4Rank 04 of 10 · Noise-Cancelling Wireless Earbuds
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The strongest measured noise cancelling we could read, a 90% average loudness reduction, and the only model whose case is rated IP57 as well. Apple publishes no codec list.
7.9BPR score
- €249Price
- up to 8 h (ANC on) — published by Apple; 8 h 42 min measured by SoundGuysBattery life per charge with ANC on
- 4 of 10in Noise-Cancelling Wireless Earbuds
- 7.9BPR score 0–10
Review
What this product is
Written after the analysis, from the same sources the score is built on: the manufacturer's documentation, available studies and verified owner feedback.
The AirPods Pro 3 suit iPhone users; much of the feature set is tied to Apple devices. Apple's specification page states up to 8 hours of listening with Active Noise Cancellation on, 24 hours with the case, and about 1 hour from 5 minutes in the case. It lists the H2 chip, Bluetooth 5.3, IP57 for both the earbuds and the case, 5.55 g per earbud, 43.99 g for the case, five ear-tip sizes and a heart rate sensor for workouts, plus hearing test, hearing aid and hearing protection functions.
SoundGuys measured 8 hours 42 minutes with ANC on and a 90% average reduction in outside loudness, its ANC score being 9.0 out of 10. The overall score is lower, 7.8, pulled down by 5.0 for connectivity: the review found only SBC and AAC, no equaliser, some connection issues and many Apple-exclusive features.
What is missing: Apple's page names no codecs and gives no ANC-off runtime in the part we read. The USB-C cable is sold separately. There is no statement on battery replacement. The price is 249 euros in Apple's German store.
Technical data
Specification
Figures from the manufacturer's documentation, verified against available outside sources. Values we could not confirm are marked as declared.
- Battery per charge, ANC on
- up to 8 h
- Battery per charge, ANC off
- not published on the page we opened
- Total with case
- up to 24 h (ANC on)
- Fast charge
- 5 min in case = approx. 1 h
- Charging
- USB-C, MagSafe, Apple Watch charger, Qi
- Bluetooth
- 5.3, Apple H2 chip
- Codecs (as published)
- not published (SoundGuys: SBC, AAC)
- Ingress protection
- IP57 (earbuds and case)
- Weight
- 5.55 g per earbud, 43.99 g case
- Ear tips
- five sizes (XXS, XS, S, M, L)
- Independent test (SoundGuys)
- 7.8/10 overall; ANC 9.0; 8 h 42 min; 90% loudness reduction
Component scores
Where the score
comes from.
Four components, equal weight, each on a 0–10 scale and each resting on a named source. The overall score is their mean — the full procedure is in the methodology.
What we liked
- 90% average loudness reduction, ANC 9.0/10 at SoundGuys
- 8 h claimed with ANC on, 8 h 42 min measured
- IP57 for earbuds and case
- 5.55 g per earbud, five ear-tip sizes
- Charges by USB-C, MagSafe, Apple Watch charger or Qi
Worth knowing
- No codec list published; SoundGuys found SBC and AAC only
- Connectivity scored 5.0/10 by SoundGuys
- No equaliser and many Apple-only features
- USB-C cable sold separately
Comparison
How it compares
within the category
All values come from the same analysis and are comparable only within the category Noise-Cancelling Wireless Earbuds.
| Product | Score | Battery life per charge with ANC on | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| WF-1000XM6Top score | 8.1 | up to 8 h (NC on) — published by Sony; 9 h 41 min measured by SoundGuys | €270 |
| AirPods Pro 3This product | 7.9 | up to 8 h (ANC on) — published by Apple; 8 h 42 min measured by SoundGuys | €249 |
| Category average10 products analysed | 7.5 | — | — |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do the AirPods Pro 3 support LDAC or aptX?
Apple's specification page lists no codecs. SoundGuys reports SBC and AAC only, with no aptX or LDAC support.
Is the AirPods Pro 3 case water resistant?
Yes. Apple states IP57 for both the earbuds and the charging case, the only case rating of that level in this ranking.
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