Is the Edifier NeoBuds Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Edifier NeoBuds S?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro 3 scores 7.2 points above the Edifier NeoBuds S. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in battery (5.5 to 6.5), value (6.5 to 7.5) and sound (7.0 to 7.5). You do give up ground on noise cancelling (7.5 to 7.0). On paper: battery life 6 h to 9 h, bluetooth 5.2 to 5.4 and multipoint pairing. That costs $22 more, or about $3 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. 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.
- Sound7.07.5
- Noise cancelling7.57.0
- Battery5.56.5
- Calls6.56.5
- Value6.57.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | NeoBuds S | NeoBuds Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 6 h | 9 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive | SBC, LHDC, LDAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 | |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes | |
| Microphones | 6 | 8 | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 10 min → 1 h | 15 min → 3 h |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "NeoBuds S to NeoBuds 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.