AirPods 3 vs AirPods 2: What’s new in Apple’s latest earbuds?

Oct 19, 2021

By: Shadab Rabbani

Credit: Apple

Design

The AirPods 3 have shortened stems when compared to the AirPods 2, and resembles the Pro model but doesn’t feature the in-ear silicone tips found in the Pro.

Credit: Apple

Battery

As per Apple, AirPods 3 can provide up to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge which is more than the 5 hours provided by AirPods 2.

Credit: Apple

Charging Case

With the charging case, the AirPods 3 is said to offer up to 30 hours of listening time, against the 24 hours provided by AirPods 2.

Credit: Apple

Wireless Charging

Both the AirPods 3 and AirPods2 come with wireless charging support, however, the latest generation also comes with MagSafe support.

Credit: Apple

Chipset

Both the Airpods 3 and AirPods 2 are equipped with Apple’s H1 chip and should provide similar performance for connectivity and voice assistance.

Credit: Apple

Audio modes

The AirPods 3 supports spatial audio and adaptive EQ modes which are not available in the AirPods 2.

Credit: Apple

​Noise Cancellation

Both the AirPods 3 and AirPods 2 do not have active noise cancellation feature which is exclusive to the Pro model.

Credit: Apple

Microphones

Both the Apple AirPods feature dual beamforming microphones, with the AirPods 3 having them facing inwards.

Credit: Apple

Sweat and Water Resistance

The AirPods 3 comes with IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance while the AirPods 2 did not have water resistance rating.

Credit: Apple

Weight

The AirPods 3 is slightly heavier than the AirPods 2, weighing 4.28g and 4g respectively.

Credit: Apple

Price

In India, the price of AirPods 3 starts at ₹18,500 while the AirPods 2 is now available for ₹12,900 on Apple’s official website. At launch, the AirPods 2 were priced at ₹14,900.

Credit: Apple

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