AirPods Pro 3 Video Review: Is It Worth Upgrading Your AirPods Pro 2?

[MacRumors]

In the review video below, our own Dan Barbera shares his thoughts on the AirPods Pro 3, after testing them for nearly a week.

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AirPods Pro 3 upgrades are more noticeable than you might think. Everything from sound quality to Active Noise Cancellation to Transparency mode are improved, and the new foam-infused silicone ear tips make for the best fit yet.

Dan said the AirPods Pro 3 deliver a more dynamic sound profile, and he found that the ear buds stay in his ears much better compared to previous AirPods Pro.

He tested the new heart rate monitoring feature on the AirPods Pro 3, and he said the results are surprisingly accurate for such a small in-ear sensor. You can wear the AirPods Pro 3 and the Apple Watch together to receive an even more accurate heart rate reading during your workouts. On your iPhone, you can also start many types of workouts in the Fitness app while wearing just your AirPods Pro 3, with no Apple Watch necessary.

Dan said Active Noise Cancellation is noticeably better compared to the AirPods Pro 2, through a combination of improved microphones and computational audio improvements. In addition, the new foam-infused ear tips provide greater passive noise isolation.

Transparency mode has also been refined, with Dan saying his voice and others sound more natural now during in-person conversations and phone calls.

Apple says AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge, with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. That is up from 6 hours with the AirPods Pro 2. Dan tested the AirPods Pro 3 on his 5-hour flight home from Apple Park last week, and he said they lasted the entire flight, and he appreciated the improved Active Noise Cancellation. More time is needed for thorough testing of battery life, but he has no complaints so far.

Here is our recap of eight new AirPods Pro 3 features and changes:

1. 2× more active noise cancellation: Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 2× more active noise cancellation than the AirPods Pro 2, and up to 4× more than the original AirPods Pro. In fact, the AirPods Pro 3 offer the best active noise cancellation of any in-ear wireless headphones, according to Apple.
2. Improved sound quality: AirPods Pro 3 feature a new acoustic architecture, with next-generation Adaptive EQ, that "transforms the bass response, widens the soundstage so users hear every instrument, and brings vivid vocal clarity to higher frequencies across music, shows, and calls," according to Apple.
3. Longer battery life per charge: Apple says AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge, with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. That is up from 6 hours with the AirPods Pro 2. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro 3 charging case offers up to 24 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, whereas the AirPods Pro 2 case provides up to 30 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled.
4. Heart rate monitoring during workouts: Like the Powerbeats Pro 2, the AirPods Pro 3 feature a heart rate sensor that shines pulsating infrared light to measure light absorption in blood flow. AirPods Pro 3 users can track their heart rate and calories burned, close their Move ring, and earn awards for 50 different workout types in the Fitness app on an iPhone, with no Apple Watch required.
5. Improved fit: Apple says AirPods Pro 3 are the "most secure and best-fitting AirPods ever." The earbuds are slightly smaller, and the external design of each ear tip was "aligned to the center of the body for increased stability."
6. Improved water resistance: AirPods Pro 3 have IP57-rated sweat and water resistance, up from IP54 for the AirPods Pro 2. By definition, an IP57 rating means the AirPods Pro 3 could withstand temporary immersion in up to one meter of water, but Apple's marketing only promises that they "can handle the sweatiest workouts and even a sudden downpour."
7. U2 chip: The AirPods Pro 3 charging case is equipped with Apple's second-generation U2 chip for Ultra Wideband, allowing the Precision Finding feature to work at 1.5× the distance in the Find My app. You will need an iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, or iPhone Air for this.
8. XXS ear tip option: AirPods Pro 3 come with new XXS silicone ear tips, along with the same XS, S, M, L sizes included with the AirPods Pro 2. Apple says the tips are now infused with foam for greater passive noise isolation.

AirPods Pro 3 are available to pre-order now, and they launch on Friday, September 19.

Some other media outlets and YouTube channels have shared AirPods Pro 3 reviews too.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 3 Video Review: Is It Worth Upgrading Your AirPods Pro 2?

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

They're already out for reviewers? For a week?

 

[Hajj.david]

They're already out for reviewers? For a week?

Thats usually how it goes but there is a press embargo so everyone releases reviews at the same time and nobody rushes to get out a garbage review to be "first"

 

[ELman]

If reviewing against the APP2 it should be done with the new firmware coming out.

 

[orsev]

Coming from Airpods Pro 1 bought circa 2019, I think it's worth an upgrade. Only use them for meetings & watching content on the sofa, but might be time to retire them..

