that if you are a user of the Apple ecosystem, you can switch from your iPhone to a Mac , for example, without much effort, after a touch the headphones will recognize what device you are connected.

The new AirPods 3 can offer up to 6 hours of audio on a single charge, one more than its predecessors, as well as an hour and a half more than the AirPods Pro can achieve. In this section the new AirPods have the advantage.

In total, combined with the charging box, the new AirPods 3 can offer about 30 hours of autonomy before having to return to the charger. In the case of the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro they have MagSafe wireless charging, which in addition to doing it without cables, can restore a couple of hours of operation in 5 minutes , something that is not available in the AirPods 2.

Another aspect in which the AirPods 3 improved compared to its predecessor was in the controls. The AirPods 2 only have one type of touch to control music or answer calls , while the AirPods 3 has several touches to go forward or backward, just like the AirPods Pro.

Price

  1. AirPods 2 are priced at $ 129
  2. The new AirPods 3 are priced at $ 179
  3. AirPods Pro are priced at $ 249