As the newest member of the AirPods family, the AirPods 3 features quite a few notable upgrades over its predecessors. Most notably, they include an all-new design that is more compact than the AirPods 2, with shorter stems Protruding from each earbud. But this design makes it almost identical to its big brother the AirPods Pro! So in this article, we’re going to be comparing the AirPods 3 with the AirPods Pro to find out the differences! So, without further ado, let’s get started.

AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro

In terms of design and measurement, the 3rd generation AirPods are comparatively smaller and lighter than the AirPods Pro, although it’ll be hard for anyone to differentiate between them unless they’re wearing one of each separately.

Speaking of design, the AirPods Pro and the AirPods 3 share more visual similarities than the previous base-model AirPods. The signature hair-dryer-looking design is still something Apple is really fond of apparently. But the first difference that we noticed was the AirPods Pro sports interchangeable ear tips, whereas the third-gen AirPods, because of their design language, does not. The AirPods 3 also fixed its previous hassle of not staying in your ear with its new ergonomic design.

The charging cases also share visual similarities but differ in dimensions. The charging case of the AirPods 3 is a bit wider than its predecessor, resembling more of the AirPods Pro, though not as wide. On the features side, the AirPods 3 and the AirPods Pro share similar technology like Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ. The thing that splits the two in terms of tech is, unlike the previously released AirPods Pro, AirPods 3 does not have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) or a transparency mode.

As for the sensors, both models are almost the same. But the AirPods 3 has a brand-new skin detect sensor instead of the dual optical sensor suite on the AirPods Pro. The Skin-Detect sensor further improves the appliance of the auto-pause/play function through the integration of PPG (photoplethysmography) technology. 

According to Apple, the AirPods 3 comes with 6 hours of playback time, but it does take a hit and reduces its battery life to five hours when using Spatial Audio. By using the Magsafe charging case, they offer 30 hours of listening time and 20 hours of talk time. AirPods Pro on the other hand, with ANC active, only has 4.5 hours of listening time, with 24 hours of additional listening time with the case.

Both of the AirPods are equipped with an Apple H1 chip and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, which means you’ll be getting similar performance and connectivity on both models.

Now, let’s talk about the price. The brand-new AirPods 3 cost $179, whereas the AirPods Pro, as expected, costs a lot more. $249 dollars to be exact. However, for the money, you do get an included MagSafe compatible charging case.

If you’re searching for a new pair of wireless headphones and don’t mind not having Active Noise Cancellation, the third generation AirPods should be right up your alley, as they are comparatively cheaper, have lots of features, and boast a longer battery life. However, if ANC is one of your required features from a pair of AirPods, you should really stick with the AirPods Pro, as it has what you’re looking for. It also includes a transparency mode, which could be a really nice feature for when you’re on the go.

So, these were the major differences between the brand new AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro! Which one caught your attention? They are the best in class in their individual categories. And you won’t regret getting either one of them. Plus, given that it is Apple we are talking about, you can expect to get a premium-quality product. At the end of the day, it depends on you and what features you are prioritizing.