Apple AirPods (3rd generation) vs AirPods Pro 3

Which Headphones Are Better?

Products

Apple AirPods (3rd generation)
Apple AirPods Pro 3

Tested using Methodology v2.0

Updated Dec 01, 2025 09:30 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v2.0

Updated Feb 25, 2026 12:42 AM

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Amazon.com

Our Verdict

Apple AirPods (3rd generation)

Apple AirPods Pro 3

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are better than the Apple AirPods (3rd generation). Despite sharing the number '3,' these earbuds are separated by generational differences and tiers. The AirPods Pro 3 have ear tips to create a better isolating fit that's more stable, too. They include updated iOS features like Live Translation, upgraded 'Find My' device tracking, and a fuller sound profile. The AirPods (3rd generation) are simpler, unsealed earbuds that still integrate well with iOS devices, but they don't give you the option of noise cancellation. Still, they're a less expensive way to access Siri and Spatial Audio.

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Variants

  • AirPods (3rd generation) (Lightning Charging Case - White)
  • AirPods (3rd generation) (White)
  • AirPods Pro 3 (White)

Check Price

White
AirPods (3rd generation)
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Amazon.com
White
AirPods Pro 3
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Amazon.com
Lightning Charging Case - White
AirPods (3rd generation)
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Amazon.com
White
AirPods Pro 3
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Apple.com
 
White
AirPods Pro 3
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B&H
 
White
AirPods Pro 3
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Walmart.com
 
White
AirPods Pro 3
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Main Differences for
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Full Comparison

Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Sound Profile  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Sound Profile Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Sound Profile Sample

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Normalization Frequency 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Bass Amount 
 

Locked
Locked

Treble Amount 
 

Locked
Locked

Sound Signature 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Frequency Response Consistency 
 

N/A
N/A

Consistency L  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Consistency L Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Consistency L Sample

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Consistency R  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Consistency R Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Consistency R Sample

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Std. Deviation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
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Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Raw FR L Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Raw FR L Sample

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Raw FR R  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Raw FR R Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Raw FR R Sample

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Bass Profile: Target Compliance 
 

N/A
N/A

Bass Profile: Target Compliance  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Bass Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Bass Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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RMS Deviation From Target 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Low Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance 
 

N/A
N/A

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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RMS Deviation From Target 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Treble Profile: Target Compliance 
 

N/A
N/A

Treble Profile: Target Compliance  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Treble Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Treble Profile: Target Compliance Sample

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RMS Deviation From Target 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Peaks/Dips 
 

N/A
N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

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Peaks 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Dips 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Stereo Mismatch 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Mismatch  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Frequency Response Mismatch Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Frequency Response Mismatch Sample

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Phase Response Mismatch  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Phase Response Mismatch Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Phase Response Mismatch Sample

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Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

Lock°
Lock°
Show Text 

Group Delay 
 

N/A
N/A

Group Delay  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Group Delay Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Group Delay Sample

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Weighted Group Delay 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms
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Cumulative Spectral Decay 
 

CSD 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) CSD Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 CSD Sample

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PRTF 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) PRTF Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 PRTF Sample

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PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation) 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF Distance 
 

N/A
N/A
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Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

Harmonics Levels  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Harmonics Levels Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Harmonics Levels Sample

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THD Ratio  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) THD Ratio Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 THD Ratio Sample

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WHD @ 94 dB SPL 
 

Lock%
Lock%

WHD @ 104 dB SPL 
 

Lock%
Lock%
Show Text 

Electrical Aspects 
 

Impedance  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Impedance Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Impedance Sample

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Sensitivity @1kHz-1V 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth Max SPL 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Virtual Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Virtual Soundstage 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Virtual Soundstage Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Virtual Soundstage Sample

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Head Modeling 
 

Locked
Locked

Speaker Modeling 
 

Locked
Locked

Room Ambience 
 

Locked
Locked

Head Tracking 
 

Locked
Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

Locked
Locked

Power 
 

Locked
Locked

Connection 
 

Locked
Locked

Codec 
 

Locked
Locked

Test Instrument  

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

ANC 
 

Locked
Locked

Tip/Pad 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Design

Style  

Design Picture 2 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Design Picture 2 Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Design Picture 2 Sample

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Type  

Locked
Locked

Enclosure  

Locked
Locked

Wireless  

Locked
Locked

Transducer  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Comfort 
 

N/A
N/A

Comfort Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Comfort Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Comfort Picture Sample

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Weight  

Lock lbs
Lock lbs

Clamping Force 
 

N/A
Lock lbs
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Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Controls Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Controls Picture Sample

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OS Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked

