Confused between the Apple Airpod 3, AirPod pro and the Pro 2

By falcon wings, 20 November, 2022

Forum
Apple Hardware and Compatible Accessories

Hi guys,
So as the title says, I am confused between purchasing the AirPod 3, the pros and or the pros second generation.
Mainly want to get them for no lag whilst using on Bluetooth, the spatial sounds, sound quality, good mics background noise cancelation during calls.

Noise canceling is one thing I could honestly care less about, and is something I probably won't end up using as much, because I am rarely in noisy situations where it would be beneficial to me.
in terms of pricing where I am at, going from lowest to the highest would be the Airpods 3, the pros and then the pro second generation, with the 3 and the pros having difference of $15 between them, and the pro second gen, around $100 from the 3
I'll put down my thoughts below that I have about all of them.
The thing that is in the favor of the AirPods Pro Second generation is the good sound that people say it has as compared to the others, whilst the battery time that it offers is similar to that of the 3.
I have also read this, which besides the cost is making me reconsider
https://applevis.com/forum/hardware-accessories/airpods-pro-2-are-laggier-airpods-pro-1
does this still hold true?

The 3 Costs the least out of all of them, has no noise cancelation, and is probably as good as the Pros in terms of the sound quality.
For the Pros, the weakest thing about them is the listening time. But The extra time that both the Airpods 3 and the pro second generation offer are welcome, but I think I can probably manage with the time offered by their older sibling, too.
It is probably a compromise between the price of the 3 and the AirPods pro second generation, you pay less but end up with sound quality that is less than that of the pro2, gain noise cancelation, and lose out on the extra time offered by the Airpod 3 and pro2.

So if you had to pick based on the sound alone, but most importantly the lag or lack there of whilst using them wirelessly with the IPhone, which one would be your choice?

Thanks for any help and or ideas that you may have. .
P.S. No returns or demos offered where I am at, hence the long essay :D

Options

Comments

By Andy Lane on Monday, November 21, 2022 - 20:12

If you have the money and can commit it to the AirPods, I’d say without doubt get the Pro 2’s. I know your main concern is lag and TBH I haven’t tried the 3’s but the lag between the pro and pro 2’s is the same and I’d assume it would be for the 3’s too. There is a tiny bit but it’s just not a problem, it’s probably less than most Bluetooth headphones for me at least. The reasons I say I’d definitely without doubt get the pro 2’s is because of sound quality and transparency. The Pro’s don’t have very good sound quality at all, I was always constantly disappointed with them and confused what others were talking about when they said they had good sound quality. It was bad. Really quite bad. My EarPods sounded significantly better and I tried 2 pairs of pro’s to make sure it wasn’t just mine. They had bad sound quality. The Pro 2’s on the other hand have good sound quality. It’s nothing like cans or anything proper but it’s actually good for in ear monitors. Like you’d never think its bad and would often think wow that actually sounds pretty good kind of good. Noise cancelling I know isn’t something you’re bothered about but you should know its excellent on the pro 2’s the pro’s weren’t bad but the pro 2’s are very good. I was on a train the other day and turned it on and it was literally like someone turned the train off but I was still moving. Almost as quiet as on my sofa at home, thats a best case scenario though as a train sound or plane is perfect for the active noise cancelling. What it means for me is I can turn the headphones wayyyyyyyy down like 4 clicks and its still as loud as without the noise cancellation. Anyway. Something you may be more bothered about is transparency. On the pro’s its pretty good, like actually good but the pro’s 2 take it into insane good. On that same train journey I got off the train then felt in the AirPods case to check they were both in and had a mini heart attack because only one was. I felt in my pockets etc then as I was walking back toward the train, you know where its going… Yep it was in my ear. I hadn’t noticed. Transparency is that good. Whichever you get I hope you’re very happy but for sound quality I’d definitely not recommend the pros and I haven’t heard the 3’s Perhaps you could wait for Black Friday deals? In the US pro’s 2 are currently $199 here in the UK they are £239 instead of £249 so deals can be had. I’d recommend the Pro 2’s without hesitation if you can make it work. Good luck.

By Igna Triay on Monday, November 21, 2022 - 20:12

The airpods pro and airpods pro2 have the same price $250, although there are places celling the airpods pro at a lower price, but if you look on apple's web sight, the price for the airpods pro and airpods pro 2 is the same.

By Greg Wocher on Monday, November 21, 2022 - 20:12

Hello,
Right now the air pods pro second gen are on sale at amazon for $199.99. I just bought me a pair as part of my Christmas. I thought I saw that the original air pods pros are on sale for a deep discount right now as well. THe only issue I ever had with sound on my first gen air pods pros was the crackling issue that was covered under warranty.

By ming on Monday, November 21, 2022 - 20:12

well,
I am using airpod pro and airpods pro 2nd or second generation.
well, the base in the the airpods pro 2 is more better than the airpods pro.
and the noice cancelation is more better too.
and the most different thing is:
airpods pro 2 can turn the vollium up and down by swiping the airpods. but, the airpods pro doesn't have this features.
and the battery life is longer than the original airpods pro as well.

hope that's help!

By falcon wings on Monday, November 21, 2022 - 20:12

Many thanks at everyone that has responded so far, however the prices where I am at are totally different and aren't affected by the prices in the US, they are bound to be similar in range as described in my post.
For example the Pro Second gen is about $400, the 3 is around $280 and the pros are $300 or so, rough prices after conversion, all of these are approximations.
And yes, I am aware that I can get better sounding headphones I.E the Bose for around the same price, but the major consideration for me is the lag reduction which as far as I am aware is only offered by the Apple AirPods.
Thanks again.

By Holger Fiallo on Monday, November 21, 2022 - 20:12

Maybe get someone who you know in the US and get it for you and you can pay them later. Using AirPod pro. Like it very much.