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HearWiki

Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs ASUS Cetra True Wireless: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Apple AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro 3 - Outstanding overall at around $179.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads on 6 of 7 measures.

  • Apple AirPods Pro 3
  • ASUS Cetra True Wireless
HearWiki score
86
76
Sound
8.6
8.0
Noise cancelling
9.3
7.5
Battery
7.3
8.5
Calls
7.4
6.5
Value
8.3
7.0
Price (USD)
$180
$200

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 ASUS Cetra True Wireless (2024). The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 4.0 and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid. It also adds Water resistance IP57 against IPX4.

  • AirPods Pro 320251 yr newer
  • Cetra True Wireless2024
What differsAirPods Pro 3Cetra True Wireless

Platform

Bluetooth
5.3
4.0
ANC type
Adaptive
Hybrid

Everyday features

Water resistance
IP57
IPX4

Level on: Top codec, Wireless charging, Companion app.

Specifications

AirPods Pro 3Cetra True Wireless
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$180
$200
HearWiki score
86
76
Released
2025
2024
Availability
Sold new
Still sold new
Driver
10.7 mm dynamic
10 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
10.7 mm
10 mm
Drivers per side
1
-
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
-
32 Ω
Sensitivity
110 dB/mW
-
Bluetooth
5.3
4.0
Codecs
SBC, AAC
SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
-
Battery life
8 h
27 h
Battery life (ANC on)
8 h
21.5 h
Wireless charging
Yes
Yes
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
hybrid
Transparency mode
Yes
-
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
-
Yes
Wear detection
Yes
-
Controls
touch
touch
Voice assistant
Siri
-
Weight
5.5 g
52 g
Case weight
44 g
-
Water resistance
IP57
IPX4
USB-C
Yes
-
Microphones
3
-
Microphone type
beamforming
-
Mic sensitivity
-
-45 dBV

What reviewers said

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)

ASUS Cetra True Wireless

The ASUS Cetra True Wireless earbuds deliver a solid feature set for their price, including hybrid ANC, wireless charging, and a 10mm dynamic driver. They perform well for everyday listening and calls, but their Bluetooth connection isn't ideal for serious gaming due to latency concerns. Battery life is respectable overall, though using ANC reduces playtime.

  • Pro:Good overall sound quality with a 10mm driver
  • Pro:Hybrid ANC effectively reduces ambient noise
  • Pro:Supports wireless charging for convenience
  • Con:Bluetooth 4.0 may cause noticeable lag in gaming
  • Con:Battery life drops significantly with ANC enabled
  • Con:Touch controls can be finicky to use

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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New comparisonApple AirPods Pro 3ASUS Cetra True Wireless