 

[gleepskip]

 

[EugW]

Nice. This is the first time I’m seriously considering the AirPods Pro. I’ve been using Etymotic ER4P in-ear wired headphones for passive isolation but the wires can get in the way when outdoors like cutting the grass and the friction sound transmitted from touching the cable is annoying. When I don’t need noise cancellation I’ve been using the AirPods 1 & 2 non-Pro.

How well do the AirPods Pro 3 work with a lawnmower? For the plane my kid says the AirPods 4 ANC are OK, so the AirPods Pro 3 should be considerably better in that regard.

 

[BMox81]

Glad I’ve put in a pre-order for the 3’s having seen the reviews.

 

[Adelphos33]

AirPods Pro 1 were irritating in my ear, and the tips never gave me a secure fit.

AirPods Pro 2, for reasons I don’t understand, fit me much better and are one of my favorite Apple products

These AirPods Pro 3 seem great, I really hope these new tips fit well. Will have to try to see.

 

[Zest28]

They're already out for reviewers? For a week?

MKBHD had them for over a month.

 

[iZac]

Good to see another win for Tims Airpod juggernaut. I appreciate MacRumours is also posting a review roundup alongside it's own content. I missed that from last weeks event hands-on post.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

If reviewing against the APP2 it should be done with the new firmware coming out.

Even for the iPhone?

 

[TravelsInBlue]

Foam infused makes me think these will degrade faster.

That being said, will probably pick some up Black Friday.

 

[MayaUser]

So today airpods, tomorrow apple watch and Wednesday iphone

 

[Happy_John]

Wait for more reviews. The reviews out now are "favored reviewers" by Apple, which is why they have the Air Pods Pro 3 already, but their reviews are more likely to have a positive bias, as they're in Apple's "good books"

I'll be much more interested in s wide range of reviews, where more of the reviewers did not receive "advance review" units.

I expect (and hope) the majority of review will be positive, but I would like more objectivity. For that we need reviewers from outside the "Apple send us free stuff" community.

 

[votdfak]

I will upgrade and pass app2 to my niece.

 

[Epcot85]

Is Live Translation going to be in the iOS 26 release today? I haven’t seen it in the current Beta. If it is, I can’t find anyway to turn it on.

 

[ghostface147]

My issue with all AirPod models is that they make my ears sore after a little bit. A little bit not being 10 minutes. Closer to an hour. My Pro 2 fit well, but they tend to creep out as time goes by, more so when talking. I have to push them back in. It doesn’t matter what tip I use, but can’t use the smaller ones because they’re too small to fit. AirPods have never fallen out of my ear. The most comfortable set I’ve used (as in it didn’t make my ears as sore after using them for a little bit) are the AirPods 2.

 

[Happy_John]

MKBHD had them for over a month.

The implication then is he's an "influencer", not an objective reviewer. Apple sent him the APP3 in advance, because they expect him to promote them.

 

[Velli]

I ordered them right away. Whether I keep them is 100% down to the fit. I can’t use APP2 without custom tips, and even then they don’t fit super well - the body is in the way. If these fit better, everything else will be a cherry on top. If they don’t fit better, I will return them.

 

[votdfak]

Dave2D prefers app2 sound to app3 but it's all subjective.

 

[ridgero]

Dave2D isn’t impressed that nuch, he prefers the sound of the AirPods Pro 2.

 

[Godzilla71]

Happy to hear the positive reviews. I've been saving my Best Buy rewards points and cashed them in when I pre-ordered the app 3 so It only cost me $110 so looking forward to the upgrade from the 2nd gen

 

[bookcase]

AirPods Pro 1 were irritating in my ear, and the tips never gave me a secure fit.

AirPods Pro 2, for reasons I don’t understand, fit me much better and are one of my favorite Apple products

These AirPods Pro 3 seem great, I really hope these new tips fit well. Will have to try to see.

The AirPods Pro 1 were the first Apple buds that ever fell out of my ear. I gave them to a friend. The AirPods Pro 2 worked infinitely better thanks to the XS tip. The sound and ANC is superb, but I still don't love how they feel in my ear. The AirPods 4 with ANC are much more comfortable. But if these new tips tuck deeper and allow more airflow, I might have to give them a try.

 

[psac]

Coming from Airpods Pro 1 bought circa 2019, I think it's worth an upgrade. Only use them for meetings & watching content on the sofa, but might be time to retire them..

Also coming from the Pro 1, tempted to retire them, but I'm cheap and they still work really well! Their planned obsolescence isn't working quickly enough.