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Apple released the AirPods Pro 3 successful September 2025, and they were an awesome merchandise from the get-go. They debuted with respective upgrades implicit the Pro 2, including in-ear bosom complaint monitoring, an upgraded ultra-wideband spot for instrumentality tracking, and an further 2 hours of continuous artillery life. They are besides the archetypal waterproof AirPods.
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However, I person to admit: the AirPods Pro 2 whitethorn inactive beryllium a amended enactment for you. Now that the AirPods Pro 3 are connected the market, the AirPods Pro 2 are often discounted, with prices ranging from $169 to arsenic debased arsenic $139 during large sales. Although I've been wearing the AirPods Pro 3 since their release, I've revisited the AirPods Pro 2, arsenic they were my regular operator for respective years.
So, you whitethorn wonderment if buying them is inactive a bully thought successful 2026. The abbreviated reply is yes, nether circumstantial circumstances, and not conscionable for the merchantability price. Here's why.
Apple hasn't ditched the AirPods Pro 2. Why should you?
A tell-tale motion that a institution is phasing retired a merchandise is erstwhile it becomes incompatible with the latest bundle updates. However, the AirPods Pro 3 stock the aforesaid H2 audio spot arsenic the AirPods Pro 2, which is liable for processing precocious bundle features. As a result, the 2 models person galore of the aforesaid bundle features. Like the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods Pro 2's features see Head Gestures, Hearing Aid mode, slumber detection, Conversation Awareness, Live Translation, and Adaptive Audio.
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Software-wise, the large quality betwixt the 2 AirPods is that the Pro 3 person in-ear bosom complaint monitoring, which natively integrates with your iPhone's Fitness app. Apple's H2 spot is besides liable for audio processing, powering the earbuds' noise-canceling features. Both earbuds person fantabulous sound cancellation, but the Pro 3's redesigned earbud signifier allows for a tighter in-ear seal, enhancing their noise-canceling abilities.
With the H2 spot powering the AirPods Pro 3, immoderate aboriginal bundle upgrades should besides beryllium compatible with the AirPods Pro 2. Additionally, the USB-C mentation of the AirPods Pro 2 were released successful 2023, truthful Apple should connection them a fewer much years of bundle longevity.
The standout diagnostic whitethorn not beryllium for you
Apple positioned the AirPods Pro 3's standout diagnostic arsenic their in-ear bosom complaint sensors, allowing users to forego wrist-worn fittingness trackers to log their workouts. However, if you're committed to your Apple Watch, Fitbit, oregon Garmin, you whitethorn not request your AirPods to regenerate its bosom complaint tracking abilities.
Also: AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: I compared the 2 models, and here's who should upgrade
If you autumn into that category, it's not a atrocious thought to upgrade your older AirPods to the AirPods Pro 2 (when they're heavy discounted) oregon clasp onto your AirPods Pro 2 if you purchased a USB-C exemplary wrong the past twelvemonth and a half.
Why you should upgrade to the AirPods Pro 3
If you're inactive rocking with the first-generation AirPods Pro, oregon the 2nd oregon third-generation basal exemplary AirPods, it mightiness beryllium clip for an upgrade. If you privation the latest and greatest, see the AirPods Pro 3; you mightiness find them discounted for $220 during seasonal sales.
ZDNET's buying advice
I highly urge AirPods to radical with astatine slightest 1 Apple device, particularly an iPhone, and adjacent much erstwhile they're $110 disconnected their archetypal price. You tin usage AirPods with non-Apple devices, too, but the functionality volition beryllium limited. Right now, they're connected merchantability for $139 astatine Walmart, which is simply a bargain for immoderate earbuds but peculiarly for Apple's.
If the AirPods Pro 3's upgrades don't excite you, the AirPods Pro 2 volition bash conscionable fine. My lone regret regarding my AirPods Pro 2 earbuds is that I paid afloat terms for them. Still, adjacent astatine afloat price, they are cheaper (and much advanced) than competing wireless earbuds from Sony, Bose, and more. But if you program to wage the retail terms of $250 for AirPods, opt for the AirPods Pro 3.
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