AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Max Buyer's Guide: 30+ Differences Compared

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The AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max are Apple's highest-end headphone options, truthful which should you choose?


Apple conscionable debuted the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, adding caller features similar improved progressive sound cancellation, the U2 chip, and bosom complaint monitoring. The AirPods Pro 2 were already much precocious than the ‌AirPods Max‌, which person not been meaningfully refreshed since their instauration successful 2020, truthful the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ instrumentality an adjacent bigger leap up of their over-ear siblings. Nevertheless, determination is inactive a bully lawsuit for buying the ‌AirPods Max‌ against the AirPods Pro.

Both the ‌AirPods Max‌ and the AirPods Pro diagnostic progressive sound cancellation, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic caput tracking, measurement controls, "Hey Siri" commands, and automatic switching. As the 2 highest-end AirPods options, should you see purchasing the $249 ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, oregon bash you request the ‌AirPods Max‌, which inactive merchantability for $549? Our usher helps to reply the question of however to determine which of these AirPods are champion for you.



‌AirPods Pro 3‌ (2025)
‌AirPods Max‌ (2020, 2024)





































































































































Plastic design Aluminum, stainless steel, and silicone design
IP57 dust, sweat, and h2o resistant earbuds and charging case
Available successful White only Lightning: Available successful Silver, Space Gray, Sky Blue, Pink, and Green
USB-C: Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Purple, and Orange
In-ear fit Over-ear fit
Clip-on silicone/foam receptor tips (five size options) Magnetic cloth receptor cups
Skin-detect sensors Optical IR sensors
~10mm customized high-excursion Apple drivers and precocious dynamic scope amplifiers 40mm dynamic Apple drivers and much almighty precocious dynamic scope amplifiers
Dual beamforming microphones and inward-facing microphones Nine microphones (eight utilized for Active Noise Cancellation, 3 utilized for dependable pickup)
H2 chips H1 chips
Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.0
2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity 2.4GHz connectivity
Lossless audio enactment with Apple Vision Pro Lossless audio via USB-C
"Hey ‌Siri‌" and "‌Siri‌" dependable commands "Hey ‌Siri‌" dependable commands
Force sensor for media and listening mode controls Noise power fastener for listening mode controls
Touch controls for measurement adjustment Digital Crown for media controls and measurement adjustment
Transparency and Adaptive Transparency Transparency
Adaptive Audio
Loud Sound Reduction
Hearing Protection
Hearing Test
Hearing Aid
Automatic Conversation Boost
Conversation Awareness
Live Translation
Heart complaint sensing during workouts
Lanyard loop
U2 spot for Precision Finding
Speaker successful charging lawsuit for Find My
Up to 8 hours of listening clip connected a azygous charge Up to 20 hours of listening clip connected a azygous charge
5 minutes successful the lawsuit provides astir 1 hr of listening time 5 minutes of complaint clip provides astir 1.5 hours of listening time
Charge with Apple Watch charger, MagSafe charger, Qi wireless charging mats, and USB-C Charge via USB-C oregon Lightning lone (depending connected model)
‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case Smart Case to sphere artillery complaint successful ultra-low-power state
$249 $549



While determination is immoderate overlap betwixt the AirPods Pro and ‌AirPods Max‌ with features similar Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency, the wholly antithetic acceptable and signifier origin of the headphones should marque it easier for astir customers to determine which instrumentality they prefer. Some users volition adjacent bargain and usage both.

The ‌AirPods Max‌ connection a wide scope of colour options and a premium design, making them much of a manner accessory. They besides diagnostic overmuch longer continuous artillery beingness from a azygous charge. If you dislike the in-ear plan of the AirPods Pro, the ‌AirPods Max‌ whitethorn besides beryllium much comfortable, particularly for longer listening sessions.

Owing to its over-ear plan and importantly larger drivers, the ‌AirPods Max‌ present markedly amended audio prime than the AirPods Pro, truthful if your main precedence is audio quality, the ‌AirPods Max‌ volition undoubtedly beryllium the champion choice. They besides enactment Lossless Audio via USB-C.

On the different hand, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ connection a high-level of convenience and portability owed to their tiny size and charging case. The audio prime of the AirPods Pro cannot rival the ‌AirPods Max‌, but features similar Adaptive Audio, Loud Sound Reduction, Conversation Boost are perfect for erstwhile you're connected the go.

Due to their lightweight, in-ear plan and sweat and h2o resistance, the AirPods Pro are cleanable for outdoors usage and fittingness activities. They besides present diagnostic heart-rate monitoring during workouts.

The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are overmuch much versatile erstwhile it comes to charging, with 4 antithetic ways to charge, compared to the ‌AirPods Max‌'s obligatory USB-C port. Due to their size, weight, little durable design, and constricted portability, the ‌AirPods Max‌ are champion utilized astatine location for high-fidelity, prolonged listening sessions, portion the AirPods Pro connection a much balanced acquisition with a precocious level of convenience and portability.

It is besides worthy noting that the AirPods Pro person galore much features than the ‌AirPods Max‌, specified arsenic "‌‌Siri‌‌" dependable commands, Precision Finding, Bluetooth 5.3, wireless lossless audio with the Vision Pro, Live Translation, and Hearing Test.

AirPods often spot hefty discounts connected Amazon and different third-party retailers, truthful stepping up to the Max mentation whitethorn beryllium much worthy it if you tin instrumentality vantage of 1 of those deals. Both sets of AirPods often spot coagulated discounts, truthful it is ever worthy seeking the champion terms using our Deals roundup.
Related Roundups: AirPods Max, AirPods Pro 3
Related Forum: AirPods

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