AirPods Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 3 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?

[VanXava]

My contrarian 2 cents: just got the APP3 today. Ear tips are firmer: M are uncomfortable, S are loose, AND the ANC is worse than my APP2 (tested with a white noise machine 10 feet away). I may discern a slight improvement in sound quality, but not a night and day gap, for sure. Very disappointed. Returning them as soon as I can. AP4 (for everyday, casual stuff) and APP2 (for workouts and ANC) cover all my needs.

I felt the same way today after unpacking my AirPods Pro 3. When I brought in my wife for comparison, she was very enthusiastic. So I sweetened her weekend The AirPods 2 are completely enough for me, for more sound the AirPods Max come on the head

 

[bviktor]

The AirPods Pro 3 look like a very minor upgrade over the Pro 2. Especially if you use ComplyFoam tips like I do as I'm sure a LOT of the ANC improvements are coming from the better seal. I noticed a significant upgrade over the standard tips when I swapped to ComplyFoam.

I'll hold onto my AirPod Pros 2 until they either break OR the AirPod Pros 4 comes along with a new H chip.

Except the AP3 will also have improved ANC over the stock value if you install better tips on it. Doesn't change the fact that the *base* is higher. Twice as high.

33% improved battery life also doesn't seem "minor" to me.

 

[kaz911]

Just got my Pro 3’s - while the stems / earbuds seems fine(ish) - the charge case feels so so much cheaper than the Pro 2’s.

Just open and close the lid - and if feels like you got a “fake” Charge case from unscrupulous vendors. Very disappointing.

It has NONE of the “solid” feel from the Pro 2 and earlier charge cases. Feels like “Let’s save a lot of money”

It is quite a bit larger than the Pro 2 case but weigh 6 grams less.

I’m returning my Pro 3’s - and sticking to the 2’s.

The 3’s are much more uncomfortable. I can wear them for about 2 hours before I have to take them out (Medium) - With small buds just the AP3’s just fall out. I can wear the AP2’s w/medium the whole day without issues.

The last issue is the 3’s enhance Bass and Treble a LOT. They do not sound very good for “speaking voices” - but some people born in the Ghetto Blaster age or with other kinds of damaged hearing - might prefer the enhanced bass and treble.

Please Apple - gives us the option to use “FLAT” response curves - or custom curves. (Yes I know you can boost middle section in the settings - but it does NOT make the curve flat - it just boosts the middle towards a boosted bass and treble - making it sound ridiculous.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

The AirPods Pro 3 look like a very minor upgrade over the Pro 2. Especially if you use ComplyFoam tips like I do as I'm sure a LOT of the ANC improvements are coming from the better seal. I noticed a significant upgrade over the standard tips when I swapped to ComplyFoam.

I'll hold onto my AirPod Pros 2 until they either break OR the AirPod Pros 4 comes along with a new H chip.

Read your post and ordered the Comply tips and they're in transit to the EU. With my APP2 I use the bigger size Apple provides but one side tends to be looser so can't wait to see what seal quality these will have.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I’m returning my Pro 3’s - and sticking to the 2’s.

The 3’s are much more uncomfortable. I can wear them for about 2 hours before I have to take them out (Medium) - With small buds just the AP3’s just fall out. I can wear the AP2’s w/medium the whole day without issues.

The last issue is the 3’s enhance Bass and Treble a LOT. They do not sound very good for “speaking voices” - but some people born in the Ghetto Blaster age or with other kinds of damaged hearing - might prefer the enhanced bass and treble.

Please Apple - gives us the option to use “FLAT” response curves - or custom curves. (Yes I know you can boost middle section in the settings - but it does NOT make the curve flat - it just boosts the middle towards a boosted bass and treble - making it sound ridiculous.

I'm not buying the APP3's as battery life is still wonderful with my APP2. The increased treble and bass would annoy me and it certainly did with the countless firmware iterations the APP2's had. I find at one stage they had a very clean midrange for vocals, lost it entirely, and now have regained it, albeit and unfortunately not how they started off.

 

[LogicalApex]

Read your post and ordered the Comply tips and they're in transit to the EU. With my APP2 I use the bigger size Apple provides but one side tends to be looser so can't wait to see what seal quality these will have.

Definitely share your experience. For me, they were the saving grace.