True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)
Not yet scored
$250
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro (1st generation) vs Apple AirPods Pro 3: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) vs Apple AirPods Pro 3, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
86Outstanding
$180
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads on 7 of 7 measures.
- Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
HearWiki score
-
86
Sound
-
8.6
Noise cancelling
-
9.3
Battery
-
7.3
Calls
-
7.4
Value
-
8.3
Price (USD)
$250
$180
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
New platform
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (2025) against Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) (2019). The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.0 and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid. It also adds Multipoint pairing, USB-C and Water resistance IP57 against IPX4.
- AirPods Pro (1st generation)2019
- AirPods Pro 320256 yr newer
What differsAirPods Pro (1st generation)AirPods Pro 3
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- 5.3
- ANC type
- Hybrid
- Adaptive
- Multipoint pairing
- No
- Yes
- USB-C
- No
- Yes
- Water resistance
- IPX4
- IP57
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Top codec, Wireless charging, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Companion app.
Specifications
AirPods Pro (1st generation)AirPods Pro 3
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $250
- $180
- HearWiki score
- Not scored
- 86
- Released
- 2019
- 2025
- Availability
- Discontinued
- Sold new
- Driver
- 11 mm dynamic
- 10.7 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 11 mm
- 10.7 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Sensitivity
- 100 dB/mW
- 110 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- 5.3
- Codecs
- AAC
- SBC, AAC
- Multipoint pairing
- No
- Yes
- Battery life
- 4.5 h
- 8 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- -
- 8 h
- Battery incl. case
- 24 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- Yes
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- hybrid
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- Yes
- Yes
- Controls
- both
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Siri
- Siri
- Weight
- 5.4 g
- 5.5 g
- Case weight
- 45.6 g
- 44 g
- Water resistance
- IPX4
- IP57
- Detachable cable
- No
- -
- USB-C
- No
- Yes
- Microphones
- 3
- 3
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- beamforming
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)
These true wireless earbuds deliver strong hybrid noise cancellation and a useful transparency mode, powered by an H1 chip with Adaptive EQ for balanced sound. They offer a comfortable, secure fit, IPX4 sweat and water resistance, and convenient wireless charging for the case. Battery life is modest at 4.5 hours per charge, though the case extends total playtime to 24 hours.
- Pro:Effective hybrid ANC
- Pro:Transparency mode for ambient awareness
- Pro:IPX4 sweat and water resistance
- Con:Battery life is on the shorter side
- Con:No multipoint Bluetooth pairing
- Con:Lacks USB-C charging port on case
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are premium true wireless earbuds that combine adaptive active noise cancellation with a comfortable, secure fit. They deliver clear calls, robust battery life, and a balanced sound profile, all wrapped in an IP57-rated design that handles water and dust. With Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint connectivity, and wireless charging, they offer a polished experience for Apple and non-Apple users alike.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Clear call quality with beamforming mics
- Pro:Strong battery life of 8 hours with ANC on
- Con:Fit may be tricky for some ears
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:Limited codec support (SBC, AAC only)
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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