Ease Of Use  

Locked
Locked

Feedback  

Locked
Locked

Call/Music Control  

Locked
Locked

Volume Control  

Locked
Locked

Microphone Control  

Locked
Locked

Channel Mixing 
 

Locked
Locked

Noise Cancelling Control  

Locked
Locked

Talk-Through 
 

Locked
Locked

Additional Controls  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Portability Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Portability Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Portability Picture Sample

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Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Transmitter Required  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Case 
 

N/A
N/A

Case Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Case Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Case Picture Sample

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Type  

Locked
Locked

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Build Quality Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Build Quality Picture Sample

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Stability 
 

N/A
N/A

Stability Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Stability Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Stability Picture Sample

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Headshots 1  

Angled Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Angled Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Angled Picture Sample

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Side Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Side Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Side Picture Sample

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Headshots 2  

Front Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Front Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Front Picture Sample

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Rear Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Rear Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Rear Picture Sample

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Top  

Top Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Top Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Top Picture Sample

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In The Box  

In The Box Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) In The Box Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 In The Box Picture Sample

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Show Text 
Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph Sample

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Noise Cancelling  

Locked
Locked

Overall Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph Sample

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Airplane Noise Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Airplane Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Office Noise Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Office Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Street Noise Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Street Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Show Text 

Noise Isolation - Voice Handling 
 

Female Voice 1 
 

Male Voice 1 
 

Female Voice 2 
 

Male Voice 2 
 

ANC Wind Handling 
 

ANC Wind Handling Graph  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) ANC Wind Handling Graph Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 ANC Wind Handling Graph Sample

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ANC Wind Noise 
 

Show Text 

Leakage 
 

N/A
N/A

Leakage  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Leakage Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Leakage Sample

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Leakage Audio 
 

Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 
Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

Locked
Locked

In-Line 
 

Locked
Locked

Boom 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable Boom 
 

Locked
Locked

Mic  

Locked
Locked

Recording Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Microphone Frequency Response  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Microphone Frequency Response Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Microphone Frequency Response Sample

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Recorded Speech 
 

LFE 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

HFE 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Weighted THD 
 

Lock
N/A

Gain 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Noise Handling 
 

N/A
N/A

SpNR  

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) SpNR Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 SpNR Sample

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SpNR 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Gate 
 

Locked
Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling 
 

0.0
0.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample  

Speech + Subway Noise Handling 
 

0.0
0.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample  

Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Continuous Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Additional Charges 
 

Lock
Lock

Total Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature 
 

Locked
Locked

Audio While Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

Passive Playback 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

App Support 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) App Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 App Picture Sample

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App Name  

Locked
Locked

iOS  

Locked
Locked

Android  

Locked
Locked

macOS  

Locked
Locked

Windows  

Locked
Locked

Equalizer 
 

Locked
Locked

ANC Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Mic Control  

Locked
Locked

Room Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Playback Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Button Mapping  

Locked
Locked

Surround Support 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Wired Connection 
 

N/A
N/A

Cable Picture 
 

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Cable Picture Sample

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Apple AirPods Pro 3 Cable Picture Sample

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Analog Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable 
 

Locked
Locked

Length 
 

N/A
N/A

Connector 
 

Locked
Locked

Latency - Analog 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - USB 
 

N/A
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

Recorded Latency Connection  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Bluetooth Connection 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Quick Pair (Android) 
 

Locked
Locked

Quick Pair (iOS) 
 

Locked
Locked

Line Of Sight Range 
 

Lock ft (Lock m)
Lock ft (Lock m)

Latency - SBC 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Latency - aptX 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality) 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency) 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - LDAC 
 

N/A
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

Recorded Latency Codec  

Locked
Locked

AAC Support 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Connection (Dongle) 
 

N/A
N/A

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - Dongle 
 

N/A
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

PC Compatibility 
 

Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

PlayStation Compatibility 
 

PS4 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Compatibility 
 

Xbox One Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Base/Dock 
 

N/A
N/A

Type 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Input 
 

Locked
Locked

Line In 
 

Locked
Locked

Line Out 
 

Locked
Locked

Optical Input 
 

Locked
Locked

RCA Input 
 

Locked
Locked

Dock Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

Power Supply 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Check Price

White
AirPods (3rd generation)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
AirPods Pro 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Lightning Charging Case - White
AirPods (3rd generation)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
AirPods Pro 3
SEE PRICE
Apple.com
 
White
AirPods Pro 3
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
White
AirPods Pro 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
White
AirPods Pro 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com

Apple AirPods (3rd generation)

Apple AirPods Pro 3

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  1. Comparison

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) vs Apple AirPods Pro 3: Main Discussion

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