True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
84Great
$230
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro 3 vs Nothing Ear 3: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Apple AirPods Pro 3 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 3 - Great overall at around $232.
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 3
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.5
Battery8.0
Calls8.5
Value7.5
Nothing Ear 3
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling7.5
Battery8.0
Calls7.0
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Nothing Ear 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $230 | $160 |
| HearWiki score | 84 / 100 · Great | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2025 | 2025 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver size | 10.7 mm | 12 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20 kHz | 20 Hz - 40 kHz |
| Impedance | - | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 8 h | 10 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 5.5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 38 h |
| Full charge time | - | 70 min |
| Quick charge | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | 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 | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | Siri | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 5.3 g | 10.4 g |
| Case weight | 43.99 g | 71.4 g |
| Water resistance | IP57 | IP54 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 3 | 6 |
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
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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