AirPods 3 or AirPods Pro: choose the right Apple headphones

From October 26, a new model of AirPods will enrich the catalog of Apple. In addition to the 2nd generation ^AirPods which remain available and the AirPods Pro, the Cupertino company will indeed launch the AirPods 3. These third generation headphones are the link between the basic model and the Pro variant. They draw heavily from the AirPods Pro in terms of design and functionality, but miss out on a few key elements. The arrival of a new model is likely to reshuffle the cards and sow doubt when choosing your Apple headphones. So, should we favor the new AirPods 3 or the essential AirPods Pro? We have compared these models for you.

Design: draw, or almost

Appearing in 2016, the AirPods have evolved over the years to allow Apple to establish itself in this segment. Older, the AirPods Pro set the tone for this range and strongly inspired the AirPods 3, made official in October 2021.

Unlike AirPods 2, Apple operates for this third generation a break and abandons the long stem format to offer a more discreet design. Concretely, the AirPods 3 look like AirPods Pro without silicone tips. The stem is shorter, therefore, and the latest products also ignore the in-ear format to offer a more versatile design. Both cousins ​​are IPX4 certified to better resist splashes and sweat. There is also no real difference in the charging case or the color (only white).

On the design side, we therefore observe that the standard range has decided to catch up, after the timid developments of the AirPods 2. However, Apple has not gone so far as to integrate silicone tips and offers open-fit headphones. . The choice can be made according to preferences, because in-ear headphones do not always win all the votes. However, they can provide better support and improve comfort if they are properly fitted to your ears.

Features: advantage to AirPods Pro

The resemblance between the two models does not stop at the design. The AirPods 3 inherit several features already present on the AirPods Pro – and even AirPods Max – such as adaptive equalization and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. The new headphones are also entitled to the pressure sensor of the Pro model to control media. Good news.

On the performance side, Apple has integrated new speakers in its AirPods 3. If the Pro version is part of the market references, as we have seen during our test, the two versions ship the same H1 chip and offer the "Hey Siri" voice command, as well as a dynamic range amplifier.

The AirPods 3 ignore active noise reduction, a feature that has conquered the high-end market. The absence of silicone tips could already put the chip in the ear on the orientation of the new headphones.

Noise reduction reserved for AirPods Pro

If the duel seems unbalanced, the AirPods 3 reduce the gap by offering better autonomy. It is advertised for up to 6 hours on a single charge, compared to 4:30 for the AirPods Pro with the active noise reduction mode on. Disabling this feature bumps the battery life to 5 hours, which is still less than the latest headphones.

Same observation in conversation (4 hours against 3h30) and therefore with the charging case, since Apple announces "up to 30 hours of listening" (20 hours of conversation) for the AirPods 3 and "more than 24 hours of listening » (18 hours of listening) for the Pro version. It should also be noted that the new headphones are offered with a MagSafe compatible case, like the AirPods Pro which benefit from this new feature in complete discretion. Fast charging is similar, with one hour of listening time after five minutes of charging.

In terms of performance, there is no real match between the two models. AirPods Pro already have all the features of AirPods 3 and add active noise reduction. The new headphones can however boast of offering better autonomy. On the other hand, we observe a real evolution between the AirPods 2 and the latest model from Apple.

Price: pay attention to appearances

Apple offers its new headphones at 199 euros, compared to 279 euros for the AirPods Pro. This is the official price displayed by the Cupertino company, which represents a difference of 80 euros. In reality, it is not uncommon to find the Pro version at a lower price, around 200 euros, a price equivalent to that of the new AirPods.

It will take a few weeks – maybe a few months – before you can do good business on the new model. At an (almost) equivalent price, it will therefore be easier to turn to the Pro version.

And the AirPods 2?

Still on the market, the AirPods 2 appear to be the most affordable solution to enter the world of AirPods, since they are now displayed at 149 euros (against 229 euros at their launch), but the competition is strong, including therefore within the Apple lineup. The AirPods 3, for example, face the Beats Studio Buds: offered at the same price, they have active noise reduction coupled with a compact design.