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

Apple's AirPods Pro 3 offer the first redesign of the popular earbuds and add dedicated fitness features, but how do they compare to the previous...

Apple's AirPods Pro 3 offer the first redesign of the popular earbuds and add dedicated fitness features, but how do they compare to the previous generations and should you upgrade? AirPods Pro(2019)AirPods Pro 2(Lightning, 2022)AirPods Pro 2(USB-C, 2023)‌AirPods Pro 3‌(2025)Optical IR sensors for in-ear detectionSkin-detect sensors for in-ear detectionSkin-detect sensors for in-ear detectionSkin-detect sensors for in-ear detectionRefined earbud designSmaller charging caseThree silicone ear tips (S, M, and L)Four silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, and L)Four silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, and L)Five silicone ear tips (XXS, XS, S, M, and L)Force sensor controlsForce sensors and touch controls for volume adjustmentForce sensors and touch controls for volume adjustmentForce sensors and touch controls for volume adjustmentMechanical pairing buttonMechanical pairing buttonMechanical pairing buttonCapacitive pairing buttonLanyard loopLanyard loopLanyard loopIPX4 sweat and water resistant earbudsIPX4 sweat and water resistant earbudsIP54 dust, sweat, and water resistant earbuds and charging caseIP57 dust, sweat, and water resistant earbuds and charging caseH1 chipH2 chipH2 chipH2 chipBluetooth 5.0Bluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.32.4GHz connectivity2.4GHz connectivity2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivityLossless audio with Vision ProLossless audio with Vision ProU1 chip in charging caseU1 chip in charging caseU2 chip in charging casePrecision FindingPrecision FindingPrecision Finding (1.5x further)Active Noise CancellationActive Noise Cancellation (2x stronger)Active Noise Cancellation (2x stronger)Active Noise Cancellation (4x stronger)TransparencyTransparency and Adaptive TransparencyTransparency and Adaptive TransparencyTransparency and Adaptive TransparencyHearing TestHearing TestHearing TestHearing AidHearing AidHearing AidAutomatic Conversation BoostAutomatic Conversation BoostAutomatic Conversation BoostHearing ProtectionHearing ProtectionHearing ProtectionLive TranslationLive TranslationLive TranslationHeart rate sensing during workoutsLightning portLightning portUSB-C portUSB-C portCompatible with Apple Watch chargerCompatible with Apple Watch chargerCompatible with Apple Watch chargerUp to 4.5 hours of listening time with ANC enabledUp to 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabledUp to 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabledUp to 8 hours of listening time with ANC enabled24 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case30 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case30 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case24 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging caseOverall, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ offer a relatively significant upgrade over the previous generation with valuable enhancements across the board, such as better fit, longer battery life, and improved dust and water resistance. Users who purchased their AirPods Pro in 2022 or earlier will almost certainly see more of a reason to upgrade, especially if the batteries in their existing device have significantly degraded and they want to transition to USB-C.

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