Is the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) worth the upgrade from the Apple AirPods 3?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) scores 8.0 points above the Apple AirPods 3. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in sound (7.5 to 8.5), battery (7.0 to 7.5) and value (7.0 to 7.5). On paper: active noise cancelling, bluetooth 5.0 to 5.3 and transparency mode. Worth checking: weight goes 4.28 g to 10.6 g and case weight goes 37.91 g to 50.8 g. That costs $41 more, or about $5 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.58.5
- Battery7.07.5
- Calls8.08.0
- Value7.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | AirPods 3 | AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes | |
| Weight | 4.28 g | 10.6 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP54 | |
| Case weight | 37.91 g | 50.8 g | |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes | |
| Companion app | No | Yes | |
| Custom EQ | Yes | No | |
| USB-C | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | none | adaptive | |
| Frequency response | 0Hz-0kHz | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "AirPods 3 to AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across true wireless and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.