Apple launched AirPods Pro 3 last year, bringing several major upgrades to its flagship in-ear headphones. If you’re currently using AirPods Pro 2, based on my real-world experience over the past year, there are three key reasons you should seriously consider upgrading.
Should AirPods Pro 2 users upgrade? Three reasons why AirPods Pro 3 is worth buying.
More powerful active noise cancellation
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has long been one of the most praised features of the AirPods Pro lineup. By effectively blocking out ambient noise, it creates a more immersive and focused listening experience. Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 offers twice the ANC performance of the AirPods Pro 2. Although this figure is not easy to quantify precisely in everyday use, in my testing last year, I could clearly feel that the noise cancellation had improved. Whether on the subway, in a cafe, or in an office environment, the AirPods Pro 3 can more effectively reduce background noise interference.
Added heart rate monitoring feature
Another major upgrade for AirPods Pro 3 is the addition of heart rate monitoring for the first time. During workouts, AirPods Pro 3 can track heart rate data in real time and integrate with the Fitness app on iPhone, providing more comprehensive workout metrics. Users can launch more than 50 workout modes directly through the app and view real-time workout records, making it easy to keep track of training progress and their physical condition.
On the hardware side, each earbud has a built-in heart rate sensor that can emit invisible infrared light 256 times per second to continuously monitor changes in blood flow and calculate heart rate. In addition, iOS 27 further enhances this feature, bringing the GymKit experience to the iPhone platform for the first time. This means that even without wearing an Apple Watch, users can pair an iPhone with AirPods Pro 3 to get a fitness tracking experience close to that of an Apple Watch.
If you already wear an Apple Watch, the two can work together to provide more accurate health data. For example, during weight training, if the watch shifts due to larger movements, AirPods Pro 3 can still help maintain the accuracy of heart rate monitoring.
Longer battery life per charge
Battery performance is also a major improvement in AirPods Pro 3. With Active Noise Cancellation on, AirPods Pro 3 delivers up to 8 hours of music playback on a single charge, a clear improvement over AirPods Pro 2’s 6 hours. For people who frequently commute, travel for work, or work long hours, it can effectively reduce how often they need to charge. However, this upgrade also comes with a notable trade-off:
| AirPods Pro 2 | AirPods Pro 3 | |
| Headphone battery life | 6 hours | 8 hours |
| Charging case battery life | 24 hours | 16 hours |
| Total battery life | 30 hours | 24 hours |
In other words, while the AirPods Pro 3 last longer on a single charge, the charging case provides less additional power, so overall battery life is slightly shorter than that of the AirPods Pro 2, and the case needs to be recharged more often.
There’s one more thing to keep in mind before upgrading.
If you’re planning to get AirPods Pro 3, there’s one more change to keep in mind: the ear tip design and fit shape have been adjusted. In my experience, the AirPods Pro 3 are more comfortable to wear than the AirPods Pro 2, with less pressure on the ears during long periods of wear. However, everyone’s ear shape is different, and some users feel the AirPods Pro 2 fit better. So before deciding to upgrade, if you have the chance to try them on in person, that’s still the safest approach.
Source: KOCPC Chinese