AirPods Pro 3 Review: Smaller Battery, Longer Earbud Life, but Shorter Total Playback

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 bring improved noise cancellation and health features, yet their smaller charging case battery sparks a surprising trade-off.

When Apple dropped the AirPods Pro 3, fans were buzzing about the leaps forward—double the noise cancellation efficiency, an in-built heart rate sensor, and real-time translation modes. As a longtime AirPods user, I was eager to see how these upgrades stacked up in real life. But as I dug deeper, an intriguing catch appeared: while the earbuds themselves last longer on a single charge, the battery inside the charging case is noticeably smaller, meaning total playback time took a bit of a step backward.

A Closer Look at Battery Life: What’s New and What’s Missing?

The headline spec is clear: Apple claims the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds can now stream audio continuously for 8 hours—up from 6 hours on the Pro 2 model. That means more uninterrupted jams, podcasts, or calls without reaching for the case. Sounds like a win, right?

But here’s where it gets interesting: the total listening time, which combines the earbuds’ playtime plus the extra charges supplied by the case, is 24 hours for the new model. That’s 6 hours less than the 30 hours offered by the AirPods Pro 2.

What gives? Well, the charging case’s battery capacity simply shrunk.

So, while you get a longer stretch from the buds themselves, the case extends your day by less, trimming your “juice” when you’re on the go without a power source.

Physical Changes: Smaller Buds, Lighter Case

Digging into the design, Apple hasn’t shared exact milliamp-hour ratings for the batteries yet. But a teardown will likely reveal the downsizing trend in the case’s power cell.

Interestingly, the earbuds themselves have slimmed down just a bit, but the overall case size has grown slightly. Despite this, the new charging case weighs 43.99 grams (1.55 ounces), which is lighter than the previous Pro 2 case that tipped the scales at 50.8 grams (1.79 ounces). Meanwhile, the buds are now 5.55 grams (0.20 ounces) each, compared to 5.3 grams (0.19 ounces) in the earlier model.

The lighter case almost certainly ties back to the smaller battery inside, explaining why your total playback time dips even as the earbuds’ runtime improves.

Apple’s Tech Inside: The Same Chip, But New Locator Tech

The Pro 3 earbuds continue to run on Apple’s H2 chip, the same silicon powerhouse found in the Pro 2s. This chip helps crank up the noise cancellation and audio performance.

However, Apple has upgraded the “Find My” locator chip from U1 to U2. That subtle hardware tweak hints at enhanced tracking accuracy or new location-based features down the line, though the full implications remain to be seen.

Health Features: How the Heart Rate Sensor Affects Battery Life

One of the more novel additions is the built-in heart rate sensor, designed to track your pulse during workouts. That’s a neat step toward health integration with earbuds—imagine your AirPods keeping tabs on your fitness without needing a separate gadget.

But, as expected, this extra tech isn’t free when it comes to power.

Apple states you can get around 6.5 hours of continuous playback when the heart rate monitoring is active during exercise, with transparency mode enabled. Transparency mode lets you hear ambient sounds while still enjoying your music.

When transparency mode is on without workout tracking, Apple suggests you can get up to 10 hours of battery life, especially when using hearing aid features.

So, activating health and transparency modes will naturally shorten your listening time compared to the max 8 hours in standard use.

Is Health Worth the Trade-Off?

This brings us to a subtle dilemma—has Apple chosen health features at the expense of battery endurance?

“Apple chose health over quality? AirPods Pro 3 disappoint,” some voices claim.

It’s a fair question. For fitness buffs and health-conscious users, the heart rate sensor adds meaningful value. But if battery life is your top priority—especially for all-day use without charging—you might feel shortchanged by the smaller case capacity.

Final Thoughts: Progress With a Catch

The AirPods Pro 3 are definitely a step forward in tech: better noise cancellation, smart health monitoring, and improved earbud playtime. Yet, the shrink in charging case battery capacity means a shorter total listening window compared to the Pro 2.

If you’re a casual user who charges often, this may not make much difference. But if you rely on your AirPods for marathon listening sessions away from outlets, the smaller battery could be a real drawback.

So, what do you think? Is the trade-off worth it for the new features? Or are you holding out for a battery boost in the next model?

FAQ

• How much longer do the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds last compared to Pro 2?
  The earbuds offer 8 hours of continuous playback, 2 hours more than the 6 hours offered by the Pro 2.
• Why is the total playback time shorter on the AirPods Pro 3?
  The charging case battery is smaller, reducing total listening time from 30 hours (Pro 2) to 24 hours (Pro 3).
• What is the new locator chip in the AirPods Pro 3?
  The Pro 3 uses Apple's U2 chip, an upgrade from the U1 chip in the previous model, potentially improving device tracking.
• How does the heart rate sensor affect battery life?
  When the heart rate sensor and transparency mode are active during workouts, battery life drops to around 6.5 hours.
• Are the AirPods Pro 3 physically lighter than the Pro 2?
  The earbuds are slightly heavier, but the charging case is lighter by nearly 7 grams, mainly due to the smaller battery.

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