Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) vs Apple - AirPods Pro 3
Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 6 h | 8 h |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP57 |
Between the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) and AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) comes out ahead in several specs, while the AirPods Pro 3 wins on battery — buds / water resistance. Overall, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) scores 74 and the AirPods Pro 3 scores 78.3 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The AirPods Pro 3 edges ahead on the Mars Score (74 vs 78.3), but the 4.3-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
The AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the AirPods Pro 3 if your top frustration with your current device is running out of charge before the day ends — endurance is the lead spec here. Its strongest claims are battery — buds, water resistance. The single most decisive one: Battery — buds — 33.33% more. 8 h vs 6 h.
Both ship with comparable battery — with case, active noise cancellation, driver size, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or Apple - AirPods Pro 3?
Apple - AirPods Pro 3 leads the current Mars Score by 4.3 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare battery — buds against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) if…
Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Apple - AirPods Pro 3 if…
Apple - AirPods Pro 3 has the measurable edge on battery life buds h, ip rating.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Apple - AirPods Pro 3 wins
- ▲Battery — buds — 33.33% more. 8 h vs 6 h.
- ▲Water resistance: IP57 (vs IP54).
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Weight per bud | 5.3 g | 5.3 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP54 | IP57lead |
Audio
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 11 mm | 11 mm |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | true | true |
| Transparency mode | true | true |
| Spatial audioⓘ | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 6 h | 8 hlead |
| Battery — with case | 30 h | 30 h |
| Wireless case chargingⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Codecsⓘ | AAC,SBC | AAC,SBC |
| Multipointⓘ | false | false |
| In-ear detection | true | true |
Frequently asked
Which has longer battery, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or AirPods Pro 3?+
AirPods Pro 3 lasts 8h per charge vs 6h.
Do AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or AirPods Pro 3 support multipoint?+
Neither supports multipoint pairing.
Which has ANC, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or AirPods Pro 3?+
Both models have active noise cancellation.