Short answer: yes, they sound different. Whether that's good or bad depends on what kind of sound you like.
The Pro 2 had pretty balanced tuning. Slight bass boost, slightly dark, but overall neutral. Audiophiles liked them because they didn't color the music too much. They worked well across all genres.
Apple went for a more V-shaped sound. That means more bass, brighter treble, and mids that can get a bit lost in the mix. It's a more energetic, punchy sound.
Reviews are split on this change:
People who like it say:
People who don't like it say:
Here's what really bothers people: no EQ controls. Apple doesn't let you adjust the sound on AirPods. You're stuck with their tuning choices. Other earbuds from Sony, Samsung, and others let you customize the sound. Apple? Nope.
Honestly, neither. It's just different.
If you liked how the Pro 2 sounded and want that balanced, all-around approach, the Pro 3 might disappoint you.
If you want more energy and punch, especially for bass-heavy music, you'll probably prefer the Pro 3.
Listen to both if you can before deciding, or buy from somewhere with a good return policy.
Compare AirPods Pro 3 prices across retailers.
The hearing test on AirPods Pro 3 is surprisingly easy to do. Takes about five minutes, and you do the whole thing at home with your iPhone.
Step 1: Go to Settings and tap your AirPods name at the top.
Step 2: Find "Hearing Assistance" and tap it.
Step 3: Tap "Set Up Hearing Assistance" then "Take a Hearing Test."
Step 4: The system checks if your ear tips fit right. If they don't seal properly, the test won't be accurate. Might need to try a different size.
Step 5: Now the actual test. You'll hear beeps at different pitches and volumes. Just tap the screen every time you hear one. Each ear gets tested separately.
The whole thing takes about five minutes.
Your results become an audiogram that's saved in the Health app. The Hearing Aid feature uses this to customize how it amplifies sounds specifically for your ears.
Skip the test. Go to the same Hearing Assistance menu and choose "Use a Prior Test Result." You can import your existing audiogram.
Check AirPods Pro 3 availability and prices.
Live Translation on AirPods Pro 3 currently works with nine languages. Here's the full list and how to use it.
More languages are coming by the end of the year.
Someone speaks to you in French. Your AirPods translate it to English and you hear it in your ears. That simple.
When you want to respond, you have two choices:
Head to Settings, tap your AirPods name, find Translation, and download whatever languages you need. This has to be done beforehand because translation happens on your device (no cloud, which is good for privacy).
Pick whichever way is easiest:
If you're somewhere loud, hold your iPhone closer to the other person. The phone's mics will help the AirPods hear them better.
By the way, this feature also works on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It's not Pro 3 exclusive, just needs the latest firmware.
See AirPods Pro 3 prices at various retailers.
Apple makes two earbuds with noise cancellation now. Here's how to decide between the $249 AirPods Pro 3 and the $179 AirPods 4 with ANC.
AirPods 4 with ANC give you a lot of features for $179. AirPods Pro 3 cost $70 more. Is it worth it?
AirPods Pro 3 have silicone tips that go into your ear canal. They seal, which means better noise blocking and they stay put during workouts.
AirPods 4 use the classic AirPods shape. No ear tips, nothing in your ear canal. Many people find this more comfortable for all-day wear, especially if ear tips bother you.
This is where the Pro 3 really earns its premium. They block up to 4x more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. Part of that is better ANC technology, and part is that the ear tips provide passive blocking that the open design can't match.
If you commute on loud public transit or work in a noisy office, Pro 3 makes a noticeable difference.
Pro 3 gives you 8 hours with ANC on. AirPods 4 with ANC gets 4 hours.
But here's a twist: AirPods 4's case holds more total charge (30 hours vs 24 hours for Pro 3).
Get AirPods 4 with ANC if you don't love ear tips, want good noise cancellation without needing the best, and prefer to save $70.
Get AirPods Pro 3 if you want maximum noise blocking, plan to work out with them, or want the health features.
AirPods Pro 3 are rated IP57, which makes them the most water and dust resistant AirPods ever made. Here's what that actually means for you.
The first number (5) is for dust. It means enough dust protection that your AirPods will work fine even in dusty places like hiking trails or construction sites.
The second number (7) is the big one. It means they can handle being submerged in about 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
AirPods Pro 2 were only IPX4. The X meant they never even tested for dust, and the 4 meant just splash resistance. So going to IP57 is a real improvement, not just marketing.
You're good for:
Apple's pretty clear about this:
Basically, intentional water activities are still a no.
The rating degrades over time. Normal wear and tear, drops, and exposure to things like soap or sunscreen can weaken the water resistance. It's not permanent.
Apple won't cover water damage. The warranty doesn't include water damage, so don't go testing the limits.
Unfortunately, yes. Some people have been dealing with static and crackling issues on their AirPods Pro 3, and it's been a source of frustration since launch.
The problems show up in a few ways:
Not everyone has these issues. It seems to affect some units and not others. Most reviews don't mention problems, but scroll through Reddit or Apple forums and you'll find plenty of people dealing with it.
Apple has pushed firmware updates that were supposed to address the static issues. For some people, the updates helped. For others, nothing changed. A few people even say the problems came back after initially going away.
