Tech companies create a problem for themselves when they make a product that’s so good you don’t need to upgrade. That’s how I’m feeling about the AirPods Pro 2 after Apple released the AirPods Pro 3.
I’m sure the new model is great, but between the marginal upgrades and how I’m happy with the AirPods I have, I won’t be looking for a new pair anytime soon.
How I got into AirPods
I was not at all into Apple for a lot of my early technological life, so I had no interest in AirPods upon their release. While you can use AirPods with Android, the number of compromises involved (plus the price) meant I wasn’t interested.
I used Apple devices here and there as part of my work at the site. But it wasn’t until 2020, when I got an iPhone 11 and switched to it full-time, that I started properly getting into Apple’s ecosystem.
that year, I got an Apple Watch SE, which was the first smartwatch I liked using for the long term. I added the AirPods Pro 2 to the mix in November 2022, after getting fed up with low-quality earbuds. I figured now that I was using an iPhone, I should try all the accessories for it that people raved about so much.
Since then, the AirPods Pro 2 have become my go-to earbuds for almost everything. They replaced my Sony XM3 headphones for travel, since they take up much less space. I wear them for phone calls to keep my hands free, and they’re a great option while doing chores.
I don’t wear earbuds all day, though. While working at my desk, I use my Bose desktop speakers for music, and I have a high-quality gaming headset for work video calls and playing games.
The new AirPods look great, but far from essential
Before you make any tech upgrade, you should consider what you’re getting compared to what you have—this is the method I used to decide not to buy a new phone in 2025. Using Apple’s own AirPods Pro 3 and 2 comparison list, I can’t say there’s much.
The highlight feature is double the active noise cancellation (ANC) in the Pro 3. This is great, as ANC can make a big difference in headphones, but it isn’t an exact science since everyone’s ears are different. I’ve never had an issue with the ANC of the AirPods Pro 2; they’re fine for everyday background noise like fans, as well as on flights.
Another upgrade is the heart rate sensor in the earbuds, which tracks your effort during workouts. This is cool, but I don’t often wear my AirPods during exercise. Earbuds tend to slip out of my ears after using them for a while (as I have oily skin), and I have speakers connected to a TV for when I use my rowing machine.
Apple is advertising Live Translation as another headline feature of the Pro 3, but the Pro 2 also has this. As neat as this feature sounds, it requires you to enable Apple Intelligence. I’m not going to do that again, as I found Apple Intelligence (like every other form of AI) wildly underwhelming. It’s not worth the battery drain and wasted space to use this feature.
The extra two hours of battery life is great, but I’ve never found my AirPods to die quickly as-is. By the time I feel the need to replace my AirPods for battery issues, this will be a welcome upgrade, though.
Other minor differences
I bought my AirPods before Apple moved more devices to USB-C, so my case has an older Lightning port. It’s annoying to have that cable type for just one device, but since my AirPods case supports wireless charging, I don’t have to worry about it.
Otherwise, the AirPods Pro 3 are IP57 resistant, up from IP54 protection on the AirPods Pro 2. This is another minor perk that’s not a huge deal on its own; I’m not often using my AirPods around water.
Finally, the Pro 3 has “foam-infused” ear tips for greater comfort and noise cancellation over the prior model. Foam tips are available for the AirPods Pro 2 for $10-$20, which is much more affordable if you’re looking to try them.
I’ve had the KeyBudz HyperFoam tips (which we reviewed) on my AirPods for a while, and while they’re fine, I don’t notice a huge difference. The ones I have seem to stay oily for longer than the stock tips, and have even had the attachment section come apart from the tips when I remove them.
The AirPods Pro 2 do everything I need
Going through the list above solidified my thinking that the AirPods Pro 3 hold nothing meaningful for me right now. When I think about past tech purchases, they all have a major upgrade that clearly made them worth the buy over what I had. That’s the case with the PS5 and Switch 2 providing 4K visuals and 120FPS games, the iPhone 15 Pro’s 120Hz screen, my LG OLED TV that I’m still impressed with nearly four years later, and other purchases.
My AirPods Pro 2 still sound great, the battery life is fine, and none of the changes are killer features for me. That means Apple will miss out on one sale, but I get to keep my money.
When I bought the AirPods Pro 2, they offered a huge sound quality and usability upgrade over my previous cheap earbuds. Buying the AirPods Pro 3 now wouldn’t give me anywhere near $250 worth of value, so I’m holding off.
