Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Nothing Ear?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Nothing Ear to the Apple AirPods Pro 3 buys you 12.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (7.0 to 9.5), calls (7.0 to 8.5) and sound (7.5 to 8.5). On paper: case weight 51.9 g to 43.99 g. Worth checking: codecs goes SBC, AAC, LDAC, LHDC 5.0 to SBC, AAC and battery incl. case goes 40.5 h to 24 h. That costs $123 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 cancelling7.09.5
- Battery7.58.0
- Calls7.08.5
- Value7.57.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Ear | AirPods Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LHDC 5.0 | SBC, AAC | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP57 | |
| Battery incl. case | 40.5 h | 24 h | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| Case weight | 51.9 g | 43.99 g | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 10 minutes for 10 hours | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | |
| Controls | buttons | touch |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Ear 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.