Apple’s wireless Bluetooth headphones are among the most popular in the industry, to the point that the company has made more money from sales than MasterCard or Adobe in an entire year. AirPods are a mass phenomenon and since the first version was released in late 2016, Californians have released new models with improved features.
The third generation AirPods (2021) are the latest to arrive in the catalog. This review drinks AirPods Pro (2019), Cupertino’s most complete fully wireless Bluetooth headphones. At first glance, they are almost identical, but they have quite a few differences and key points that can make us opt for one or the other. We put them face to face.
Includes AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro
|
specifications |
AirPods 3 (2021) |
AirPods Pro |
|---|---|---|
|
Dimensions and weight |
Helmet: 3.08 cm high by 1.83 cm wide and 1.93 cm thick; weight of 4.28 grams | Case: 4.64 cm high by 5.44 cm wide and 2.14 cm thick; weight of 37.91 grams |
Helmet: 3.09 cm high by 2.18 cm wide and 2.4 cm thick; weight of 5.4 grams | Case: 1 1/2″ tall by 2 1/2″ wide and 0.87″ thick; weight 45.6 grams |
|
sound technology |
Adaptive EQ, Apple custom high-excursion transducer, custom high-dynamic-range amplifier, and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking |
Active noise cancellation, ambient sound mode, adaptive equalizer, Apple custom high excursion transducer, custom high dynamic range amplifier, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking and pressure compensation via a slot system |
|
sensors |
Skin sensor, motion sensing accelerometer, voice sensing accelerometer and pressure sensor |
Two optical sensors, a motion-detecting accelerometer, a voice-detecting accelerometer and a pressure sensor |
|
microphones |
Two microphones with beamforming technology and one inward-facing microphone |
Two microphones with beamforming technology and one inward-facing microphone |
|
connectivity |
H1 chip and Bluetooth 5.0 |
H1 chip and Bluetooth 5.0 |
|
controls |
Press once to play audio, pause audio or answer a call; double tap to skip to next song; triple tap to return to the previous song; long press to activate Siri; Say “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, get directions, and more. |
Press once to play audio, pause audio or answer a call; double tap to skip to next song; triple tap to return to the previous song; press and hold to switch between active noise cancellation and ambient sound mode; Say “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, get directions, and more. |
|
Drums |
Up to six hours of audio playback on a single charge (up to five hours with spatial audio enabled) and up to four hours of talk time on a single charge; with the case up to 30 hours of audio playback and up to 20 hours of talk time |
Up to 4.5 hours of audio playback on a single charge (up to 5 hours with active noise cancellation and ambient sound mode off) and up to 3.5 hours of talk time on a single charge; with the case up to 24 hours of audio playback and over 18 hours of talk time |
|
Endurance |
Sweat and water resistant (IPX4) |
Sweat and water resistant (IPX4) |
|
Price |
From 199 dollars |
From 279 dollars |
New Apple AirPods (3rd generation)
Apple Airpods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case (2021)
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DesignNote: 3rd generation AirPods and AirPods Pro are very similar in design. Although the dimensions of the headphones and the charging case are not exactly the same, they are practically identical except that Pros have interchangeable silicone tips because they are necessary for one of the sound functions that we will discuss later.
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sound technology: the AirPods Pro are the most complete in this section because they have active noise cancellation and ambient sound mode. They share with third-generation spatial audio with dynamic head tracking and adaptive equalization.
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Drums: at this point, the AirPods 3 “win” because last up to six hours of playback per charge and up to 30 hours with the charging casecompared to 4.5 hours for the AirPods Pro. We put the gain in quotes because the autonomy of the AirPods Pro is reduced by the active noise cancellation function.
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Price: AirPods 3 have an MSRP of $199 and AirPods Pro with MagfSafe charging case at $279. However, can usually be found much cheaper in storesoscillating respectively around 179 dollars and 210 dollars.
AirPods 3 or AirPods Pro, which wireless Bluetooth headphones to buy?
The third-generation AirPods and AirPods Pro are similar in design, and they have spatial sound with dynamic head tracking, and nothing else. The differential factor between the two headphones is the active noise cancellation, one of the most sought-after functions in this type of device. The purchase decision therefore depends on whether this feature is essential or not.
The autonomy This may also be a factor as we went from 4.5 hours on the AirPods Pro to 6 hours on the third generation AirPods. Regarding the price, it is not a huge difference if it is purchased in stores that are not the Apple Store, since it can be around 30 dollars with an offer, which is quite common in these headphones.
New Apple AirPods (3rd generation)
Apple Airpods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case (2021)
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