Apple AirPods Pro 3: Is the Upgrade Worthwhile?

In Apple’s world of infinitesimally small changes from one new generation to another comes the AirPods Pro 3. The version 2 I’ve been lugging around for the better part of a year have been solid performers for me. And since “discovering” the larger ear cushions, they have thankfully stayed in my year longer while I’ve been active. The addition of a little scraggly lanyard makes the case easier to get in and out of that small pocket in my jeans.

What’s new in version 3 is a limited list. New USB-C connector (I had the older Airpods Pro with a lightning connector), heart rate sensors, IP57 water rating, and now 8 hours of battery life versus 6. That’s not a list that would make the average person drop $329.00 CAD for this new model. What genuinely had me interested, however, were the heart rate and extended battery features. Would these two things make the AirPods Pro 3 noticeably better?

One thing I did before making the upgrade was check out the online gray market. To my dismay, there appeared to be a ton more fantastic looking fakes than real product. The state of fake Airpods is so advanced that you’ll find people selling product they themselves don’t know is fake. That is pure market saturation. For a buyer, it just becomes impossible to know the product is real before you go see them (and a challenge when you get there). For something like Airpods, I recommend you buy them from Apple directly¹.

While my purchase was from Best Buy on September 14, I’d bought them as an open box where my order would be fulfilled by a Canadian company called TechRack. After a number of days without any indication of shipping I connected with them and they responded with the most generic message possible. The parcel tracking link they offered only changed the day the AirPods arrived and was out for delivery; a full ten days after my order. Needless to say, I would never order from these guys again and was worried about the condition of what I’d already purchased. Thankfully, the AirPods arrived and appeared authentic.

When I decided to sell my AirPods Pro 2’s. it was with a mix of loathing and trepidation. I knew that I’d need to go the extra mile to ensure any buyer would know these headphones were legitimate apple; even when they themselves didn’t know or care. It was such a case when the buyer arrived - he barely checked my Airpods and would have taken them without looking. I wasn’t going to let that happen, so I showed him the kinds of things to look for in fake versions and why the headphones he was buying were legitimate.

So, what’s different?

1. The AirPods Pro 3 add a built-in heart rate sensor to track workouts without needing an Apple Watch.
2. IP57 dust and water resistance rating, up from IP54 in the 2’s
3. Up to twice the noise-cancelling performance as the AirPods 2
4. Longer battery life, 8 hours vs 6 Hours in the 2.

As for the look, there is almost nothing different beyond the front LED indicator being a touch surface and the back connect button being removed. There are other small things, like the heft of the AirPods case (feels heavier), and the connection point of the buds (they snap in easier). They may be small, but these changes do feel thoughtful.

The heart rate sensor isn’t a “open app, check heart rate” situation. It’s a feature that accompanies the Fitness app, so when you’re doing a workout, I imagine the AirPods can get a better read on your heart than just the Apple watch alone (and it’s nice that it works without it). While it’s hard to tell, having these AirPods and an Apple Watch allows Apple to have them both work in concert. It still makes me wish Apple could find a clever way to get a blood pressure reading, even as we’re seeing some interesting products that can do just that.

And, like my Airpods Pro 2, a drop of the full case will guarantee each earphone goes flying in all directions. This truly frustrating feature was faithfully retained.

Do they sound better?

That’s the biggest question. And with my non-professional ears, I’m going to say yes, far better. The noise cancelation feels substantially improved and, coupled with Apple Music’s audio, these headphones are a solid improvement over the second generation. We’re so early in this product’s development that every generation still feels like a big enough change in feature set.

Should I Upgrade?

I say yes. Even if you own AirPods Pro 2. If you are upgrading your phone this year, this is a worthy upgrade. If you’re using something older, this will improve your headphone experience greatly.