After years of speculation, Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are finally here, and while we haven’t tried them for ourselves, they look like they were worth the wait. This generation brings new hardware, features, and some impressive improvements on paper over the last generation, which was refreshed in 2023 with USB-C and a few other features. If you’re in the market for new AirPods, you’re probably already wondering whether you should rush out to scoop up Apple’s long-awaited third-gen, but before you do that, you should know what you’re getting into.
Luckily, we’re here to give you a categorical breakdown that shows all of this year’s improvements and what’s the same as the AirPods Pro 2. Have at it, folks.
AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: ANC
When it comes to AirPods Pro, ANC is one of the most important categories, and this year’s generation is no different. Apple knows that, which is why it clearly went back to the lab and took a stab at improving noise-canceling gen over gen.
According to Apple, AirPods Pro 3 use “ultra-low noise microphones and advanced computational audio” to help give this generation 2x more ANC than AirPods Pro 2. That equates to 4x more ANC than the original AirPods Pro. It’s not all ANC, though. Apple says that this year’s earbuds should also improve passive noise cancellation, thanks to new ear tips that are filled with foam, creating a better seal in your ears.
Apple doesn’t provide specific numbers for how many dBs are cancelled by its earbuds, but from the sounds of it, AirPods Pro 3 should excel in the ANC department and maybe even give Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (my favorite buds for ANC) a run for their money.
AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Sound
I haven’t gotten to listen to AirPods Pro 3 myself yet, but Apple says its new generation boasts some improvements over the AirPods Pro 2. Behind that is a tweak to the AirPods Pro 3 architecture.
According to Apple, the AirPods Pro 3 have a “multiport acoustic architecture” that better controls the airflow and the way the sound carries to the ear. Apple couples that with a new Adaptive EQ, which is designed to give the AirPods Pro 3 a better bass response and widen the soundstage. Again, this all sounds good in theory, but we’ve yet to hear them for ourselves. On paper, at least, Apple’s AirPods 3 should be the best-sounding AirPods you can buy right now.
AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Battery
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