Is the Edifier NeoBuds S worth the upgrade from the Apple AirPods Pro 3?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Edifier NeoBuds S actually scores 16.0 points below the Apple AirPods Pro 3, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on battery (8.0 to 5.5) and noise cancelling (9.5 to 7.5). On paper: drivers per side 1 to 2 and microphones 3 to 6. Worth checking: battery life goes 8 h to 6 h and weight goes 10.1 g to 58 g. One caution: this steps down a line tier (AirPods Pro 3 to NeoBuds S), and base models usually trade away tier features - check the codec and ANC rows above before trusting the score gap alone. It is at least $52 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.57.0
- Noise cancelling9.57.5
- Battery8.05.5
- Calls8.56.5
- Value7.56.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | AirPods Pro 3 | NeoBuds S | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 8 h | 6 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, Snapdragon Sound | |
| Weight | 10.1 g | 58 g | |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No | |
| Water resistance | IP57 | IP54 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 5.5 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 16 h | |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 | |
| Microphones | 3 | 6 | |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid | |
| Quick charge | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | 10 min = 1 h | |
| Driver | dynamic | Hybrid: Knowles balanced armature + dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 20Hz-40kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "AirPods Pro 3 to NeoBuds S". 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.