Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Edifier NeoBuds Pro?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Edifier NeoBuds Pro to the Apple AirPods Pro 3 buys you 10.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in battery (6.0 to 8.0), noise cancelling (8.0 to 9.5) and calls (7.0 to 8.5). On paper: battery life 6 h to 8 h, bluetooth 5.x to 5.3 and battery life (anc on) 5 h to 8 h. Worth checking: drivers per side goes 2 to 1 and microphones goes 6 to 3. That costs $102 more, or about $10 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
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
- Noise cancelling8.09.5
- Battery6.08.0
- Calls7.08.5
- Value7.57.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | NeoBuds Pro | AirPods Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 6 h | 8 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, LDAC, LHDC | SBC, AAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.x | 5.3 | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP57 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 5 h | 8 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 20 h | 24 h | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | supported | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | |
| Driver | hybrid | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-40KHz | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "NeoBuds Pro 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.