The AirPods 3 are so much what the AirPods Pro have to offer that it’s now harder to choose between the 2, but there are some differences.
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| AirPods 3 Vs AirPods Pro? |
The AirPods 3 come with several upgrades over second-generation headphones, including spatial audio. Previously, the standard AirPods were the only current model of Apple earphones/headphones that did not offer spatial audio integration. While this may help avoid paying the higher price for the more expensive AirPods Pro, there are a few differences to be aware of.
The second-generation AirPods are the most affordable of the Apple earphone line, and the most basic. The headphones don’t have touch controls, comfortable silicone tips, or convenient noise-canceling features. However, even without these features, the headphones remain a very popular choice for iOS users on the go, thanks to a lower price, seamless integration, and ease of use.
Apple’s AirPods 3 is much closer to delivering the premium experience offered by AirPods Pro. With a design that mimics the Pro version, the earbuds now have a shorter stem allowing for a wide charging case, and support for wireless charging. The new AirPods have a beefed-up driver and a high dynamic range amplifier for better sound than before, which could help bring audio definition up to par with the AirPods Pro. In addition, Apple has added Adaptive EQ and spatial audio to the new AirPods, bringing an immersive audio experience.
Is AirPods Pro still worth it?
The lines have been blurred to such an extent that it’s hard to tell the difference between 3rd gen AirPods and AirPods Pro. Both headphones feature spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, touch controls, and skin detection for seamless pausing and playback. Third-generation AirPods have even better battery life than second-generation AirPods, with six hours of playtime and fast charging at one hour of battery for 5 minutes of charge in the case. In comparison, AirPods Pro only gets about 4.5 hours of listening time on a single charge. However, it doesn’t appear that the new AirPods feature any form of active noise cancellation. This makes sense since these headphones don’t come with custom silicone tips like the Pro. For many, that might be reason enough to go for the Pro version. Noise cancellation is often helpful, and no matter how good the headphones are on the go, the lack of noise cancellation can be a cause for disruption.
AirPods Pro is priced at € 279 and will now come with a MagSafe charging case. The new 3rd generation AirPods cost 199 euros. For some, this difference of 80 euros is worth it, if only for the noise cancellation. As for the differences in audio quality between the two, it’s hard to say. Apple has created a new driver for the latest AirPods, the sound quality could very well be equivalent to that of the AirPods Pro.
