True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
86Outstanding
$180
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro 3 vs Bose SoundSport Free: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Bose SoundSport Free, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
True Wireless
Bose SoundSport Free
Not yet scored
$160
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
- Bose SoundSport Free
HearWiki score
86
-
Sound
8.6
-
Noise cancelling
9.3
-
Battery
7.3
-
Calls
7.4
-
Value
8.3
-
Price (USD)
$180
$160
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 Bose SoundSport Free (2017). The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 4.0 and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C and Water resistance IP57 against IPX4.
- AirPods Pro 320258 yr newer
- SoundSport Free2017
What differsAirPods Pro 3SoundSport Free
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 4.0
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IPX4
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Top codec.
Specifications
AirPods Pro 3SoundSport Free
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $180
- $160
- HearWiki score
- 86
- Not scored
- Released
- 2025
- 2017
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 10.7 mm dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 10.7 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 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
- -
- Wireless range
- -
- 9 m
- Battery life
- 8 h
- 5 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 8 h
- -
- Battery incl. case
- -
- 15 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 120 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 15 min → 0.8 h
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- Yes
- -
- Controls
- touch
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- Siri
- -
- Weight
- 5.5 g
- 18 g
- Case weight
- 44 g
- 80 g
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IPX4
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Microphones
- 3
- 2
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- -
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)
Bose SoundSport Free
The Bose SoundSport Free are true wireless earbuds built for active lifestyles, offering a secure, stable fit and sweat-resistant construction for workouts. With a portable charging case extending total playtime to 15 hours, they deliver reliable wireless audio, though they lack active noise cancellation and use an older Bluetooth version.
- Pro:Secure, stable fit for exercise
- Pro:Sweat and water resistant (IPX4)
- Pro:Portable case provides extra 10 hours of charge
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Relatively short 5-hour battery per charge
- Con:Uses older Bluetooth 4.0 with limited range
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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