The AirPods Pro 2 are my current favorite pair of earbuds, featuring some great noise canceling and a comfortable fit. They're not even that old at this point, having received their last update with the USB-C port only in 2023. It's looking like there's an update coming on the way, however, so let's see what's in store.
The AirPods Pro 3 are the upstart, the potential successor to the venerable AirPods Pro 2. Rumors as to their features and when we might see them are not thin on the ground, although until we've got them in hand we can't be completely sure how they stack up to the old model — we can give you a picture of how they might compare, however.
The AirPods Pro 3 are looking like they might be coming sooner than we where first expecting, with a potential appearance during the next Apple event, called Glowtime. That means we could see something about the next pair of AirPods Pro as soon as September 9th, when Apple announces the next iterations of the iPhone line.
Replacing the excellent AirPods Pro 2, it looks like there's going to be a whole host of new features that might make the AirPods Pro 3 worth upgrading to.
Should they offer better noise canceling and sound quality, there's little doubt in my mind that the AirPods Pro 3 will become the de facto pick for anyone looking for the best wireless earbuds.
Let's take a look at what we've got and what we might have with the new model, and work out just how big an update the AirPods Pro 3 are going to be.
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Design
The AirPods Pro 2 are the quintessential AirPods design, featuring that expected white plastic finish. The stems are shorter than those found on the AirPods 2, although little changed from the AirPods Pro that came before them. In 2023, the AirPods Pro 2 recieved an update in the form of a USB-C port on the bottom of the charging case, along with a few updates to the internals.
The AirPods Pro 3 are unlikely to change the design too much, if at all. The stems are likely to look the same as those found on the AirPods Pro 2, and the case probably won't be any different. The AirPods Pro 3 are going to be, as you might expect, a pair of AirPods Pro.
There are some extra rumors to bear in mind, however.
Some rumors claim that the AirPods Pro 3 might come in different colors, although what those hues are going to be remains a mystery.
There's also a rumor that says they might have a screen on the case — both rumors are worth taking with a pinch of salt, of course, and we don't know for certain until Tim Cook takes to the stage on September 9th.
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Features
The AirPods Pro 2 are feature-rich with some of the most sought-after capabilities in the entire industry.
First and foremost is the noise canceling, and the various different modes available to you. The noise canceling itself has different levels, so you can change how much noise from the outside is allowed through. Then there's adaptive mode, which changes the noise canceling for you depending on the outside noise environment, and give you more or less noise canceling if, for example, someone is talking to you. Finally, there's transparency mode which allows noise from outside in, thanks to the microphones, so that you can be more aware of your environment.
The buds also feature Find My, so that you can use your iPhone, Mac, or iPad to track your Airpods. They'll even play a sound to help you find them, which is always helpful. There's a USB-C charging port on the bottom of the most recent version of the Pro 2, and then a wireless charging coil on the back so that you can charge them without having to plug them in. There's one step, magic pairing as well if you have an Apple device — just open the case near your iPhone, et voila, they appear on your screen ready to pair.
We're hoping that the noise canceling is going to receive some work, making for an even more silent commute.
We're expecting pretty much all of these features to make an appearance on the AirPods Pro 3, albeit with some improvements. We're hoping that the noise canceling is going to receive some work, making for an even more silent commute. Transparency mode could well sound more natural, and the adaptive mode switch from noise canceling to transparency might become smoother.
Sound quality might also receive a look. That's not to say that the AirPods Pro 2 are any sonic slouch, far from it, but there is always room for audio improvement with every pair of headphones.
This could all be made possible by the likely inclusion of the H3 chip.
What exactly would an H3 chip offer? Well, the AirPods Pro 2 launched with the H2 chip, the then-new computing engine that powered the buds feature set. The AirPods Pro 3 are likely to get a new chip inside in the shape of the H3 chip, which theoretically would offer more computing power for the active noise cancelation and upscaling algorithms, let alone other connectivity features that the H3 chip would potentially bring as well. (Bluetooth LC3, we're looking in your direction.)
There are rumors that the AirPods Pro 3 are going to receive some fitness and wellness features, including a biometric monitor and temperature sensor. For runners, this could be huge, as you would only need to bring your AirPods and your phone on a run to get an idea of your health and exercise. That could also mean a better hearing test to make sure that you can hear more of your music, or even to make sure that the AirPods don't damage your hearing. It's an exciting idea, although we'll have to wait to see what kind of uses the sensors might have.
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Battery life
The battery life of the AirPods Pro 2 is nothing special, but neither is it terrible. The buds will provide you with 5 hours with ANC on, and then popping them back in the case ups that to 24 hours. You can juice them up in 5 minutes for 1 hour of music as well, which is useful if you run out and need some battery life super quick.
The AirPods Pro 3, with a little luck will improve the battery life, although by how much we won't know until we see them at the unveiling.
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Comfort and fit
The AirPods Pro 2 are some of the most comfortable earbuds around, thanks to their many silicon ear tip options. In the box you get everything from XS to XL, so no matter the shape and size of your ear, they're going to be comfy when you wear them.
There's not a huge amount of work here for the AirPods Pro 3 to do, and we'd imagine that the comfort and fit aren't going to change all that much when they are released. We'd expect much the same in regards to ear tip options, and they're not likely to get any heavier.
Either way, they're still going to be a super comfortable pair of earbuds.
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Is it going to be worth the upgrade?
The AirPods Pro 2 are an excellent pair of earbuds, but the AirPods Pro 3 could well be a killer upgrade. In addition to the expected improved noise canceling and battery life, it also looks like there are going to be some great new additions in the form of the health sensors that could really add some interesting new features to the buds.
Bear in mind, however, that the AirPods Pro 2 are also likely going to drop in price when the new model comes out, so if you're not after the newest and best pair of buds then grabbing a pair of those at a discounted price could be a great way to save some cash.
Whatever happens, the AirPods Pro 3 are potentially still a little ways off — so you've some time to decide which AirPods you actually want.
More from Tom's Guide
- AirPods Pro 3: Everything we know so far
- AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 just tipped to arrive at Apple's Glowtime event
- AirPods Pro 3 on track for better noise cancelation
