Apple AirPods vs AirPods Pro in detail\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
As we compare the two AirPod models, we\u2019ve broken down the guide into five main categories; price, battery life, design, sound quality and features. Here\u2019s how the earbuds fare in each.<\/p>\n
Price<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The standard Apple AirPods 2 (with wired charging case)<\/a> are the most affordable option. At \u00a3119, you can\u2019t exactly call them cheap, but they offer most of the key wireless earbud features, including an \u2018always-on\u2019 voice assistant via Siri, touch controls to play\/pause music and answer calls and up to five hours of listening time.<\/p>\n
You will have to pay a little extra for the convenience of a wireless charging case with the classic AirPods. The Apple AirPods with a wireless charging case<\/a> cost an extra \u00a330 at \u00a3149. Unfortunately, you do have to buy a wireless charger<\/a> separately, costing \u00a339.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s the new member of the family \u2013 the AirPods 3 \u2013 which will set you back \u00a3169.<\/p>\n
The Apple AirPods Pro<\/a> are the more expensive choice but have the added benefit of a more secure fit and active noise cancellation to keep out unwanted background noise or distractions \u2013 neither of the other two sets comes with ANC. With Apple currently selling them for \u00a3239, they are some of the more expensive wireless earbuds you can buy. Others in a similar price bracket include the Grado GT220<\/a> and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 <\/a>and feature ANC, touch controls and a battery life that lasts up to seven hours on a single charge.<\/p>\n
Battery life<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The AirPods 3 have improved on the battery life of the previous generation of earbuds, now offering up to six hours playback and 30 hours of charge in the case.<\/p>\n
Both the gen-2 AirPods and the AirPods Pro offer just under five hours of battery life from a single charge, although this does drop to just over three hours when you use them for a lot of calls. With help from the charging case, both Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro will last up to 24 hours.<\/p>\n
This battery life is pretty average for wireless earbuds, with most models lasting between four and nine hours on a single charge. Some of the best battery life can be found with Cambridge Audio\u2019s Melomania 1+<\/a> and the Huawei FreeBuds 4i<\/a>, which both offer upwards of 10 hours of battery life.<\/p>\n
Design<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The design is one of the most obvious differences between the classic Apple AirPods<\/a> and the AirPods Pro<\/a>. The shape of the classic AirPods has become iconic for the brand and is incredibly comfortable over long periods of time. However, the AirPods Pro have a different design with silicone tips to give a more secure fit.<\/p>\n
The shape of the AirPods Pro makes them a great option for the gym and aids the active noise cancellation. The downside to this design is that they can become uncomfortable over long periods of time, and we struggled to wear them for more than three hours at once.<\/p>\n
Sound quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Apple claims the AirPods 3 are the best sounding AirPods yet, but we\u2019ll be holding on with our verdict until we test them out for ourselves.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the slightly older pairs, the sound quality of the Apple AirPods<\/a> is well-balanced and a vast improvement on the wired EarPods<\/a>. They\u2019re not particularly bass-heavy, but vocals in music are clear, and speech sounds great. This makes the classic Apple AirPods a good option for any iPhone user simply looking for a solid pair of earbuds for everyday use.<\/p>\n
The overall sound quality of the AirPods Pro is a step-up from the classic AirPods. There is a richness to the AirPods Pro, not offered by the entry-level earbuds. Again, you won\u2019t find the Apple AirPods Pro<\/a> to have immense bass, but the sound is well-balanced and sharp. The AirPods Pro also offers active noise cancellation, which is extremely beneficial when on a noisy train or working.<\/p>\n
Features<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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All three pairs have touch controls along with voice control provided by Siri. The voice assistant is pretty accurate, and there\u2019s only a momentary delay between speaking the request and it being executed. The touch controls are simple to use, and users can play or pause music with a single tap on the earbud\u2019s stem.<\/p>\n
The Apple AirPods Pro also have the bonus of being water-resistant. While you should have no problem using the standard AirPods for a workout, AirPods Pro have more comprehensive water resistance with an IPX4 rating. This doesn\u2019t mean that you can use these headphones while swimming, but you might find it more reassuring if you get caught out in heavy rain.<\/p>\n
Both the AirPods Pro and AirPods 3 cases are MagSafe compatible, and both sets of earbuds have 3D spatial audio, but the AirPods 2 lack both of these features.<\/p>\n
Finally, the setup with both is seamless. If you have an iPhone or are considering taking advantage of the new iPhone 13<\/a> release, the process takes literal seconds. With Bluetooth switched on, open the charging case\u2019s lid, and a pairing notification will automatically pop up on your screen. Both AirPod models can also be paired to your Apple Watch Series 6<\/a> or Apple Watch SE<\/a>.<\/p>
Apple AirPods vs AirPods Pro: which should you buy?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFor those that purely need a good pair of earbuds that work well with an iPhone, the Apple AirPods (with wired charging case)<\/a> will serve you well. If you want the added benefit of charging the case wirelessly, there is also the option of buying the classic Apple AirPods with wireless charging case<\/a>.<\/p>\n
However, the more premium Apple AirPods Pro<\/a> are likely the better choice if you want to use the earbuds when exercising. The shape of the earbuds is slightly different to provide a more secure fit, so they\u2019re not going to fall out while running or in the gym. The Apple AirPods Pro<\/a> are also the only earbuds from the brand to offer active noise cancellation. This means you will have to stretch the budget to the premium earbuds if this is a feature you know you want, but we found that it worked well and kept out any distracting noise.<\/p>\n
The design of the new AirPods 3 is somewhere in-between the two previous iterations, but they lack the silicon tips that make the AirPods Pro a better exercise partner. However, with many of the AirPods Pro features \u2013 like 3D spatial audio and active EQ \u2013 they\u2019re a good middle option.<\/p>\n
You can order AirPods 3 from Apple right now; however, if you can hold on a little while, there\u2019s a chance that retailers may include them in bundles with Apple\u2019s latest phones or laptops.<\/p>\n
Apple AirPods 3:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a3169 at Apple<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
Apple AirPods 2 (with wired charging case):<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a3116.46 at Amazon<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3119 at AO<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3119 at Very<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3119 at John Lewis<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3119 at Currys<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
Apple AirPods 2 (with wireless charging case):<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a3149 at Amazon<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3149 at AO<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3149 at Very<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3168 at John Lewis<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3149 at Currys<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
AirPods Pro:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a3188.99 at Amazon<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3189 at AO<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3199 at Very<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3188.99 at John Lewis<\/a><\/li>\n
\u00a3219 at Currys<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>