Skip to content
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
74
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
74
Released
2025
2024
Availability
Sold new
Discontinued
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 deliver top-tier active noise cancellation, clear call quality, and a well-balanced sound profile. They offer a robust feature set including adaptive ANC, wireless charging, and IP57 water resistance, though their higher price and somewhat finicky fit may give some buyers pause. Overall, they stand out as a polished, high-performance option for iOS users willing to invest in a premium experience.

  • Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
  • Pro:Clear call quality in noisy environments
  • Pro:Strong battery life with the charging case
  • Con:Fit can be finicky and may lose seal easily
  • Con:Premium price point
  • Con:Only supports AAC codec

ASUS Cetra True Wireless

The ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds deliver solid audio performance and effective hybrid noise cancellation in a sleek, versatile package that works well for both casual listening and gaming. While they offer handy features like wireless charging and touch controls, the battery life with ANC enabled is modest, and Bluetooth latency may disappoint gamers seeking low-lag performance. Overall, they're a capable mid-range option with a few notable compromises.

  • Pro:Good sound quality with punchy bass and clear highs
  • Pro:Effective hybrid ANC for quieting ambient noise
  • Pro:Supports wireless charging for convenience
  • Con:Battery life is short with ANC turned on
  • Con:Bluetooth latency can be noticeable for gaming
  • Con:Touch controls can be finicky and require app setup

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

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.

New comparisonApple AirPods Pro 3ASUS Cetra True Wireless