Comparison
AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro 3: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
AirPods Pro 3 have up to 2x the noise cancellation of AirPods Pro 2, up to 8 hours of listening per charge, heart rate sensing, new foam-infused ear tips and IP57. AirPods Pro 2 have the same H2 chip, Hearing Protection and Live Translation, and more total battery with the case.
Buy the AirPods Pro 3 if you want Apple's strongest noise cancellation, up to 8 hours of listening per charge, heart rate tracking during workouts and better water resistance. Buy the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) if you want the same H2 chip, Adaptive Audio, Hearing Protection and Live Translation.
You want the strongest noise cancellation
You want up to 8 hours per charge
You want heart rate tracking without a watch
You want IP57 and a smaller ear tip size
You want Pro features
You want the longest total battery with the case
You already track workouts with an Apple Watch
You are happy with the fit of AirPods Pro
Skip both if: you don't want ear tips. AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation have an open-fit design.
The short version
Both use Apple's H2 chip and have Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Spatial Audio, touch controls with volume swipe and a MagSafe Charging Case with a speaker for Find My. Both support Hearing Protection, and Live Translation with a compatible iPhone. In Canada, Hearing Protection works, but Apple cannot offer the Hearing Test or Hearing Aid features here yet.
AirPods Pro 3 move ahead in four ways. Apple says they have up to 2x more noise cancellation than AirPods Pro 2. They last up to 8 hours per charge with noise cancellation on, against up to 6 hours. They add a heart rate sensor for workouts. And they are rated IP57 against IP54.
AirPods Pro 2 have one edge: up to 30 hours of total listening with the case, against up to 24 hours for AirPods Pro 3.
What's different
See every spec side by side
| AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | AirPods Pro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 (Lightning model 2022) | 2025 |
| Chip | H2 | H2 |
| Noise cancellation | Active Noise Cancellation | Up to 2x more than AirPods Pro 2 |
| Adaptive Audio and Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Hearing Protection (Hearing Test and Hearing Aid not offered in Canada) | Yes | Yes |
| Live Translation | Yes, with compatible iPhone | Yes, with compatible iPhone |
| Heart rate sensing | No | Yes, during workouts |
| Listening time, one charge (ANC on) | Up to 6 hours | Up to 8 hours |
| Total with case | Up to 30 hours | Up to 24 hours (ANC on) |
| Ear tips | Silicone, four sizes (XS to L) | Foam-infused silicone, five sizes (XXS to L) |
| Water and dust resistance | IP54 | IP57 |
| Earbud weight (each) | 5.3 g | 5.55 g |
| Case weight | 50.8 g | 43.99 g |
| Case charging | MagSafe, Apple Watch charger, Qi, USB-C | MagSafe, Apple Watch charger, Qi, USB-C |
| Precision Finding chip in case | U1 | Second-generation Ultra Wideband |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| USB-C cable in box | Yes | No, sold separately |
| Refurbished price | From $199.99 | From $229.99 |
AirPods Pro 2 figures are for the USB-C model. The earlier Lightning model has the same earbuds and battery life, but its case charges with Lightning and is rated IPX4.
Noise cancellation and fit
This is the main reason to upgrade.
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Apple says AirPods Pro 3 have up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation than AirPods Pro 2. The ear tips are rotated inward for a more secure fit, and they now have a thin layer of foam inside the silicone. That gives a better seal and blocks more sound.
AirPods Pro 3 come with five ear tip sizes, including a new extra-extra-small. AirPods Pro 2 come with four. If AirPods Pro 2 never fit you well, the smaller tip and new shape may help.
AirPods Pro 2 still have strong noise cancellation. Apple rates them at up to 2x more than the original AirPods Pro. On a bus or a plane, both are a big step up from earbuds without noise cancellation.
Battery life
Apple rates AirPods Pro 3 at up to 8 hours of listening on one charge with noise cancellation on.
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AirPods Pro 2 are rated at up to 6 hours. That is two extra hours, which matters on long flights.
The case tells a different story. AirPods Pro 2 reach up to 30 hours of total listening with the case. AirPods Pro 3 reach up to 24 hours with noise cancellation on. The Pro 3 case is lighter, at 43.99 g against 50.8 g. On both, 5 minutes in the case gives about 1 hour of listening.
Heart rate sensing
AirPods Pro 3 have a built-in heart rate sensor that pulses invisible light.
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During workouts, they track your heart rate and calories burned in the Fitness app on iPhone. You can work out with just your iPhone and AirPods, no watch needed. With heart rate sensing on, Apple rates listening time at up to 6.5 hours.
AirPods Pro 2 do not have a heart rate sensor. If you already wear an Apple Watch, this feature matters much less.
Water resistance and durability
AirPods Pro 3 and their case are rated IP57 for dust, sweat and water.
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AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) and their case are rated IP54. Both are made for workouts and rain, not for swimming. The higher rating on the Pro 3 gives more peace of mind if you sweat a lot.
The older Lightning version of AirPods Pro 2 is rated IPX4 and has no dust rating.
Features they share
Both run on the H2 chip, so they share most of the smart features.
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Adaptive Audio blends noise cancellation and Transparency for you. Conversation Awareness lowers your music when you start talking. Both support Hearing Protection, and Live Translation with an Apple Intelligence iPhone. In Canada, Hearing Protection works, but Apple cannot offer the Hearing Test or Hearing Aid features here yet.
Both cases have a speaker and a lanyard loop and work with Find My. Both charge with MagSafe, an Apple Watch charger, a Qi charger or USB-C.
Price range
Refurbished, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) start at $199.99 and AirPods Pro 3 start at $229.99. AirPods Pro 2 with the Lightning case start at $179.99. Prices on this page update live from our store.
Browse every model in our AirPods collection, or read our AirPods buying guide to compare the whole lineup.
Should you buy new or refurbished?
AirPods are a smart refurbished buy, since the earbuds and case are fully checked before they ship.
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Every pair we sell is inspected and tested and comes with up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns. Grades describe looks only. Read new vs used vs refurbished to see how they compare.
FAQ
Are AirPods Pro 3 worth it over AirPods Pro 2?
If you want better noise cancellation, longer listening per charge or heart rate tracking, yes. If your AirPods Pro 2 fit well and last the day, the upgrade is smaller than it sounds.
Do AirPods Pro 2 support Live Translation?
Yes. Apple says Live Translation works on AirPods Pro 2 and later, and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, with the latest firmware and an Apple Intelligence iPhone running iOS 26 or later.
Do AirPods Pro 2 have the Hearing Aid feature?
Not in Canada yet. Apple makes Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features for AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3, but it cannot offer them in Canada. Hearing Protection does work here.
Which has better battery life?
Per charge, AirPods Pro 3: up to 8 hours with noise cancellation on, against up to 6 hours. With the case, AirPods Pro 2 last longer in total: up to 30 hours against up to 24 hours.
Can you swim with AirPods Pro 3?
No. AirPods Pro 3 are rated IP57, and AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) are rated IP54. Apple says both are for non-water sports and exercise.
Évitez le prix du neuf
Procurez-vous le AirPods Pro 3 d'occasion à partir de $229.99, testé par de vrais techniciens, avec une garantie d'un an et des retours sous 14 jours.
