Apple AirPods Pro 3: Tested and Reviewed

Music is personal. Everyone reaches for it in the morning, it’s the one that helps them survive an awful commute, through a grueling workout and to a deadline that’s already two days late. Those earbuds playing that music are no mere add-on, but rather, a piece of bodywear you’ll be wearing for hours on end every single day. So it is important to get them right. Apple gets it best of all for the past 10 years.

I’ve been using AirPods Pro every day since the second generation. I didn’t rush to upgrade when Apple announced the AirPods Pro 3 on day one. I wanted to see if it was a true innovation or a flashier box with the same thing going on the inside. After a few weeks of wearing these face-to-face for meetings, early in the morning runs, lengthy flights, and late-night music sessions, I’m absolutely sure that I finally have my answer. It’s the real thing!

Quick Specs at a Glance

Source: Apple

Design & Fit: Smaller, Smarter, More Secure

The moment you insert these, you’ll notice how they just disappear. Apple took more than 10,000 ear scans and 100,000 hours of testing to make the redesign, and it reflects that (Apple Newsroom). The bulb is smaller, it rests lower in the ear canal and the stem shape is cleaner than the Pro 2.

I have narrow ears and with the Pro 2 I felt like they were going to slip during intense exercise sessions. But with the Pro 3, I’ve been able to run multiple sessions in the gym and morning runs without having to adjust even for once. The foam infused tips are now available in 5 different sizes, and the iPhone ear tip fit test thing actually determined that I needed a smaller one on my right ear, which I’d been neglecting for 2 years.

It’s also a significant improvement in the IP57 rating. I’ve put these on in the rain, during exercise and they have been clean each time. But from the outside it doesn’t look dramatically different from the Pro 2, so it wouldn’t be obvious to your coworkers to notice the upgrade.

Sound Quality: Noticeably Bolder, Richer Low End

This is where I paid most attention and it really does make a difference between the Pro 2 and Pro 3. The new version of Apple’s “multiport acoustic architecture” basically means that Apple reworked the air flow system of what they call the earbud, and created a more accurate bass and a wider sound stage for you.

Over a series of days, the Pro 3 sounds fully rounded and deeper than its hip hop and acoustic counterparts, not to mention its seamless integration of podcasts, electronic and other styles. The bass is more solid and doesn’t get muddy. The vocals are clearer in the mix. The high end is crisp and the live recordings sound truly impressive.

An adaptive EQ which automatically adjusts the audio in real-time with the inward facing mic to match the ear shape is working in the background. It doesn’t take the time to adjust, it just makes the music sound right. The Pro 3’s sound is more powerful and detailed than that of the Pro 2, particularly in the midrange, where acoustic instruments and voice recordings stand out.

Active Noise Cancellation: The Best We’ve Tested

Apple says the ANC cuts up to 2x the amount of noise compared to the Pro 2 and 4x the amount of noise compared to the original AirPods Pro. That’s consistent with actual application.

I’ve used it on a crowded metro, a noisy coffee shop and while traveling by airplane. The ANC is truly outstanding, not just about reducing background noises but eliminating them. The sound of an airplane cabin becomes barely audible. Conversations around you become distant or muted noise rather than loud sounds. The high pitched squeal of city buses is also reduced significantly, which the Pro 2 didn’t always deliver on.

Adaptive Audio intelligently combines ANC and Transparency to suit the environment is now my preferred mode. It’s about 1 week in and I’ve ceased manual switching of modes, it just knows what to do. As I pass by a construction site, the noise cancellation activates. By the time I reach my office, which is not as loud, it relaxes. It’s one of these marketing features that doesn’t seem so important until you work with it.

Battery Life: A Big Step Forward

One of the biggest improvements that I noticed was the real world battery performance. With ANC on, Apple claims up to 8 hours of playtime for the Pro 3 versus 6 hours for the Pro 2. Independent testing found that SoundGuys got 8 hours and 42 minutes on a single charge. For me, with ANC on for 6 hours 15 minutes at a medium volume, is more than enough for a whole day of work.

It takes 5 minutes to put in the case to get about an hour of playback, which saved me twice from forgetting to charge overnight. It has a MagSafe charging case (USB-C) and it takes about 60-90 minutes to charge from empty to full.

Note that the battery is combined with the case, giving a total time of around 24 hours, vs the Pro 2’s 30 hour total. The earbuds hold up for more time on a single charge, but the total capacity of the case is reduced. The problem isn’t a major concern for most users, but for the heavyweight who is using it to squeeze every last minute out of the case, they may notice it more.

New Features: Heart Rate, Live Translation & More

For anyone who combined Apple Watch with iPhone, the heart rate sensor is very helpful. It monitors your BPM and calories burned throughout more than 50 types of workouts, which are all synced directly to the Fitness app. BPM readings were within 4-5 BPM of my Apple Watch Series 9 across three 5km runs, not medical-grade, but reliable enough for casual fitness tracking. It’s not a “must have” fitness gadget, but it’s a very useful add-on.

A standout feature is Live Translation, which enables you to communicate with another person in another language. It is functional in simple conversations during testing but does not always pick up accents and speed up the words. I haven’t seen anything this sophisticated in an earbud yet that would allow me to use it at work, but for traveling or chit-chatting with friends, it’s pretty amazing for an earbud to have this kind of capability at all for $249.

One of the most underrated features Apple has quietly released in consumer devices is the Hearing Aid function, which is FDA-cleared and clinically validated.

What’s Missing?

No EQ controls. This seems like an intentional omission rather than a mistake in 2025. If you want to add bass or subtract treble, you are left to Apple’s automatic tuning.

There are some other features to be aware of if you are an Android user: you can connect these to any device not by Apple, but you will get less features like no Adaptive Audio, no Transparency mode intelligence, no Spatial Audio, and no seamless device switching. These are designed for Apple and they are working best within the Apple ecosystem.

Who is the AirPods Pro 3 for?

When it comes to the difference between AirPods Pro3 and original AirPods Pro, the upgrade is non-negotiable. In each area, the improvement is great, and will be obvious from the very first day.

The call is more personal if you are on the Pro 2. The sound is better, the ANC is quite improved, the battery life is definitely improved and the heart rate sensor is indeed an addition. If any of those things are important to you, the $249 is worth it. If you are satisfied with the sound of your Pro 2 and don’t do the exercise much, then there isn’t any need to buy new AirPods.

Scoreboard:

Final Verdict:

By far the best wireless earbuds Apple has ever produced, and by a lot of parameters, the best overall earbuds to buy right now at this price. It truly improves the sound quality, the ANC is top-of-the-line, battery life has improved significantly and the health features are useful, but not gimmicky. No EQ controls is a sore spot and the overall battery for the total case is a minor step back, but not a show-stopper.

If you’re an iPhone user looking for earbuds that simply work, sound great, and keep improving, this is the pair you need. If you’re still deciding, you can read our Samsung Galaxy Buds 4, AirPods Max 2 Review , AirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Max 2 comparison to find the best option for your listening style.