Apple AirPods Pro 3: Enhanced Features and Battery Insights
The latest Apple AirPods Pro 3 introduce several notable upgrades, including an integrated heart rate sensor, real-time language translation capabilities, and a significant improvement in active noise cancellation (ANC) performance-doubling that of the previous generation. Additionally, these earbuds offer extended playback duration, though with some trade-offs to consider.
Extended Earbud Playback vs. Total Listening Time
Individually, the AirPods Pro 3 deliver up to eight hours of continuous audio playback, surpassing the six-hour limit of the AirPods Pro 2. However, when factoring in the charging case, the total listening time for the new model reaches 24 hours, which is six hours less than the 30-hour total offered by the Pro 2. This discrepancy stems from a smaller battery housed within the charging case of the Pro 3.
To clarify, while the earbuds themselves have improved battery life, the case contributes fewer additional hours-16 hours compared to the previous 24 hours. This shift reflects a design choice prioritizing the earbuds’ standalone endurance over the combined total.
Design and Weight Differences
Apple has not officially disclosed the battery capacities in milliamp-hours (mAh), but teardown analyses are expected to reveal these details soon. Physically, the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds are slightly lighter, weighing 5.55 grams (0.20 ounces) each, compared to 5.3 grams (0.19 ounces) for the Pro 2. Interestingly, the charging case for the Pro 3 is lighter as well, at 43.99 grams (1.55 ounces), down from 50.8 grams (1.79 ounces) in the previous model, despite being marginally larger in size. The reduced weight and size of the case are likely due to the smaller battery capacity.
Technical Enhancements and Chipset Updates
Under the hood, the AirPods Pro 3 continue to utilize Apple’s H2 chip, maintaining the same processing power and efficiency as their predecessors. However, the charging case now incorporates the U2 chip, an upgrade from the U1 chip found in the Pro 2 case. This enhancement improves the precision of the Find My feature, making it easier to locate misplaced earbuds.
Performance in Transparency Mode and Accessibility Features
When Transparency Mode is activated, the AirPods Pro 3 can sustain up to 10 hours of playback, which is particularly beneficial for users who need to stay aware of their surroundings. Additionally, the earbuds support a Hearing Aid feature, further enhancing accessibility for users with hearing impairments.
Summary
In summary, the AirPods Pro 3 bring meaningful advancements in health monitoring, translation, and noise cancellation, alongside improved earbud battery life. However, the smaller charging case battery results in a reduced total listening time compared to the previous generation. These changes reflect Apple’s focus on delivering a more compact and feature-rich experience, balancing portability with performance.
