Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Powerbeats Pro 2?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 7.5 points above the Powerbeats Pro 2. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in value (7.0 to 8.3), noise cancelling (8.2 to 9.3) and sound (7.9 to 8.6). You do give up ground on battery (8.8 to 7.3) and calls (8.3 to 7.4). On paper: codecs AAC to SBC, AAC, multipoint pairing and driver size 9.5 mm to 10.7 mm. Worth checking: battery life goes 10 h to 8 h. It's also $71 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. 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.
- Sound7.98.6
- Noise cancelling8.29.3
- Battery8.87.3
- Calls8.37.4
- Value7.08.3
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Powerbeats Pro 2 | AirPods Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 h | 8 h | |
| Codecs | AAC | SBC, AAC | |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP57 | |
| Driver size | 9.5 mm | 10.7 mm | |
| Case weight | 69 g | 44 g | |
| Controls | both | touch | |
| Driver | 9.5 mm dynamic | 10.7 mm dynamic |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Powerbeats Pro 2 to AirPods Pro 3". 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.