Earbuds / Compare
Apple AirPods 2 vs Apple AirPods 3
Product A: Apple
76 of 166 known
Change Apple AirPods 2
Compare the Apple AirPods 3 with
Product B: Apple
82 of 166 known
Change Apple AirPods 3
57 of 157 fields differ
- 32 different values
- 25 known for one only
- 27 the same
- 73 missing for both
Biggest differences
Each bar uses the scale of all 138 earbuds.
- Quick chargeA: 3hB: 1hAirPods 2 is 3 times higher.
- With caseA: 24hB: 30hAirPods 3 is 6 h higher.
- Battery lifeA: 5hB: 6hAirPods 3 is 1 h higher.
Size, drawn to scale
Front and side.
- AAirPods 2: 16.5 × 40.5 mm
- BAirPods 3: 18.3 × 30.8 mm
Weight
0 to 80 g
Weight per bud
A4g
B4.28g
Case weight
A40g
B37.91g
All 166 fields
Every value links to where we found it.


General
6 of 8 differ
Series
Model numbers
A2031, A2032, A1938, MRXJ2AM/A2Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/109525Read 5 October 2026Identify your AirPods: A2031/A2032 are second-generation earbuds introduced in 2019. A1938 is the 2019 Qi-compatible Wireless Charging Case. A1602 and later case generations are not represented.20Retailer pagenissei.com/br/fone-de-ouvido-apple-airpods-com-estojo-de-recarga-sem-fio-mrxj2am-aRead 7 October 2026Retailer title and Part Number row: MRXJ2AM/A wireless-case package. Physical earbud A2031/A2032 and A1938 case identifiers retained.
Announced
Predecessor
Apple AirPods 13Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2019/03/airpods-the-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphones-are-getting-even-betterRead 5 October 2026Apple's March 2019 release announces the second generation of AirPods and compares it with first generation AirPods.
Apple AirPods 22Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2021/10/introducing-the-next-generation-of-airpodsRead 5 October 2026Apple's October 2021 release announces the third generation of AirPods and cuts the price of AirPods 2nd generation.14Reviewrtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-3rd-generation-truly-wirelessRead 7 October 2026Public opening and Differences comparisons identify AirPods 2nd generation as previous generation.
Successor
Apple AirPods 331Reviewrtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-3rd-generation-truly-wirelessRead 23 October 2026RTINGS says the AirPods 3 follow the AirPods 2nd generation.32Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2021/10/introducing-the-next-generation-of-airpodsRead 23 October 2026Apple's October 2021 release announces the third generation of AirPods and cuts the price of AirPods 2nd generation.
Apple AirPods 414Reviewrtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-3rd-generation-truly-wirelessRead 7 October 2026Public replacement notice and Differences explicitly name AirPods 4. The reference successor is the basic model, not ANC edition.32Reviewrtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-4-truly-wirelessRead 23 October 2026RTINGS calls the AirPods 4 without noise cancelling the successor to the AirPods 3rd generation.
Launch price (US)
Launch price (EU)
Not available
Markets
Colours
Not available
Design
0 of 4 differ
Form factor
Bud shape
Use one bud alone
RGB lighting
Not available
Not available
Drivers and sound
7 of 17 differ
Drivers per bud
AApple AirPods 2
Not availableDriver type
Not available
Driver size
Not available
Not available
Drivers per bud
Not available
1
Diaphragm material
Not available
Not available
Frequency response
Not available
Not available
Sensitivity
Not available
Not available
Sensitivity reference
Not available
Not available
Max sample rate
Not available
Not available
Max bit depth
Not available
Not available
Adaptive EQ
Personalised sound
Not available
Yes18Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/en-au/guide/airpods/dev00eb7e0a3/webRead 7 October 2026AirPods 3 supports a Personalized Spatial Audio ear/head scan profile. Setup needs an iPhone with TrueDepth camera and iOS 16 or later. Supported content, compatible Apple software and the same Apple Account are required. Apple silicon is required for supported Mac playback. This is spatial personalization, not custom EQ or a clinical test.29Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/102596Read 7 October 2026What you need explicitly names AirPods 3 or later and TrueDepth iPhone with iOS 16 or later. Same Apple Account, supported content and listed compatible devices/software apply. Mac playback requires Apple silicon with Ventura or later.
