Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Technics EAH-AZ40?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Technics EAH-AZ40 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 sound (7.0 to 8.5), calls (7.0 to 8.5) and battery (7.0 to 8.0). On paper: bluetooth 5.2 to 5.3, driver size 6 mm to 10.7 mm and microphones 1 to 3. Worth checking: weight goes 5 g to 10.1 g and drivers per side goes 2 to 1. That costs $103 more, or about $6 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
- Battery7.08.0
- Calls7.08.5
- Value7.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | EAH-AZ40 | AirPods Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 5 g | 10.1 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP57 | |
| Driver size | 6 mm | 10.7 mm | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 1 | 3 | |
| Case weight | 30 g | 43.99 g | |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes | |
| Companion app | No | Yes | |
| Wear detection | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | none | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 90 min | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | |
| Driver | 6mm | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "EAH-AZ40 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.