The AirPods 3rd generation was released today that looks quite similar to the AirPods Pro, released in October 2019, but is slightly cheaper than the Pro model. Therefore, let’s see the differences between them.
| AirPods (3rd gen) | AirPods Pro |
|---|---|
| Up to 6 hours of listening time on one charge | Up to 4.5 hours of listening time on one charge |
| Up to 30 hours of listening time with charging case | Up to 24 hours of listening time with charging case |
| - | Active Noise Cancellation |
| - | Transparency Mode |
| Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking | Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking |
| Sweat and water resistant | Sweat and water resistant |
| H1 Chip | H1 Chip |
| Hey Siri | Hey Siri |
| Automatic switching | Automatic switching |
| MagSafe Charging Case | MagSafe Charging Case |
| Adaptive EQ | Adaptive EQ |
| Custom high-excursion Apple driver | Custom high-excursion Apple driver |
| Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking | Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking |
| - | Vent system for pressure equalization |
| Skin-detect sensor | Dual optical sensors |
| Sweat and water resistant (IPX4) | Sweat and water resistant (IPX4) |
| Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| - | Silicone ear tips (three sizes) |
| - | Conversation Boost |
| $179 | $249 |
So, is the Pro worth the extra $70? If you need the Active Noise Cancellation and the Silicone Ear Tips then you may go with the Pro otherwise the new AirPods 3 is a great buy with a slightly longer battery life. Regarding the Transparency mode, I hardly use them but if you do then this would be another thing to consider as well. Having said that, I have seen many websites giving great offers on the Pro model so unless the price difference is huge, I would personally go for the Pro model just because of the extra features that I would get. I am okay with the slightly less battery power. Anyway, this is just my personal opinion. Feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Cheers!
AirPods 3rd generation (2021) vs AirPods Pro (2019)