Onboard EQ
Not available
Not available
EQ presets
Not available
Not available
Volume limit
Not available
Not available
Spatial audio
2 of 2 differ
Spatial audio
Not available
Personalized Spatial Audio1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111863Read 7 October 2026
Head tracking
Noise cancelling
1 of 11 differ
Active noise cancelling
ANC type
Not available
Not available
ANC microphones in both earbuds
Not available
Not available
Adaptive ANC
Not available
Not available
ANC levels
Not available
Not available
ANC attenuation (claimed)
Not available
Not available
Transparency mode
Adjustable transparency
Not available
Not available
Automatic ANC and transparency blend
Conversation detection
Measured
7 of 23 differ
Frequency response notes (measured)
Measured response has reduced sub-bass and emphasized midrange. The unsealed fit limits low-frequency reproduction.14Reviewsoundguys.com/apple-airpods-review-11072Read 5 October 2026Exact model lab curve and discussion. Fixture, target revision, firmware and frequency-test codec unstated. No graph points or rating converted into numerical dB.
B&K 5128 retest shows weak sub-bass below 50 Hz and upper-mid/lower-treble emphasis relative to SoundGuys Consumer Curve v2.0. Unsealed fit strongly affects the result.17Measurementsoundguys.com/apple-airpods-3rd-generation-review-61295Read 7 October 2026Independently viewed 2021-model retest figure explicitly names B&K 5128 and SoundGuys Consumer Curve v2.0. Reviewer text names sub-bass roll-off below 50 Hz. Plot shows upper-mid/lower-treble emphasis relative to target, rather than all high frequencies elevated. Unsealed fit affects the result. Codec, firmware, playback level and spatial settings are not specified.
Bass amount (measured)
Not available
Not available
Treble amount (measured)
Not available
Not available
Deviation from target (measured)
Not available
Not available
Consistency between fittings (measured)
Not available
Not available
Harmonic distortion (measured)
Not available
Not available
Sound leakage (measured)
Not available
Not available
Noise isolation (measured)
Not available
Not available
Noise isolation, best (measured)
Not available
Not available
Passive isolation (measured)
Not available
Not available
Call quality notes (measured)
Recorded speech samples cover quiet, street and windy conditions. The review finds voice pickup usable for conference calls.14Reviewsoundguys.com/apple-airpods-review-11072Read 5 October 2026Published ideal/street/windy demos. Recording firmware and codec unstated.
Windows Audacity recording had weak voice quality and poor noise reduction. iPhone Voice Memos was clearer. Phone-call comparison found iPhone slightly clearer than Samsung, with network signal a possible confounder.28Measurementheadphonesaddict.com/apple-airpods-3-reviewRead 7 October 2026Own microphone recordings compare Windows laptop/Audacity and iPhone/Voice Memos, plus Samsung/iPhone calls. Phone models, OS builds, codec and firmware unknown. Subjective assessment of actual recorded tests, not numerical mic extension or standardized speech-to-noise result.
Mic low-frequency extension (measured)
Not available
Not available
Mic high-frequency extension (measured)
Not available
Not available
Mic speech-to-noise ratio (measured)
Not available
Not available
Latency (measured)
AApple AirPods 2
| Connection | Platform | Latency (ms) |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | iOS | 178 |
BApple AirPods 3
Not availableBluetooth latency, worst (measured)
178ms
Not available
2.4 GHz latency, worst (measured)
Not available
Not available
Latency in game mode (measured)
Not available
Not available
Battery life (measured)
AApple AirPods 2
| ANC | Codec | Hours (h) |
|---|---|---|
| No | AAC | 4.12 |
BApple AirPods 3
| ANC | Hours (h) |
|---|---|
| No | 6.35 |
| No | 6.8 |
| No | 6.23 |
Source8Measurementsoundguys.com/apple-airpods-3rd-generation-review-61295Read 7 October 2026Original MagSafe-case model review. Battery section reports 6 h 21 min continuous playback, table identifies 75 dB SPL. Test codec and firmware not specified.27Measurementrtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-3rd-generation-truly-wirelessRead 7 October 2026Existing SoundGuys 6.35 h retained. Second row 6.8 h is public Office Work verdict continuous playback, original MagSafe model. RTINGS battery procedure uses looping track at calibrated 85 dB SPL and recordings to determine battery exhaustion. Exact source host/codec, firmware and spatial setting are not publicly stated. Third row belongs to separate HeadphonesAddict test and is documented by its source entry.28Measurementheadphonesaddict.com/apple-airpods-3-reviewRead 7 October 2026Third row is own Battery test 6 h 14 min at 50 percent host volume, original MagSafe case. Linked site method charges to full, plays music until depletion at normal room temperature. Test host, codec, firmware and spatial setting unknown. First/second rows belong to SoundGuys/RTINGS, preserved with their source notes.30Measurementrtings.com/headphones/tests/active-features/battery-lifeRead 7 October 2026Method for RTINGS second row: calibrated 85 dB SPL, 250-2000 Hz pink-noise calibration, looped playback track, time-lapse video and binaural recording until depletion. Continuous life excludes case recharges. Review public verdict supplies the actual 6.8 h value. Codec, exact host/firmware and spatial setting remain unknown.31Measurementheadphonesaddict.com/how-we-testRead 7 October 2026Procedure for third row: charge to 100 percent, play music at 50 percent volume until depletion, record start/end to the minute, normal room temperature around 20 C. Exact review gives 6 h 14 min. Test host, codec, firmware and spatial setting remain unknown.
