AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2 Release Date
Apple announced the AirPods 3 on October 18, 2021, along with the new MacBook Pros. You’ve been able to order the AirPods 3 from Apple.com in the US and more than 26 other countries since October 26, 2021. The second generation of AirPods Pro was first announced in 2022 during the September 7 Apple event. This is an upgrade to the AirPods released in late 2019. The AirPods Pro (2nd gen) on Apple.com was first available on September 23, 2022.
AirPods 3 and Pro 2 Price
The AirPods (3rd gen) are $179. Apple lets consumers purchase the new AirPods with an interest-free payment plan via its Apple Card credit card, like you could with the previous AirPods lineup. The AirPods Pro (2nd gen) are $249.
New AirPods Features
Why introduce a new product if it’s just like the old one? Apple’s no slouch at the marketing game.
Apple AirPods 3 Features
The AirPods 3 feature a new contoured design with a shorter stem than the second generation. It also has the same force sensor as the AirPods Pro. There’s also spatial audio (i.e., a 3D-like listening experience) and longer battery life. They come with the H1 chip, so computational audio, according to Apple, helps the new model deliver “breakthrough sound” with Adaptive EQ. Here are some other notable features:
Sweat and water resistance (IPX4 rating). Up to six hours of listening time, and 30 hours of total listening time with the charging case. That’s an extra hour over the previous generations. Five minutes of charge time provides an hour of battery life. Dynamic head tracking and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos; this applies to Apple Music, movies, and TV shows. Audio Sharing lets you share audio between two sets of AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, while using an iOS device or Apple TV.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) Features
AirPods Pro (2nd gen) offers the following:
The H2 chip which Apple says unlocks better audio experiences.A new custom amplifier, an improved sound driver, and better active noise cancellation.Adaptive Transparency to reduce background noise.A touch sensor on the side to swipe for controls.33% increase in battery life, with up to six hours on a single charge.The case has a speaker on the bottom to make it easier to find using the Find My feature.
AirPods 3 and Pro 2 Specs and Hardware
These are the official tech specs for both AirPods:
