Only the differences are shown. 12 specs stay the same.
+1you gain
−5you give up
AirPods Pro 3 came out in September 2025. AirPods Max 2 came out in April 2026.
Note on AirPods Pro 3: Heart rate sensing needs an iPhone with iOS 26 or later. Hearing feature availability varies by country.
Note on AirPods Max 2: Tech specs: support.apple.com/en-us/126620. Smart Case weighs 134.5 g. Orders opened March 25, 2026; shipped in early April.
Audio
None → 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio when connected with the included USB-C cable
The only change here
Hearing health
− Hearing Aid
no Hearing Test, no Hearing Protection, no Heart rate
Battery & charging
+12 hours
8 h → 20 h listening time
Case & Find My
− Precision Finding
The only change here
Price check
AirPods Max 2 launched at $549
Not currently sold refurbished by Apple.
All 14 differences
Price1 change
Price check
AirPods Max 2 — launched at $549
- Used on eBay
- Refurbished on Back Market
- Apple does not currently sell this model refurbished
What your AirPods Pro 3 sells for
- Apple Trade In and recycling
Apple recycles devices that are not eligible for trade-in credit, for free.
- Sold listings on eBay
eBay may ask you to sign in to see sold prices.
Links open in a new tab. Prices are set by each seller and change daily.
Launch price (US)
$249›$549+$300
What does this mean?
The price Apple charged in the US on launch day, before tax.
This is not what it costs today. Older models drop in price over time, so check the used and refurbished links for current prices.
Audio1 change
Lossless audio
None›24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio when connected with the included USB-C cable
What does this mean?
Apple says lossless audio keeps every detail of the original recording. Apple gives the format as 24-bit, 48 kHz on AirPods Max with USB-C: 48 kHz (kilohertz) means the sound is measured 48,000 times per second.
On AirPods Max it works only over a wired USB-C connection, with lossless content such as lossless songs on Apple Music. Apple lists lossless audio for AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) only when used with Apple Vision Pro.
Matters most if: You make or mix music, or listen at a desk with a cable.
Personalized Spatial Audio
Yes (same on both)
What does this mean?
Spatial Audio makes sound seem to come from all around you, like in a movie theater. "Personalized" means you use the TrueDepth camera on your iPhone to capture the shape of your ears and head, so the sound is tuned to you.
It works only with supported movies, shows, music and games. Setup needs an iPhone with the TrueDepth camera and iOS 16 or later. Apple says the camera data is processed on the iPhone and the images are not stored.
Matters most if: You watch a lot of movies and shows with AirPods.
Dynamic head tracking
Yes (same on both)
What does this mean?
Motion sensors follow how you move your head. With Spatial Audio on, the sound stays anchored to your device, so it seems to come from your iPhone or iPad even when you turn your head.
When you watch a movie on an iPad and look away, the sound stays with the screen. You can turn it off for each app in Control Center.
Head gestures
Yes (same on both)
What does this mean?
Nod for yes or shake your head for no when Siri announces a call, a message or a notification.
Answer or decline a call, or reply to or dismiss a notification, without speaking or using your hands. Announce Calls and Announce Notifications must be on.
Hearing health4 losses
Hearing Aid feature
LoseAvailability varies by country. Apple's feature availability page
What does this mean?
On AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3, what Apple calls a clinical-grade hearing aid for people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. It uses your hearing test result to adjust sounds to how you hear.
You set it up with the Hearing Test on iPhone or iPad, or with a result from a hearing health professional. Sounds around you are boosted in real time. Apple says it is intended for people 18 and older and has received FDA authorization.
Matters most if: You or someone you buy for has perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
Hearing Test
LoseAvailability varies by country. Apple's feature availability page
What does this mean?
A hearing test you take at home with AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3 and an iPhone or iPad. Apple calls it scientifically validated.
It takes about 5 minutes in a quiet room. The result is stored in the Health app, you can share it as a PDF with a hearing health professional, and you can use it to set up the Hearing Aid feature. Apple says it is intended for people 18 and older.
Hearing Protection
LoseAvailability varies by country. Apple's feature availability page
What does this mean?
Lowers how much loud noise around you reaches your ears, in Noise Cancellation, Transparency and Adaptive modes.
It is on by default and needs a good fit to work as intended. Apple gives a live sporting event or a fitness class as examples, and says it is not suitable for extremely loud impulse sounds like gunfire or fireworks.
Matters most if: You go to concerts or sports events, or spend time in loud places.
Heart rate sensing
LoseWhat does this mean?
AirPods Pro 3 have heart rate sensors that rest against the skin inside your ear and shine invisible infrared light.