Longest tested use per charge
4.12h
6.8h
Battery life with case (measured)
Not available
Not available
Full charge time (measured)
30min23Measurementrtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-2nd-generation-truly-wirelessRead 7 October 2026Public Commute/Travel verdict says earbuds take 30 minutes to fully charge. RTINGS tested Qi-case variant, Methodology 1.5, review updated 2021. Charge method defines 0 to 100 using LED time-lapse with no playback load. Firmware, case initial charge, adapter and ambient temperature unstated. This is earbuds charge, not empty-case charge.24Measurementrtings.com/headphones/tests/active-features/battery-lifeRead 7 October 2026Charge Time method: empty to full, time-lapse LED monitoring, no load while charging. Method documented separately from the model's publicly stated 30 minute result. Full lab result blocks were not accessed.
Weight per bud (measured)
Not available
Not available
Microphones and calls
3 of 7 differ
Voice microphones in both earbuds
Not available
All microphones in both earbuds
Not available
Bone conduction voice sensor
Not available
Not available
Mic noise reduction
Not available
Not available
Call audio bandwidth
Not available
Not available
Mic mute control
Not available
Sidetone
Not available
Not available
Connectivity
4 of 18 differ
Chip
Connections
Bluetooth
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth profiles
Not available
LE Audio
Not available
Not available
Auracast
Not available
Not available
Multipoint
Multipoint devices
Not available
Not available
Multipoint with LDAC
Not available
Not available
Paired devices remembered
Not available
Not available
Automatic switching between own devices
Fast pairing
Audio sharing
Wireless range (claimed)
Not available
Not available
Wireless receiver
Not available
Receiver connector
Not available
Not available
Simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth audio
Not available
Latency
None of 3 known
Low latency mode
Not available
Not available
Claimed latency
Not available
Not available
Lowest claimed latency
Not available
Not available
Compatibility
3 of 4 differ
Platforms
iOS, macOS, Android8Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/108786Read 5 October 2026
iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Other1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111863Read 7 October 202610Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/en-euro/guide/airpods/dev499c9718b/webRead 7 October 2026Android setup explicitly covers AirPods 3, AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. Audio and calls supported, Siri unavailable on non-Apple devices.28Measurementheadphonesaddict.com/apple-airpods-3-reviewRead 7 October 2026Own Bluetooth microphone recordings and phone calls prove Windows, iOS and Android. Existing macOS and other Apple OS support comes from maker technical requirements source. other covers iPadOS, watchOS and tvOS, not all platforms.
Connection per platform
AApple AirPods 2
| Platform | Connection | Microphone works |
|---|---|---|
| iOS | Bluetooth | Not available |
| macOS | Bluetooth | Not available |
| Android | Bluetooth | Yes |
BApple AirPods 3
| Platform | Connection | Microphone works |
|---|---|---|
| iOS | Bluetooth | Yes |
| Android | Bluetooth | Yes |
| Windows | Bluetooth | Yes |
| macOS | Bluetooth | Not available |
| Other | Bluetooth | Not available |
Source1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111863Read 7 October 2026System Requirements explicitly names Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Bluetooth is the published audio connection. other row covers iPadOS/watchOS/tvOS and does not make a universal microphone claim.28Measurementheadphonesaddict.com/apple-airpods-3-reviewRead 7 October 2026Actual Bluetooth recordings/calls establish microphone use on iOS, Android and Windows. macOS and other Apple OS Bluetooth audio support come from maker technical requirements, with microphone cell absent where not separately proved.
