True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
84Great
$120
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) vs Nothing Ear 3: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) - Great overall at around $125.
True Wireless
Nothing Ear 3
78Great
$160
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls8.0
Value7.5
Nothing Ear 3
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling7.5
Battery8.0
Calls7.0
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) | Nothing Ear 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $120 | $160 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2022 | 2025 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 12 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20 kHz | 20 Hz - 40 kHz |
| Impedance | 16 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 10 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 5.5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 30 h | 38 h |
| Full charge time | - | 70 min |
| Quick charge | - | 5 min = 10 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | No | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | both | touch |
| Voice assistant | Siri | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 5.3 g | 10.4 g |
| Case weight | 50.8 g | 71.4 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP54 |
| Foldable | No | - |
| Detachable cable | No | - |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 6 |
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
These wireless earbuds deliver strong active noise cancellation and a natural-sounding transparency mode, making them a solid pick for Apple users. With around 6 hours of playback per charge and a case that boosts total listening time to 30 hours, they offer dependable daily use. The IP54 rating adds some protection against sweat and splashes, while Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a stable connection for most devices.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
- Pro:Natural transparency mode for ambient awareness
- Pro:Decent battery life with case
- Con:No multipoint connection
- Con:Limited to AAC codec
- Con:No custom EQ in app
Nothing Ear 3
The Nothing Ear (3) brings a refined audio performance wrapped in the brand's signature transparent design, offering adaptive noise cancellation, multipoint connectivity, and strong battery life. While the sound quality and feature set impress, the microphone performance falls short of its marketing claims, and the tuning may lean bass-forward and bright for some listeners. Overall, it's a stylish, capable pair of true wireless earbuds, though the price-to-sound ratio might not convince everyone.
- Pro:Distinctive, eye-catching design
- Pro:Adaptive ANC and transparency mode work well
- Pro:Solid battery life with wireless charging case
- Con:Sound tuning can be bass-heavy and bright
- Con:Microphone quality doesn't match the 'Super Mic' promise
- Con:Audio may not justify the price for critical listeners
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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