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Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are officially here, and they debut with upgrades like subtle design changes, improved noise cancellation, and longer battery life. The AirPods Pro 3’s most significant upgrade, however, is their onboard heart rate sensor, a welcomed feature for people who like to wear AirPods while they exercise.
If you have AirPods Pro 2, they’re anywhere from two to three years old, depending on their charging connector. If your AirPods Pro 2 are still in mint condition, are the Pro 3 really worth another $250 purchase?
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Both premium Apple earbuds support Live Translation, hearing protection features, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, spatial audio, and run on the company’s H2 audio chip. The more palpable differences between the two earbuds are mostly in the smaller hardware upgrades. Despite being small, they make a real impact on your user experience. Here’s what you should know.
Specifications
| AirPods Pro 3 | AirPods Pro 2 | |
| Chip | H2 | H2 |
| Battery life | 8 hours (up to 24 hours with charging case) | 6 hours (up to 30 hours with charging case) |
| Audio modes | ANC, Transparency Mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Mode | ANC, Transparency Mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Mode |
| IP rating | IP57 | IP54 (USB-C version) |
| Hearing Aid mode | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate sensor | Yes | No |
| Live translation | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Price | $249 | $249 |
You should buy the AirPods Pro 3 if…
1. You want all the health features
Apple fitted the AirPods Pro 3 with its suite of hearing health features, including Hearing Aid mode, which turns your AirPods into an over-the-counter hearing aid. These AirPods also support hearing protection features, at-home hearing test compatibility, and automation conversation boost when the earbuds are in Hearing Aid mode. The AirPods Pro 2 are compatible with the same hearing health features.
Also: Upgrading your headphones? 5 things I recommend doing with your current pair first
In addition to hearing health, the AirPods Pro 3 have a heart rate sensor, allowing both earbuds to track your heart rate, burned calories, and time spent exercising when the earbuds are engaged in an active workout through the iPhone’s Fitness app.
2. You want more water resistance
The AirPods Pro 3 sport an IP57 dust and water resistance rating, compared to the AirPods Pro 2’s (USB-C) IP54 and the AirPods Pro 2’s (Lightning) IPX4. If you’re still rocking the Pro 2 (Lightning), this durability upgrade is substantial. The Pro 3 earbuds are better protected from performance issues due to dust ingress from being in your pocket or bag compared to the Pro 2 (Lightning).
Also: You should clean your AirPods ASAP, especially before you consider an upgrade this week
If you have the Pro 2 (USB-C), the Pro 3 earbuds are better protected from water, acting as the culprit of performance issues. The Pro 3’s water resistance upgrade from 4 to 7 means the earbuds and charging case can survive submersion in water up to three feet for up to 30 minutes.
Although I don’t recommend dunking your AirPods and their charging case in water, the charging case’s enhanced durability is impressive, considering Google, Samsung, Bose, and Sony’s premium earbuds’ charging cases are not officially rated for any water protection.
3. You want all-around improved performance
Although Apple gave the AirPods Pro 3’s heart rate tracking feature most of the airtime during the hardware event’s keynote, the Pro 3 earbuds received a facelift, but all the details weren’t as newsworthy.
Also: Live Translation isn’t just for AirPods Pro 3 – check if yours are compatible
The Pro 3 earbuds have a refined earbud shape, two more hours of continuous playtime, upgraded 10.7mm drivers, and new acoustic architecture, a deeper bass response, new eartips, and improved noise cancellation and transparency mode.
The Pro 3 also have Apple’s updated U2 ultra-wideband chip (UWB). If you have an iPhone 15 or newer, your iPhone also has the U2 chip. When both devices’ U2 UWB chips communicate, you can use your iPhone to find your AirPods with more precision over greater distances.
You should buy the AirPods Pro 2 if…
1. You want the cheaper option
In this case, cheaper doesn’t mean lesser, as the AirPods Pro 2 are still a solid pair of premium AirPods. They work seamlessly with your Apple devices, and share the same software features, aside from in-ear heart monitoring.
Also: I’ve used my AirPods Pro 2 since 2022 – here’s why they’re still legit in 2025
During sale seasons, the AirPods Pro 2 can be purchased for as low as $179, and I expect their prices to be lower now that the new model is available. The only caveat is that you can no longer purchase them directly from Apple; you’ll have to get them at retailers like Best Buy or Amazon.
2. You don’t need the extras
The AirPods Pro 2 are perfectly capable earbuds. In fact, they might be more than enough for most people, especially if you only need your earbuds for listening to music, talking on the phone hands-free, and for their noise cancellation.
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The AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 2 share Apple’s H2 headphone chip, and, on paper, the Pro 2 aren’t too far behind the newcomers. The Pro 2 earbuds still provide great sound, adequate noise cancellation, and plenty of software features.
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