Is the Edifier NeoBuds S worth the upgrade from the Edifier NeoBuds Pro 3?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Edifier NeoBuds S actually scores 7.2 points below the Edifier NeoBuds Pro 3, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (7.0 to 7.5). You do give up ground on battery (6.5 to 5.5) and value (7.5 to 6.5). Worth checking: battery life goes 9 h to 6 h and bluetooth goes 5.4 to 5.2. One caution: this steps down a line tier (NeoBuds 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 $22 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.
- Sound7.57.0
- Noise cancelling7.07.5
- Battery6.55.5
- Calls6.56.5
- Value7.56.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | NeoBuds Pro 3 | NeoBuds S | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 9 h | 6 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, LHDC, LDAC | SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive | |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.2 | |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No | |
| Microphones | 8 | 6 | |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid | |
| Quick charge | 15 min → 3 h | 10 min → 1 h |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "NeoBuds 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.