AirPods 2 vs AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro comparison

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Autumn is the time when Apple pleases us with new products. First, the iPhone and the new iPad were shown, and later it was time to surprise everyone with the new MacBook Pro. Together with them, the third generation of the AirPods wireless headset was presented in October 2021. This device received both visual and functional differences from its predecessor. Now it looks more like the much more status AirPods Pro. It is noteworthy that with the release of AirPods 3, the previous model remained on sale. Let’s take a look at the current lineup of compact wireless headsets from Apple, finding out the main differences between them.

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AirPods 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods Pro sizes and design

And although we are talking about different generations of headsets, from their appearance it is clear that they are related. Common design features are evident. Both the headphones and the cases are made of glossy white plastic.

AirPods 2 design

AirPods 3 are positioned as a cross between AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro. Interestingly, this also affects the size of the case. In the 2021 model, it turned out to be clearly wider than its predecessor and narrower, but at the same time not as large as in the AirPods Pro.

AirPods 3 design

In fact, the cases of AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro are very similar to each other in their rectangular shape, the case of AirPods 2 is much closer to a square shape. Yes, and the two older models have a charging indicator on the front panel, in AirPods 2 it is hidden inside, under the lid.

AirPods Pro design

The case has no other characteristic elements. The weight of the case is different for all three models, but these grams will be difficult to grasp:

AirPods 2 Case: 53.5 x 44.3 x 21.3 mm, weight 38.2 g.
AirPods 3 Case: 46.4 x 54.4 x 21.38 mm, weight 37.91 g.
AirPods Pro Case: 45.2 x 60.6 x 21.7 mm, weight 45.6 g.

In addition, it should be noted that AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 cannot adapt to the listener’s auricle – they have the same size of the plastic case, while the AirPods Pro package contains 3 pairs of silicone earbuds of different sizes.

The conditionally intermediate status in the AirPods 3 line will facilitate the transition from AirPods 2 or AirPods Pro to AirPods 3. The difference between cases will not be as significant as when switching from AirPods 2 to AirPods Pro. In this case, it is clearly difficult to quickly get used to the new case due to the difference in size.

Now let’s talk about the headphones themselves. Here are the sizes of devices of different generations:

AirPods 2: 40.5 x 16.6 x 18 mm, weight 4 g.
AirPods 3: 30.79 x 18.26 x 19.2 mm, weight 4.28 g.
AirPods Pro: 30.9 x 21.8 x 24 mm, weight 4 g.

Obviously, AirPods Pro are the largest and heaviest. This is due to both their shape and hardware stuffing. The professional model has silicone ear pads that are absent in regular AirPods 2 and AirPods 3. But the third model is more reminiscent of AirPods Pro in its shape. In the 2021 model, the leg has decreased by 30% relative to its predecessor, the earbuds themselves are stretched, the mesh on the microphones is now flush with the surface, and not submerged, as in AirPods 2.

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Sound and hardware AirPods 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro

Naturally, in-ear AirPods Pro sound better than AirPods 2 and AirPods 3. While the difference between AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 is not so significant, it is also present in favor of the “third AirPods”.

Despite the compact size of the headsets, the manufacturer has equipped them with highly technological solutions, including sensors and sensors. All this hardware stuffing helps to implement various useful scenarios for working with the headset: smart turning on and off music, switching to a new track, etc.

Of course, the most modest set of solutions received AirPods 2: dual optical sensor, accelerometer, voice activity sensor. However, even this is quite enough for automatic pause and unpause, choosing the best microphone for a conversation and fixing the movement of the headset in space.

AirPods 3 received an extended set: skin contact sensor, accelerometer, voice activity sensor, pressure sensor (control button on the leg). Although the optical sensor already performs well, in the new generation it has been replaced by a skin contact sensor. It allows you to accurately determine when the device is in your ear.

And here AirPods Pro received a certain average set: a double optical sensor, an accelerometer, a voice activity sensor and a pressure sensor (control button on the leg). These are all the same sensors as the AirPods 2, but a pressure sensor has been added to them for better control of the headset.

“Iron” AirPods Pro

In this regard, AirPods 3 looks advantageous, which has received a completely new sensor, its brothers simply do not have it. The rest of the set of sensors repeats in one way or another – this is an accelerometer and a voice detector, as in AirPods 2, as well as a squeeze sensor, as in AirPods Pro.

All three headsets have the H1 chip installed, it has proven itself well, so it remained relevant for the 2021 model as well. Thus, the basic functions of interaction with the Apple ecosystem for all three models will be the same. All current AirPods will switch between devices equally quickly. Bluetooth 5.0 support is also the same for all models. All three headsets have dual microphones to monitor the user’s voice activity, but the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro also have an additional microphone built in, directed inward. It is also worth noting that only these two older models received IPX4 protection against sweat and water.

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AirPods 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods Pro features

Each of these headsets supports voice-activated Siri. All you need to do is say “Hey Siri”. The AirPods in question can automatically switch between different devices linked to the same Apple ID account. At the same time, only AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro have an adaptive equalizer that adjusts the sound of the headset to the shape of the listener’s ear. Also, these two models support listening to spatial audio, analyzing the position of a person’s head, they also have a wide dynamic range.

Features exclusive to AirPods Pro: active noise cancellation (an external microphone picks up external noises, which are compensated by a backward sound wave of the same amplitude), transparency mode (in order to hear external noises), equalization system. And with iOS 15, the headset also received the “Communication” mode, which is designed to talk with the interlocutor without taking off the headphones.

