Apple Airpods 3 and Apple Airpods Pro: review and comparison

Apple AirPods of the 3rd generation are quite close in functionality and properties to the Pro version. But the differences between them are still present and make you think before you buy. For some people, some of the differences will be insignificant and they will prefer the cheapest version, but for many people, the presence of certain features and qualities will be decisive. A full comparison of Airpods 3 and Airpods Pro is presented in this article.

What the Airpods 3 and Airpods Pro have in common

Both of these devices run on the same H1 chip, so there are no differences in the features and apps associated with them between Apple systems. Each earbud has directional dual microphones and one inward-facing microphone to capture speech.

The basic features of the two models are almost the same:

• the same design style;
• most of the sensors are the same;
• voice control and assistant activation;
• adaptive equalizer;
• spatial audio with head motion tracking;
• same charging method;
• IPX4 moisture protection;
• Bluetooth 5.0.

It's quite an impressive list, so it's not surprising that many people consider the differences between the headsets to be insignificant. But there will also be more differences than meets the eye.

Significant differences between the Airpods 3 and Airpods Pro

Size and shape

The headphones are noticeably different in shape. In addition, the AirPods Pro are equipped with additional silicone earpieces. There aren't any noticeable advantages here, it's a matter of personal comfort and ear comfort. The Pro model comes with 3 sizes of earmolds. Relative headset dimensions, length*width*thickness (mm), weight:

• AirPods 3: 30.79x18.26x19.21; 4.28g;
• AirPods Pro: 30.9x21.8x24.0; 5.4g.

Sensors

The Apple AirPods 3 has a skin contact sensor that disables playback when the earpiece is removed. The sensor is well-tuned and does not respond to touching other surfaces. The Pro version has dual optical sensors.

Sound quality and additional features

Many people do not see much difference in sound when tested on different music tracks. Except that the sound of the Apple AirPods Pro is noted as deeper. But the main advantage of the same model is active noise cancellation. You can close yourself off from the world and enjoy your favorite song or focus on important voice information. You can do the opposite - make the headphones as if «transparent» and perceive the clear external sound. The Pro model additionally features a pressure equalization system.

Battery life

Both versions come with a charging case, which significantly increases the operating time during the day, but without recharging it is limited to a few hours:

• AirPods 3 - 6 hours, 30 hours using the case;
• AirPods Pro - 4.5 hours (if noise cancellation is turned on), 24 hours using the case.

Since few people actively use the headphones for hours on end, the difference may not be noticeable. But for some, it may be a significant factor.

Which AirPods to choose

The buyer's selection criteria may be different. For some, the sound is important, while others prefer a particular shape. In terms of basic functions, there are almost no differences between AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro, and the price of the 3rd generation headset is noticeably lower. But some recommendations can be made.

If you have sensitive ears and react keenly to extraneous sounds - wireless headphones Pro will be ideal. If your lifestyle involves long travels, it is better to settle for version 3 of AirPods. For a gift, the cheaper version is fine, but in the case of a music lover, it is better to choose Pro.