Here's the frustrating part: some users who got replacements from Apple say their new pair has the same issues. One person on Reddit mentioned going through four pairs. When replacement units have the same problem, it suggests this might be more than just defective individual units.
If you're hearing static or crackling:
Honestly, most people don't have these issues. If you look at the overall reviews, sound quality gets high marks. But if you get a pair with problems, at least you know it's a known issue and Apple should help.
Compare AirPods Pro 3 prices before buying.
Yes, and it's actually pretty impressive. The AirPods Pro 3 case has upgraded Find My features that make finding lost earbuds way easier than before.
There's a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (Apple calls it "U2") inside the case. This is what enables Precision Finding. The same basic tech is in AirTags, but this is an upgraded version.
Open the Find My app, tap on your AirPods, and if they're in range:
The U2 chip has 1.5x more range than the old version, so you can start getting directions from farther away. Helpful when your AirPods are somewhere in your house and you have no idea where to start looking.
There's a little speaker on the bottom that can play a chime when you trigger Find My. This is clutch when your AirPods are under couch cushions or buried in a bag. Sometimes your ears find them faster than the arrows.
The case gets tracked, not just the earbuds. So even if your AirPods are tucked inside and the lid is shut, Find My still works.
For the full Precision Finding experience with arrows and distance: iPhone 15 or newer (not the 16e though).
Older iPhones can still see your AirPods on a map and play sounds, you just won't get the directional guidance.
You also need iOS 26 or later.
View AirPods Pro 3 deals and price history.
Your AirPods Pro 3 case can charge four different ways. Here's the rundown on each one.
USB-C is the straightforward option. There's a USB-C port on the bottom of the case. Plug in any USB-C cable and you're charging. This is usually the fastest method.
MagSafe is where it gets nice. The case snaps magnetically onto any MagSafe charger and aligns itself perfectly. No fiddling around trying to find the sweet spot. If you have a MagSafe charger for your iPhone, it works great for your AirPods too.
Qi Wireless works with any standard wireless charging pad. You won't get the magnetic alignment, but if you've got a wireless charger on your nightstand, just drop the case on it.
Apple Watch Charger is the travel hack. Your AirPods case works on the Apple Watch charging puck. One less charger to pack.
The earbuds themselves get you:
With the case, you get 24 hours total before needing a wall outlet.
Need a quick charge? Five minutes in the case gives you roughly an hour of listening. That's enough to get through a commute if you forgot to charge overnight.
It's got a few helpful features:
The 24-hour total battery is actually less than AirPods Pro 2 (which had 30 hours). Apple made the case do more stuff (better Find My features), but it holds less charge. Most people won't notice since you probably charge nightly anyway.
Check AirPods Pro 3 availability and compare prices.
Good news: several major fitness apps work with the heart rate sensor in AirPods Pro 3. You can actually leave your Apple Watch at home for workouts if you want.
Apple Fitness works automatically. Start any workout and your heart rate from the AirPods shows up right there on screen.
The big third-party fitness apps have jumped on board too:
When you open a fitness app for the first time with your AirPods Pro 3 in:
If you're wearing both your Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 3 during a workout, they team up. Your devices automatically pick whichever one is getting the best heart rate signal at any moment. Pretty clever.
All your heart rate data goes into Apple Health. So technically, any app that reads from Apple Health could use your AirPods data, even if it doesn't have official AirPods integration.
Unlike a fitness tracker, you can't get continuous heart rate monitoring all day from AirPods Pro 3. It's workout-only. No resting heart rate tracking, no irregular rhythm alerts. For that, you still need a watch.
Find the best price on AirPods Pro 3 with our price comparison.
Short answer: no, you can't swap ear tips between AirPods Pro 3 and Pro 2. Apple changed the design completely, so they're not compatible.
Apple didn't just tweak the ear tips. They redesigned them from scratch:
New Shape: The attachment mechanism is different. Pro 2 tips simply won't fit on Pro 3 buds (and vice versa).
Heart Rate Sensor Needs: Since the Pro 3 has a heart rate monitor, the tips had to be designed to ensure proper skin contact inside your ear.
Better Material: The new tips use foam-infused silicone instead of just silicone. They feel a bit different and many people find them more comfortable and better at blocking noise.
More Size Options: You now get five sizes (XXS, XS, S, M, L) instead of four. The new XXS size is great for people with smaller ear canals who struggled with XS tips before.
You've got options:
From Apple: About $29 for a pack with all five sizes, or you can buy two-pair packs of a specific size for less.
Third-Party: Companies make compatible tips, but make sure they specifically say "AirPods Pro 3" on the packaging. Anything labeled for Pro 2 won't work.
Not sure what size you're currently using? Gently roll back the edge of the ear tip and look inside near the base. You'll see XXS, XS, S, M, or L etched there.
With the heart rate sensor on Pro 3, you might find that the best size for sound quality isn't the best size for heart rate tracking. The sensor needs good skin contact, so if you're getting spotty heart rate readings, try going up a size even if the smaller one sounds better.
Compare AirPods Pro 3 prices across retailers.
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