Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Edifier NeoBuds S?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Edifier NeoBuds S to the Apple AirPods Pro 3 buys you 16.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in battery (5.5 to 8.0), noise cancelling (7.5 to 9.5) and calls (6.5 to 8.5). On paper: battery life 6 h to 8 h, weight 58 g to 10.1 g and multipoint pairing. Worth checking: drivers per side goes 2 to 1 and microphones goes 6 to 3. That costs $52 more, or about $3 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.
- Sound7.08.5
- Noise cancelling7.59.5
- Battery5.58.0
- Calls6.58.5
- Value6.57.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | NeoBuds S | AirPods Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 6 h | 8 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, Snapdragon Sound | SBC, AAC | |
| Weight | 58 g | 10.1 g | |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP57 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 5.5 h | 8 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 16 h | 24 h | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 1 h | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | |
| Driver | Hybrid: Knowles balanced armature + dynamic | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-40kHz | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "NeoBuds S 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.