The positioning of the models is obvious. AirPods 2 is a pretty feature-packed device, but the 2021 model has received several new features, including from the AirPods Pro range. But the pressure equalization system and the noise reduction function are available only in the professional model, which is justified by the design of the earbuds.

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AirPods 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods Pro control gestures

The ability to work with gestures is a big advantage for AirPods over the competition. Even AirPods 2 can recognize the double or triple tap gesture. Thus, the user can answer a call or drop it, switch tracks. You can set up separate gestures for each of the earbuds. AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro are controlled by squeezing a special sensor. A single press on it allows you to stop or restart music playback, as well as answer an incoming call. By double and triple squeezing, you can switch tracks.

At the same time, in AirPods Pro, you can also hold the sensor for a long time. This will switch the noise canceling modes. There is a similar action in AirPods 3, but it is duplicate in relation to the command “Hey Siri”, leading to the activation of the voice assistant.

Controls in AirPods 2

Double tap to start playback, skip to the next track, or answer a call;
Say “Hey Siri” to play a song, call or get directions;

Controls in AirPods 3

Press once to start or pause playback or answer a call;
Press twice to skip to the next track;
Press three times to return to the previous track;
Press and hold to summon Siri;
Say “Hey Siri” to play a song, call, or get directions.

AirPods Pro controls

Press once to start or pause playback or answer a call;
Press twice to skip to the next track;
Press three times to return to the previous track;
Press and hold to switch from Active Noise Cancellation to Transparent mode or vice versa;
Say “Hey Siri” to play a song, call, or get directions.

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Autonomy of AirPods 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro

The autonomy of AirPods is a traditional source of pride. The second generation can work without recharging up to 3 hours of talk time and up to 5 hours of listening to audio. When using the charging case, you can listen to music for up to 24 hours and talk for up to 18 hours. 15 minutes of charging in the case is enough for the headset to play audio for 3 hours.

The AirPods 3 have improved battery life even further. Now the headset allows 4 hours of talk time and 6 hours of listening to music. Thanks to the case, you can already provide 20 hours of talk time and 30 hours of music. Just 5 minutes of charging is enough to keep the device running for another hour.

But the AirPods Pro autonomy is a cross between the second and third generation of the headset. The professional model will work 4.5 hours when listening to audio and 5 hours without using Transparent mode and active noise cancellation, and talk time up to 3.5 hours. The charging case provides comparable capabilities to AirPods 2 – 18 hours of talk time and 24 hours of music. But charging is faster here – 5 minutes is enough for an hour of operation.

Obviously, it is the 2021 model that outperforms its counterparts in terms of autonomy. When listening to music, AirPods 3 will live 1 hour longer, and in mixed mode, with a recharge in a case, it will last 5-6 hours. This is a pretty big difference, as for many people the difference will be 1-3 extra days of use without having to recharge.

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Other differences between AirPods 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro

AirPods 2 come with a Lightning to USB ‑ A cable, while the older two come with a more modern Lightning to USB ‑ C cable.

AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro charging case Supports both MagSafe and (Qi) wireless chargingand charging with a cable. In turn, the AirPods 2 case can only be charged with a cable…

AirPods 2 can work with Apple’s line of smartphones starting with the iPhone 5. But the two older siblings will require the first generation iPhone 6s or iPhone SE. Of course, all headsets can be connected to older smartphones, but important software functions will not work. Apple recommends using AirPods with smartphones updated to iOS 13.

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Comparison of technical characteristics of AirPods 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro

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Briefly the main differences:

AirPods Pro sound better than AirPods 3 and AirPods 2, while sound in AirPods 3 is marginally superior to AirPods 2.
AirPods 3 are closer to AirPods Pro in design and dimensions than AirPods. Even their cases are similar in shape and size, and the shape of the headphones is similar. A clear difference is the presence of three silicone earbuds of different sizes in the professional model. The leg in AirPods 3 has become smaller by a third compared to the second generation of the device.
The processor is the same for all models, and the hardware is similar. The AirPods 3 have a new skin contact sensor, while the other two models have a dual optical sensor. The 2021 model has an additional internal microphone and IPX4 sweat and water resistance – just like the Pro model.
Technology support in AirPods 3 is also much better than its predecessor, and closer to the Pro model. On the side of the latter, only the functions related to noise cancellation.
The control gestures in AirPods 3 are almost identical to those in AirPods Pro. The only difference is the reaction to pinching the sensor. On AirPods Pro, this triggers toggling noise canceling modes, and on AirPods 3, Siri is activated.
The AirPods 3’s battery life is clearly superior to the other two devices. The novelty received an extra hour of work, and when interacting with the case, it will be possible to win as much as 5 hours.
The younger model comes with a Lightning to USB-A cable and lacks gj wireless charging support for MagSafe or Qi technology. AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro have it and come with a modern Lightning to USB-C cable.

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AirPods 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro pricing

Buy AirPods 2 – 10,000 rubles

Buy AirPods 3 – 16,000 rubles

Buy AirPods Pro – 18,000 rubles

Conclusion

A direct comparison of the three wireless headsets that are relevant to Apple shows that the latest model, AirPods 3, turned out to be as close as possible to AirPods Pro in most indicators, from design to functionality. Moreover, the novelty even wins in terms of autonomy. But the “pros” have their own unique “trick” – active noise cancellation. When choosing a wireless headset, it is worth considering what type of headphones you like in general. If you prefer earbuds, then the superiority of AirPods 3 is undeniable, but if you like earplugs, then choose AirPods Pro. On the side of AirPods 2, perhaps a lower price tag, but the savings of 2,000 rubles is hardly worth it to deprive yourself of the opportunity to use a more functional and long-playing device.