Comparing AirPods Pro 2 versus AirPods 3: Determining the Superior Wireless Earbuds
Apple has recently unveiled the AirPods Pro 2, the latest addition to its popular line of wireless earbuds. The new model boasts advanced features, superior sound quality, and a more comfortable fit compared to its predecessor, the AirPods 3.
Key Differences Between AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3
The key differences between the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3 lie in design, comfort, features, active noise-cancellation (ANC), battery life, and sound quality.
Design & Comfort
The AirPods Pro 2 features an in-ear design with silicone ear tips, offering a more sealed fit for better noise isolation and stability. AirPods 3, on the other hand, sport an open, universal fit without tips, providing a more comfortable experience for some users but less secure and isolating.
Features
The AirPods Pro 2 incorporates the H2 chip, enabling advanced features such as Adaptive Transparency and Personalized Spatial Audio. These premium features are absent in the AirPods 3, which uses the older H1 chip and lacks wireless charging for its charging case.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
The AirPods Pro 2 offers industry-leading ANC, with Apple claiming it is twice as effective as the original. The AirPods 3, while offering basic ANC, is less powerful and less adaptive.
Battery Life
The AirPods Pro 2 lasts up to 6 hours with ANC on, slightly more than AirPods 3 (about 5 hours). The charging case of Pro 2 offers more total playback time, and fast charging gives an hour of listening from 5 minutes of charge. AirPods 3 offer comparable total case playback time but slightly shorter single-charge listening, especially with ANC active.
Sound Quality
The AirPods Pro 2 delivers superior sound quality due to custom low-distortion drivers and an amplifier, producing richer bass, clearer vocals, and more dynamic, balanced audio overall. AirPods 3 improve on standard AirPods but do not match the Pro 2’s depth, texture, or bass power.
More Detail
Design & Comfort
The AirPods Pro 2's in-ear design with multiple silicone tip sizes provides a more sealed fit, offering better noise isolation and stability, ideal for activities and noisy environments. AirPods 3's open, universal fit with no tips may be more comfortable but less secure and isolating.
Features
The AirPods Pro 2 includes the H2 chip, enabling advancements such as Adaptive Transparency, which lowers sudden loud noises while maintaining environmental awareness, and Personalized Spatial Audio for an immersive soundstage. AirPods 3 use the older H1 chip and lack these premium features.
Active Noise Cancellation
The AirPods Pro 2 provides industry-leading ANC that works via microphones sampling external noise extremely rapidly and creating counter-noise before the sound reaches the ear. Transparency mode is also refined with Adaptive Transparency. The AirPods 3 offer basic ANC that is less powerful and less adaptive.
Battery Life
AirPods Pro 2 lasts up to 6 hours with ANC on, slightly more than AirPods 3 (about 5 hours). The charging case of Pro 2 offers more total playback time, and fast charging gives an hour of listening from 5 minutes of charge. AirPods 3 offer comparable total case playback time but slightly shorter single-charge listening, especially with ANC active.
Sound Quality
AirPods Pro 2 has superior sound quality due to the custom amplifier and improved drivers, producing richer bass, clearer vocals, and more dynamic, balanced audio overall, enhanced further by Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio. AirPods 3 improve on standard AirPods but do not match the Pro 2’s depth, texture, or bass power.
In summary, the AirPods Pro 2 offers a more premium, feature-rich experience with better noise cancellation, superior sound, and a customizable fit with silicone tips. The AirPods 3 are a more affordable option focusing on open-ear comfort, basic ANC, and solid sound but without the advanced features or as refined audio of the Pro 2 line. The choice depends on preferences for fit, active noise cancellation quality, and flagship audio features within the Apple ecosystem.
[1] Apple's AirPods Pro 2: A Comprehensive Review
[2] AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3: What's the Difference?
[3] Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3: What's the Difference?
[4] AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3: What's the Difference?
[5] AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3: What's the Difference?
- The AirPods Pro 2 offers an in-ear design with silicone ear tips for a more sealed fit, resulting in better noise isolation and stability compared to the open, universal fit of AirPods 3.
- The AirPods Pro 2's advanced features, such as Adaptive Transparency and Personalized Spatial Audio, are made possible by the inclusion of the H2 chip, which is lacking in the AirPods 3.
- Industry-leading Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in the AirPods Pro 2 allows for a twice-as-effective noise reduction compared to the original, unlike the less powerful and adaptive ANC in the AirPods 3.
- The AirPods Pro 2 delivers up to 6 hours of battery life with ANC on, offering slightly more playback time than the AirPods 3's 5 hours. The AirPods Pro 2 also has a faster charging feature, providing an hour of listening from just 5 minutes of charge.
- The AirPods Pro 2 provides superior sound quality due to the use of custom low-distortion drivers, an amplifier, and advanced technologies such as Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio.
- In the realm of gadgets, technology, and audio, a review of the AirPods Pro 2 reveals it to be a premium choice with a more feature-rich experience, better active noise cancellation, superior sound, and a customizable fit contrasting the focus on open-ear comfort and basic features in the AirPods 3.
