True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
86Outstanding
$180
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro 3 vs Audio-Technica ATH-CK3TW: 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.
True Wireless
Audio-Technica ATH-CK3TW
52Average
$93
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 6 of 7 measures.
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Audio-Technica ATH-CK3TW
HearWiki score
86
52
Sound
8.6
6.2
Noise cancelling
9.3
-
Battery
7.3
4.6
Calls
7.4
4.6
Value
8.3
-
Price (USD)
$180
$93
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 Audio-Technica ATH-CK3TW (2020). The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.0, Top codec AAC against SBC and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Multipoint pairing, Wireless charging and Water resistance IP57 against IPX2.
- AirPods Pro 320255 yr newer
- ATH-CK3TW2020
What differsAirPods Pro 3ATH-CK3TW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.0
- Top codec
- AAC
- SBC
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- No
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IPX2
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: USB-C, Wear detection.
Specifications
AirPods Pro 3ATH-CK3TW
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $180
- $93
- HearWiki score
- 86
- 52
- Released
- 2025
- 2020
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 10.7 mm dynamic
- 5.8 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 10.7 mm
- 5.8 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 16 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 110 dB/mW
- 98 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.0
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- SBC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 8 h
- 6 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 8 h
- -
- Battery incl. case
- -
- 30 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 120 min
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- Yes
- Yes
- Controls
- touch
- -
- Voice assistant
- Siri
- -
- Weight
- 5.5 g
- 4.7 g
- Case weight
- 44 g
- 49.7 g
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IPX2
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 3
- 1
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- MEMS
- Mic sensitivity
- -
- -38 dBV
- Call noise reduction
- -
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- -
- cVc
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)
Audio-Technica ATH-CK3TW
The Audio-Technica ATH-CK3TW delivers a compact true-wireless design with 5.8 mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 5.0, and support for SBC plus aptX audio. It offers around 6 hours of playback per charge and up to 30 hours with the case, along with IPX2 drip resistance, making it a straightforward everyday option. While battery life is a practical highlight, the overall sound tuning has drawn mixed reactions, ranging from balanced to underwhelming depending on the listener.
- Pro:Compact and lightweight build (4.7 g per earbud)
- Pro:Solid battery life with case totaling 30 hours
- Pro:Supports aptX and SBC codecs for wireless audio
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:No multipoint connection support
- Con:Limited water resistance (only IPX2)
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.