AirPod Pro 3 Review: Small but Big Change
- The AirPod Pro 3 offers slight improvements in noise removal, transparency mode, and bass response compared to its predecessor.
- Apple claims up to 8 hours of use wiht noise cancellation enabled, a claim substantiated by testing.
- Despite the improvements, the AirPod Pro 3 lacks significant advancements in audio technology.
AirPod Pro 3: Incremental Improvements, Still a Hit
Table of Contents
Updated September 29, 2025, at 02:11:29 UTC
Refinements in sound and Features
The AirPod Pro 3 offers slight improvements in noise removal, transparency mode, and bass response compared to its predecessor. The transparency mode, already a strength in previous models, is now even more effective, according to a review by ITWorld Korea as of an unspecified date.
Foundry
Battery Life: A Mixed Bag
Apple claims up to 8 hours of use wiht noise cancellation enabled, a claim substantiated by testing. A one-hour workout utilizing both heart rate measurement and noise cancellation consumed approximately 17% of the battery, suggesting around six hours of real-world usage. However, the charging case provides less power than the AirPod Pro 2 case; the AirPod Pro 3 case offers up to 16 hours of charge compared to the AirPod Pro 2’s 24 hours.
Missing Key Tech
Despite the improvements, the AirPod Pro 3 lacks significant advancements in audio technology. It does not include the H3 chip, LE Audio, LC3 codecs, or lossless audio support, positioning it as an evolution of the AirPod Pro 2 rather than a revolutionary leap forward.
Value Proposition and Upgrade Path
The AirPod Pro 3 is not a radical departure from the previous generation, but delivers improvements across fit, sound quality, battery life, and the addition of heart rate measurement-all without a price increase. For existing AirPod Pro 2 and Apple Watch owners, upgrading to the AirPod Pro 3 may only require purchasing 20,000 won (approximately $15 USD as of September 29, 2025) foam tips. The AirPod Pro 3 is strongly recommended for new users.