Overview

The AirPods Pro 3 are the earbuds Apple should have made two years ago. Dual drivers deliver noticeably better clarity and bass separation, the new H3 chip brings Adaptive Transparency to a whole new level, and the battery life finally competes with the rest of the market. At $249, they’re not cheap for earbuds, but they’re the best-sounding AirPods ever made by a comfortable margin.

Design & Build

The stem is slightly shorter than the AirPods Pro 2 - about the length of the AirPods 4, but with the same silicone tips. The force sensor is now a capacitive touch surface that supports swipe gestures for volume control, which is far more intuitive than the old click-and-hold nonsense. The case is the same squarish form factor but now includes a built-in speaker for Find My alerts and a USB-C port (sorry, Lightning holdouts). The new ear tip fit test is more accurate, and the IPX5 rating means they handle sweat and rain without worry.

Performance

The dual-driver design is the headline upgrade. You get a dedicated woofer for bass and a tweeter for highs, and the separation is immediately audible. Bass hits harder and cleaner than the AirPods Pro 2 - electronic music has real punch, and acoustic tracks don’t get muddy. The H3 chip’s Adaptive Transparency 2.0 is uncanny: it reduces siren and construction noise while letting conversation through naturally. I wore them through a construction zone and could hear someone talking beside me while the jackhammer was muffled to a whisper.

Features

Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is better than ever - the H3 chip processes head movements faster, so the soundstage stays locked in place even during quick turns. Conversation Awareness (which lowers volume when you start talking) triggers reliably and smoothly. The battery life is a solid 7 hours with ANC, and the case gives three full recharges for 30 hours total. Wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi is supported, and precision finding via the U1 chip in the case makes losing them less stressful.

Pros

• Dual-driver sound is a clear step up
• Best-in-class transparency mode
• Swipe volume control is finally here
• 7-hour battery life with ANC

Cons

• Still no lossless audio over Bluetooth
• Fit is unchanged - not everyone’s ears will love it
• Case scratch magnet show in lighter colors
• $249 is pricey compared to Technics or Sony alternatives

Verdict

The AirPods Pro 3 are the earbuds iPhone users should buy. The dual-driver audio quality, vastly improved transparency, and seamless Apple integration make them the most polished true wireless earbuds on the market. Android users have better options, but within the Apple ecosystem, nothing else comes close.

Ready to buy? Find the best price on eBay below.

🛒 Find Best Price on eBay

As an eBay Partner we earn from qualifying purchases. Price may vary.