Apple has officially unveiled the new AirPods Pro 3, and while they bring exciting innovations, one surprising detail has sparked debate: the smaller battery inside the charging case. 
The earbuds themselves show impressive improvements, but Apple’s design choices reveal a subtle trade-off that every buyer should understand.
On paper, the AirPods Pro 3 double the performance of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) compared to their predecessor, promising an even quieter listening experience in crowded spaces or noisy commutes. Apple also introduced a built-in heart rate monitor, enabling fitness tracking directly from your earbuds, as well as a live translation mode designed to make conversations across different languages more natural and seamless. These features clearly aim to make the Pro 3 more than just an audio accessory – they’re positioned as a lifestyle tool.
Battery life is where things get complicated. The Pro 3 earbuds themselves can now last up to 8 hours of continuous playback, an upgrade over the 6 hours offered by the Pro 2. However, when paired with their new charging case, the total listening time drops to 24 hours, compared to the 30 hours the Pro 2 achieved. This means that while the earbuds improved, the case actually took a step back. To break it down: the Pro 3 case adds about 16 extra hours of listening, while the Pro 2 case contributed 24 hours. The result is a noticeable reduction in total battery potential.
The reason becomes clearer when looking at the hardware. The Pro 3 earbuds are slightly smaller at 5.55g each, compared to the Pro 2’s 5.3g, but the overall set is lighter: the Pro 3 case plus earbuds weigh 43.99g versus 50.8g for the Pro 2. Apple has essentially trimmed weight and bulk, but at the expense of battery capacity. Until a full teardown reveals the milliamp-hour numbers, speculation continues, though the case’s reduced size hints strongly at a smaller cell inside.
Interestingly, Apple kept the H2 chip in the earbuds, the same as in the Pro 2, ensuring similar core audio processing power. But the case itself now uses a U2 chip, replacing the previous U1, which enhances precision in the Find My feature, allowing users to locate their case more accurately – something frequent travelers or forgetful users may find invaluable.
Battery endurance also changes depending on usage. Apple notes that with heart rate detection active during workouts and Transparency mode on, the earbuds can last up to 6.5 hours per charge. Surprisingly, the Pro 3 can stretch to 10 hours in a special Hearing Aid + Transparency mode, suggesting Apple has tuned the device to cater to accessibility needs as well as fitness and entertainment.
All in all, the AirPods Pro 3 represent a blend of cutting-edge features with subtle compromises. They improve ANC, add health and translation functions, and refine Apple’s ecosystem with smarter location tracking. But the smaller case battery means buyers should weigh whether portability and new tools outweigh the reduced total listening time compared to last year’s model.
1 comment
lighter case is nice but 6 hours less total is meh