When Apple introduced the first generation of AirPods in September 2016, they became the most popular wireless earphones of 2016 and 2017. They are the most popular iPhone accessory. Apple has released many versions of the AirPods over the years after the first generation of AirPods. This article will thoroughly compare the latest generation of the AirPods and the AirPods Pros. Stick around to find out my choice of these two.
AirPods vs AirPods Pro – (Overview)
Here is a quick overview of AirPods Pro And AirPods 3rd Gen:
| Sr. No | Comparison | AirPods Pro | AirPods (3rd Gen) |
| 1 | Pricing | $249.00 | $179.00 |
| 3 | Fit | Customizable | Universal |
| 4 | H1 Chip | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Battery | Up to 6 hours of listening time | Up to 4.5 hours of listening time |
| 6 | Hey Siri | Always On | Always On |
| 7 | Active Noise Cancellation | Yes | No |
| 8 | Adaptive EQ | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Sweat and water resistant | Yes | Yes |
1. AirPods vs AirPods Pro – Pricing
The base model of the latest generation of AirPods starts at $169 and comes with a charging case with a lightning connector. You can use the same lightning charger for AirPods and your iPhone. There is another variant of the latest gen of AirPods, which is $179. The only difference is that it comes with a MagSafe charging case with added benefits and the convenience of wireless charging. The price for AirPods Pro is $249.
2. AirPods vs AirPods Pro – Problems
One of the problems with both these AirPods is that the best of the features are limited to iOS devices. This means some features are unavailable on Android and other devices. These features include automatic switching between devices, instant pairing, etc. Therefore, the reasons are not compelling enough to buy AirPods or AirPods Pro for android users.
The spacial audio is inconsistent with the current generation of AirPods (AirPods 3rd gen). It has head tracking sensors, but AirPods Pro is much better in the spatial audio department.
The AirPods Pro is way costlier than other wireless earbuds. Even when considering its most compelling feature, i.e., noise cancellation, you can get good noise-canceling genuinely wireless earphones from other brands at a considerably lower price.
3. Design & Features Comparison Of AirPods vs AirPods Pro
Here is a detailed design and features comparison between the AirPods and the AirPods Pro
AirPods 3rd Gen
The AirPods 3rd gen comes with force touch sensors for interaction. They have exceptional audio as well as head-tracking sensors. They have Apple’s H1 chip from 2019, which makes the connection with iOS devices seamless and provides many features within the Apple ecosystem. Unlike their bigger brothers (AirPods Pro), they don’t have active noise cancelation and adaptive equalization technology. They also do not have Apple’s U1 chip in the case, which is used to track the location of the AirPods Pro. They have Bluetooth version 5.0 for better connectivity.
The design of the AirPods 3rd gen case is more minor. The AirPods themselves don’t come with silicon tips. They have a longer stem with force touchpads.
AirPods Pro
The AirPods Pro touch as well as swipe controls. They have a functional spacial audio system with head tracking sensors. They have the latest H2 chips, making connectivity with iOS, iPad, and macOS devices even faster. They do have active noise cancellation and adaptive eq. They have the U1 chip for tracking, and the case also comes with speakers for pinging the AirPods in case you don’t remember where you left them. They have Bluetooth version 5.3 for the best and fastest connectivity.
The design of the AirPods Pro case and earphones is very different from the AirPods 3rd gen. They have a space at the side of the case for connecting the lanyard loop. The case is the largest compared to all AirPods (apart from AirPods max). They have a shorter stem for touch sensors.
4. AirPods vs AirPods Pro – Best Features
Here are some best features of AirPods and AirPods Pro:
AirPods 3rd Gen
The best feature of the AirPods 3rd gen is the comfortable design. They fit correctly in the ears, and they are very light. The stem makes controls and interaction with pinch very easy. With the compact case, they can fit in smaller pockets and purses.
AirPods Pro
The most hyped feature of the AirPods Pro is noise cancellation. It certainly deserves the hype, as the active noise cancelation of the Pros can completely silence the noisy room around you. Active noise cancelation is the best feature of AirPods Pro.
5. AirPods vs AirPods Pro – Similarities
Both AirPods and AirPods Pros have the same battery life. Six hours of music playback on 100% charge. Four hours of talk time on a full charge. The MagSafe case is available for both the AirPods for wireless charging. They both have the “hey Siri” feature always on. The stem in both AirPods has inward-facing microphones for clear audio when taking calls. Both of them come with spacial audio and head tracking.
6. AirPods vs AirPods Pro – Review
The AirPods Pros are significantly more popular than the AirPods. However, even in 2023, they are not as popular as the 2nd generation of AirPods. Here are some of the most popular feature reviews about both the AirPods:
AirPods 3rd gen
Most of the 3rd gen AirPods reviews are that they have very comfortable designs. Even when our team tried out the 3rd gen AirPods, they wouldn’t remove them the entire day; some even forgot that they had AirPods on because of the lightweight design. If you are in the market for some of the most comfortable earphones, AirPods 3rd gen is for you.
AirPods Pro
The reviews about the AirPods Pros have one thing in common: The transparency mode. The transparency mode can sometimes enhance the volume of your surroundings more than it should. As a result, you end up listening to louder sounds around you. However, Apple may fix this issue with software updates since this is a software feature.
7. AirPods vs AirPods Pro – My choice
While trying the AirPods and the AirPods Pros, the earphones I found myself going for the most were the AirPods 3rd generation. The AirPods 3rd generation has the most comfortable fit I have ever used in any earphone. The design is a significant improvement from the previous generation of AirPods. If you want an upgrade from the previous generation of AirPods, you should consider AirPods 3rd gen.
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Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has helped you to decide which AirPods to go for. If you’re still unable to decide, it all comes down to the feature you prioritize the most. If you want noise cancellation, as it’s the most compelling feature of the AirPods Pros, you should go with the Pros. If you are looking for wireless earbuds with great comfort and good sound quality, and it doesn’t matter if it has noise cancellation, I suggest going for the 3rd gen AirPods.
FAQs
One of the drawbacks of the AirPods 3rd gen is that its spacial audio can sometimes be unreliable. Refer to this article’s “Problems” section to find out more.
No, the ANC feature is exclusive to the AirPods Pros.
If you have an iPhone, iPad, or macOS and are fond of the Apple ecosystem and want wireless earphones with noise cancellation, AirPods Pro has the most features to offer you.
No, if you connect the right silicon tips according to your ear size, the AirPods are comfortable and don’t fall out easily.