Why I Didn’t Upgrade to the AirPods Pro 3

I recently found myself in a familiar situation: a new version of a product I already own had come out, and I started wondering whether I should upgrade.

In this case, it was the AirPods Pro 3.

On paper, there are upgrades. Improved noise cancelling, tweaks to battery life, and a few extra features that sound appealing in isolation. But before spending the money, I stopped and did something I don’t think we do often enough.

I looked at how I actually use my AirPods day to day.

Looking at real usage, not spec sheets

I don’t use my AirPods in one specific situation. They’re not just for commuting or just for work calls. They’re something I use everywhere.

Lunch time walks.

Walking to the station.

At home while putting the kids to bed, usually with a podcast in one ear.

Occasional work calls or Zoom meetings.

Cooking or moving around the house while still needing to hear what’s going on.

They’re not a “sit down and listen critically” device for me. They’re a tool that has to slot into real life without friction.

And that’s where the AirPods Pro 2 are already doing the job.

Sound quality and noise cancelling are already good enough

I’ll be honest. I’m happy with how these sound.

They might not be at the level of dedicated audiophile gear, but they’re clean, balanced, and easy to listen to for long periods. I don’t finish a call or a podcast feeling fatigued.

The noise cancelling is also in a good place for me. It’s strong enough to block out background noise on trains or busy streets, but not so aggressive that it feels unnatural. I’ve seen people say the Pro 3 improves ANC, and that may be true, but for how I use my AirPods, it wouldn’t be game-changing.

There’s a difference between “better” and “worth paying for again”, and that distinction matters.

Controls matter more than people admit

One thing I don’t see talked about enough is controls.

Before these, I was using in-ear earbuds that relied heavily on tap controls. On paper, that sounds fine. In practice, it was frustrating. I’d never quite know if I’d single tapped or double tapped. I’d think I’d skipped a track, only to realise I’d paused it instead. Then I’d tap again and it would start playing from where it left off.

With the AirPods Pro 2, squeezing the stem feels deliberate. You get physical feedback. Volume changes, skipping tracks, pausing and resuming all feel intentional rather than guesswork.

That sounds like a small thing, but when you’re using something multiple times a day, it adds up.

Calls that actually work while moving

Another big reason I stuck with these is call quality.

I spend a lot of time moving around when I’m on calls. Walking to the station, stepping outside, or pacing while talking. With previous in-ear earbuds I used, this was always hit or miss. Wind noise, muffled audio, or people asking me to repeat myself.

With the AirPods Pro 2, calls just work. People can hear me clearly, even when I’m walking through noisy areas. That reliability matters more to me than marginal gains in sound quality.

Seamless switching is part of the experience

I also use an Apple Watch, an iPhone, and a Macbook Pro. The way the AirPods switch between devices without me having to think about it has become something I take for granted, but it’s hard to give up once you’re used to it.

If I do want to pair them with something else, I just press and hold the button on the case and connect them. No digging through menus or re-pairing from scratch.

Again, not exciting on a spec sheet, but very noticeable in daily use.