Apple says it is intended for workouts, with the Fitness app and compatible third-party apps on iPhone (iOS 26 or later). You can track heart rate and calories with just AirPods Pro 3 and an iPhone, even wearing one AirPod.
Matters most if: You work out with AirPods and want heart rate without wearing a watch.
Battery & charging1 gain · 2 not applicable
Listening time
8 hours›20 hours
What does this mean?
The longest time the AirPods play audio on one full charge, from Apple's own tests. For models with Active Noise Cancellation, the figure is with it turned on.
Real battery life depends on your settings and use. Turning noise control off can add time; the notes under each model give Apple's figure with it off where Apple publishes one.
Matters most if: You take long flights or listen for hours at work.
Listening time with the case
24 hours›Not applicable
What does this mean?
Total listening time, from Apple's own tests, when you keep recharging the AirPods in their case until both are empty.
Put the AirPods back in the case when you are not using them, and they charge on the go.
Wireless case charging
MagSafe›Not applicable
What does this mean?
Whether you can charge the case by setting it on a charging pad. Qi is an open wireless charging standard; MagSafe cases also work on Qi chargers and line up with magnets on a MagSafe charger. Some cases also charge on an Apple Watch charger.
"None" means you charge the case with a cable only. AirPods Max charge only with a cable.
Matters most if: You already have a wireless charging pad, a MagSafe charger or an Apple Watch charger.
Charging port
USB-C (same on both)
What does this mean?
The port for charging with a cable: Lightning on older models, USB-C on newer ones. On AirPods Max, the port is on the headphones.
With USB-C, the case uses the same kind of cable as an iPhone 15 or later. Apple lists the USB-C cable as sold separately for some models, such as AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3.
Case & Find My1 loss · 1 not applicable
Precision Finding
LoseWhat does this mean?
Precision Finding uses an Ultra Wideband chip in the charging case: a supported iPhone shows an arrow pointing to the case and about how far away it is.
Apple says the UWB chip in the AirPods Pro 3 case works from 1.5 times as far away as AirPods Pro 2. All AirPods work with the Find My app. Ultra Wideband availability varies by country or region.
Speaker in the case
Yes›Not applicable
What does this mean?
A speaker built into the charging case. It plays a sound when you look for the case with Find My, and when it starts charging or its battery is low.
If the case is lost in the couch cushions, make it play a sound from the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch.
Durability3 changes
Sweat and water resistance
IP57 (earbuds and case)›None listed by Apple
What does this mean?
An IP rating is a standard test result (IEC standard 60529) for how well something keeps out dust and water. Apple calls IPX4 AirPods sweat and water resistant, and IP54 and IP57 AirPods dust, sweat and water resistant.
Rated AirPods are for non-water sports and exercise: Apple says not to swim or shower with AirPods. Resistance wears down over time and cannot be restored. If AirPods get wet, Apple says to let them dry for at least two hours before using or charging them.
Matters most if: You sweat a lot during workouts or run in the rain.
Weight
5.55 g›386.2 g
What does this mean?
The weight of one AirPod in grams (g); 28 grams is about 1 ounce. For AirPods Max, it is the whole headphones. The case is not included.
Earbuds weigh from 4 grams to 5.55 grams each, so models differ by less than 2 grams. Apple says AirPods Max's knit mesh canopy spreads the weight to reduce pressure on your head.
Ear tip sizes
XXS, XS, S, M, L›None
What does this mean?
AirPods Pro come with silicone ear tips in several sizes, so you can pick the one that seals your ear canal. Standard AirPods have no ear tips.
A good seal gives stronger noise cancellation and fuller bass. A test on iPhone or iPad checks the fit, and you may need a different size in each ear. Ear tips only fit the model they came with.
Matters most if: Earbuds tend to feel loose or fall out for you.
What's new
RSS feedAdded Apple Watch and AirPods
Apple Watch and AirPods models checked against Apple's tech specs pages, with comparisons that show only what changes, a page for each model, and their model numbers in Find my model. Apple Watch pages say which iPhone each watch works with; AirPods pages say what the hearing and translation features need. Older models appear on the timeline.
Added information for owners and used buyers
Spec pages now show each model's last security update from Apple's list, any current Apple service program, and for iPhone, the SIM type by country, hearing aid compatibility and Apple's battery lifespan figure. A new page lists ten checks from Apple's support pages before you buy a used iPhone or iPad. The site never asks for a serial number or IMEI.
Added Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio and Mac Pro
33 desktop Macs from 2017 onward, checked against Apple's tech specs pages, in one Mac section with the laptops, so you can compare a Mac mini with a MacBook Air. Specs a model does not have, such as a screen on Mac mini, show as Not applicable.