Air Pods Pro 2 are better than Pro 3

AirPods Pro 3 are not a straight upgrade, they are just a different product, and Apple needs to offer two fit options

I have been using the AirPods Pro 2 since 2022 and recently picked up the AirPods Pro 3, and honestly, I am frustrated with the direction Apple took here. Apart from the improved active noise cancellation, the Pro 3 do not feel like a clear step forward. They feel like a completely different product that sacrifices things that were already great about the Pro 2.

Here is my honest breakdown after comparing both side by side:

Fit and comfort

Apple claims the new geometry improves the fit, and I completely acknowledge that for some people with certain ear shapes, the Pro 3 actually sit better. However, for people with smaller ears, the new bulkier and more angular shape is a massive downgrade. The Pro 2 were smaller, more rounded, and sat naturally along the angle of my ear without feeling like a heavy block. With the Pro 3, the housing pushes against my ear cartilage, forces the stem to stick out awkwardly, and loses its seal constantly. The better ANC on the Pro 3 means nothing if the earbuds cannot even hold a proper seal in my ears.

Sound profile

The tuning is not objectively better, just different. The Pro 3 push a lot more sub bass, which sounds impressive for the first five minutes, but the heavy bass often overpowers vocals. The Pro 2 have a much more neutral, balanced profile that keeps voices clear and is way more pleasant for long listening sessions.

Battery life and the case

Yes, the individual earbuds last longer on a single charge now, which sounds nice on paper. In real life, nobody keeps earbuds in their ears for eight hours straight without taking a break. You usually pop them back into the case for a few minutes and they charge right back up. Because of that, total case battery life matters much more, and the Pro 3 case actually holds less total charge than the Pro 2 case. On top of that, the Pro 2 case is slightly more compact and feels noticeably more solid and premium in the hand.

Heart rate sensor

Adding a heart rate sensor is nice in theory, even if it is supposed to make tracking even more accurate alongside an Apple Watch. For someone like me who already wears an Apple Watch every day, that sensor is completely redundant. If adding that hardware is the reason the housing got bulkier and ruined the fit for smaller ears, that is simply not a trade worth making.

What Apple should actually do

AirPods sell in massive numbers. There is no reason for Apple to force a single one size fits all housing and discontinue a shape that already worked perfectly for millions of people. Since the Pro 3 fit works great for some ears while the Pro 2 fit works great for smaller ears, Apple should offer two different fit types side by side. They look nearly identical anyway, and Apple could easily market them as two distinct fit options. Replacing a proven, comfortable design with something bulkier and calling it universal progress just leaves a lot of loyal users stuck.

Anyone else with smaller ears struggling with the AirPods Pro 3 fit and stem angle compared to Pro 2?