AirPods 2 vs AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro: Which One Is Better for You

After almost two years, Apple announced a new member to the AirPods family – AirPods 3rd generation. Sitting right between AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro, AirPods 3 aims to deliver Pro features at a lower price. If you are in the market for Apple's TWS and getting confused among the trio, this comparison will clear all the doubts and help you make a better purchase decision.

AirPods 2 vs AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro

The comparison is based on design, features, sound, microphones, battery, and price. Without further ado, let's get started.

Design and Ergonomics

AirPods 2nd generation carried the same design as the original AirPods. Meaning, you are getting the same long stem that sticks outside the ears. With AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro, Apple has tweaked the design and shortened the stem. They look better when tucked in ears. The only difference between the two is that AirPods Pro comes with silicon ear tips that offer better grip and fit in-ears.

Sound Quality

Let's talk about the most important aspect of TWS – sound quality. The original Apple AirPods and AirPods 2 were never known for their sound quality. With AirPods 3, Apple is bringing features from AirPods Pro. You get the same Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking that Apple first introduced with AirPods Pro. AirPods 3 also features a custom high-excursion Apple driver and a high dynamic range amplifier for clear and immersive sound quality. AirPods Pro, on the other hand, features Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) with transparency mode.

Microphone and Sensors

If there is one thing that Apple absolutely gets right with AirPods is the microphone quality. AirPods 2 features dual beam-forming microphones for clear calls. As for AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro, they both have dual beam-forming as well as inward-facing microphones for crisp calls. They also come with Skin-detect and Force sensors that help AirPods differentiate between your ear and other skin.

IP Rating

AirPods 2 doesn't come with any kind of protection against water, sweat, or dust. With AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro, Apple has added an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance.

Battery Life and Charging

AirPods 2 offers 5 hours of listening time and up to 24 hours with the charging case. AirPods Pro offers 4.5 hours of listening time with ANC on and 5 hours with ANC off, with up to 24 hours with the charging case. AirPods 3 offers the best battery life of the bunch, with up to 6 hours of listening time and up to 30 hours with the charging case. All three AirPods come with fast charging.

Connectivity

All three AirPods come with an H1 chip for fast pairing and Bluetooth 5.0. AirPods Pro has the advantage of Find My support, which allows you to easily find them using Apple's Find My app.

Price

AirPods 2 starts at $129, AirPods 3 is priced at $179, and AirPods Pro costs $249.

Wrapping Up: AirPods 2 vs AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro

If you are tight on budget but want to stay in the Apple ecosystem, you can go with AirPods 2. Our pick from the bunch would be AirPods 3. With a $50 increase over AirPods 2, you get to enjoy superior sound and mic quality, the longest battery life in the AirPods family, MagSafe support, etc. Go with AirPods Pro if ANC is high on your priority list and you aren't comfortable with an open ear design of AirPods 3.