Versus Engine
AirPods Max 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro 3
Specs, price and the one trade-off that actually decides it — AirPods Max 2 against Apple AirPods Pro 3, side by side.
Cheaper to start
Tie
Both start at a similar price.
Rated higher
Apple AirPods Pro 3
9.2 vs 0.0 on our design scale.
Standout
AirPods Max 2
Apple-designed dynamic driver and high dynamic range amplifier.
AirPods Max 2
Wireless over-ear headphones with Apple H2 chip and 20 hours of battery life.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Advanced audio technology with Personalized Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ.
- Up to 20 hours of battery life with Active Noise Cancellation.
- Comprehensive accessibility features including Live Listen and Live Translation.
Cons
- Expensive compared to other wireless headphones.
- Large size and weight make it less portable.
- Limited portability due to the need for a specific power supply.
Specifications
- AccessibilityLive Listen audio
- BatteryAirPods Max 2 (full charge): Up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled 12, 5 minutes of charge time provides around 1.5 hours of listening time 13
- ChipApple H2 headphone chip (each ear cup)
- ConnectivityBluetooth 5.3 wireless technology
- ControlsDigital Crown (Turn for volume control, Press once to play or pause media, Press once to answer a call or mute or unmute 7, Press once for camera remote 8, Press twice to end a call, Press twice to skip forward, Press three times to skip back, Press and hold for Siri), Listening mode button
- In the BoxAirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C Charge Cable, Documentation
- SensorsOptical sensor (each ear cup), Position sensor (each ear cup), Case-detect sensor (each ear cup), Accelerometer (each ear cup), Gyroscope (left ear cup)
- Accessibility / Features include / Automatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid feature—
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing Aid—
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing Protection—
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing Test—
- Accessibility / Features include / Live Listen audio—
- Audio TechnologyApple-designed dynamic driver, Custom high dynamic range amplifier, Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio 1, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness 1, Voice Isolation 2, Personalized Volume 3, Loud Sound Reduction, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking 4, Adaptive EQ, Studio-quality audio recording, Lossless Audio and ultra-low latency audio via USB-C 5, Live Translation 6
- battery_anc_on—
- battery_transparency—
- battery_with_case—
- case_charging—
- ColorMidnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Orange
- Dust, Sweat, and Water Resistant—
- Hearing Health—
- In the Box / AirPods Pro 3—
- In the Box / Documentation—
- In the Box / USB-C Charge Cable—
- SiriSay just “Siri” 9 or ”Hey Siri” to do things like play a song, make a call, or get directions, Siri Interactions 10
- Size and Weight (Charging Case)—
- Size and Weight (Each)—
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Depth—
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Height—
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Weight—
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Width—
- Size and Weight / Charging Case—
- System Requirements—
- water_resistance—
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Apple's in-ear earbuds at $249, adding heart-rate sensing and an IP57 rating.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Offers up to 24 hours of listening time with the charging case.
- Includes advanced audio technologies like personalized spatial audio and adaptive EQ.
- Dust, sweat, and water-resistant (IP57).
Cons
- High price point of $249.
- Requires an Apple device with the latest iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS.
- Limited appeal to users outside of the Apple ecosystem.
Specifications
- AccessibilityHearing Test 6, Hearing Aid 6, Automatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid feature 7, Hearing Protection 8, Live Listen audio 23
- BatteryUp to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled (up to 7.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking enabled) 17, Up to 6.5 hours of listening time on a single charge with heart rate sensing during workouts 18, Up to 10 hours of listening time on a single charge in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature 19, Up to 24 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled 21, 5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time 22
- ChipApple H2 headphone chip, Apple second-generation Ultra Wideband chip in MagSafe Charging Case
- ConnectivityBluetooth 5.3 wireless technology
- ControlsPress once to play or pause media, Press once to answer a call or mute or unmute 11, Press once for camera remote 12, Press twice to end a call, Press twice to skip forward, Press three times to skip back, Press and hold to switch between listening modes, Swipe up or down to adjust volume, Say just “Siri” 13 or “Hey Siri” to do things like play a song, make a call, or get directions, Siri interactions 4
- In the BoxAirPods Pro 3, MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker and lanyard loop, Silicone ear tips (five sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L), Documentation
- SensorsDual beamforming microphones, Inward-facing microphone, Skin-detect sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer, Heart rate sensor for workouts 10
- Accessibility / Features include / Automatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid featureAutomatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid feature
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing AidHearing Aid
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing ProtectionHearing Protection
- Accessibility / Features include / Hearing TestHearing Test
- Accessibility / Features include / Live Listen audioLive Listen audio
- Audio Technology—
- battery_anc_on8 hours
- battery_transparency10 hours
- battery_with_case24 hours
- case_chargingUSB-C, Qi wireless, MagSafe, Apple Watch charger
- Color—
- Dust, Sweat, and Water ResistantDust, sweat, and water resistant (IP57): AirPods Pro and charging case
- Hearing HealthHearing Test 6, Hearing Aid 6, Automatic Conversation Boost when using Hearing Aid feature 7, Hearing Protection 8, Live Translation for communicating across languages 9
- In the Box / AirPods Pro 3AirPods Pro 3
- In the Box / DocumentationDocumentation
- In the Box / USB-C Charge CableUSB-C Charge Cable sold separately
- Siri—
- Size and Weight (Charging Case)Height: 1.86 inches (47.2 mm), Width: 2.45 inches (62.2 mm), Depth: 0.86 inch (21.8 mm), Weight: 1.55 ounces (43.99 grams)
- Size and Weight (Each)Height: 1.22 inches (30.9 mm), Width: 0.76 inch (19.2 mm), Depth: 1.06 inches (27.0 mm), Weight: 0.20 ounce (5.55 grams)
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Depth1.06 inches (27.0 mm)
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Height1.22 inches (30.9 mm)
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Weight0.20 ounce (5.55 grams)
- Size and Weight / AirPods Pro 3 (Each) / Width0.76 inch (19.2 mm)
- Size and Weight / Charging CaseWorks with MagSafe charger, Apple Watch charger, Qi-certified chargers, or USB-C connector
- System RequirementsiPhone models with the latest version of iOS, iPad models with the latest version of iPadOS, Apple Watch models with the latest version of watchOS
- water_resistanceIP57