Features that need a specific device
AApple AirPods 2
| Feature | Needs |
|---|---|
| Headphone Accommodations and Custom Audio Setup | Supported iPhone or iPad with iOS or iPadOS 14 or later. Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Headphone Accommodations. |
BApple AirPods 3
| Feature | Needs |
|---|---|
| Personalized Spatial Audio profile | Set up on an iPhone with TrueDepth camera and iOS 16 or later. Playback needs compatible hardware, software, content and the same Apple Account. Mac playback requires Apple silicon. |
Source1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111863Read 7 October 202629Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/102596Read 7 October 2026Same explicit setup and compatible-device requirements for the ear/head spatial profile. This is not an unqualified promise for every iPhone released after iPhone X.
Official licence
Not available
Not available
Battery and charging
7 of 13 differ
Battery per bud
Not available
Not available
User-replaceable earbud battery
Not available
Not available
Claimed battery life
AApple AirPods 2
| Mode | Includes case recharges | Hours (h) |
|---|---|---|
| ANC off | No | 5 |
| ANC off | Yes | 24 |
| Call | No | 3 |
Source1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Up to 5 h earbuds-only. More than 24 h including case, stored as a lower bound of 24. Maker February 2019 preproduction test paired iPhone Xs Max, 50% volume, 358 iTunes tracks encoded at 256 kbps AAC. File encoding does not establish transmitted Bluetooth codec, so codec omitted. Playback ends when the first earbud stops. Case-inclusive test repeats recharge and playback to empty.28Maker product pageapple.com/eg/airpods-2nd-generation/specsRead 7 October 2026AirPods battery row explicitly up to 3 hours talk time from one earbud charge. Only earbuds-only call row used. This is same A2031/A2032 hardware as the wireless-case package. Page case-inclusive 18 h is labeled Lightning case and is not borrowed for A1938. Test call conditions not exposed in this readable page. No codec, volume, host or firmware inferred.
BApple AirPods 3
| Mode | Includes case recharges | Hours (h) |
|---|---|---|
| ANC off | No | 6 |
| ANC off | Yes | 30 |
| Call | No | 4 |
| Call | Yes | 20 |
Source1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111863Read 7 October 2026Battery. Six hours without Personalized Spatial Audio and 30 hours including case. Five hours with Spatial Audio is not stored as an indistinguishable row.26Maker spec sheet (PDF)media.distrelec.com/Web/Downloads/_t/ds/AirPods-3rd_eng_tds.pdfRead 7 October 2026Apple technical sheet pages 2-3 states up to four hours talk per charge and up to twenty hours talk including case. Existing maker listening rows retained. MagSafe and later Lightning cases have same stated talk runtimes. Five-hour Spatial Audio listening claim is not duplicated as an indistinguishable anc_off row.
Longest claimed use per charge
5h
6h
Playback per charge with ANC (claimed)
Not available
Not available
Playback per charge without ANC (claimed)
5h
6h
Total with case (claimed)
24h
30h
Total with case and ANC (claimed)
Not available
Not available
Talk time (claimed)
3h
4h
Full charge time, buds
Not available
Not available
Charging guidance
Not available
Not available
Quick charge time
Earbud playback after quick charge
Charging case
2 of 10 differ
Case battery
User-replaceable case battery
Not available
Not available
Case charging port
Case full charge time
Not available
Not available
Wireless charging
Wireless standards
Wireless charging power
Not available
Not available
Speaker in case
Not available
Not available
Screen on case
Not available
Not available
Case works as audio transmitter
Not available
Not available
Controls
2 of 5 differ
Controls
Earbud volume control
Voice6Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/en-euro/guide/airpods/devb2c431317/webRead 5 October 202611Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/102628Read 5 October 2026Control audio with AirPods Pro 1, AirPods 3, AirPods 4 (both models), or AirPods 5. Explicit Siri volume commands. Requires compatible Apple device and Siri availability.
Gestures
Single press, Double press, Triple press, Press and hold6Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/en-euro/guide/airpods/devb2c431317/webRead 5 October 2026
Remappable controls
Sensors and health
2 of 9 differ
In-ear detection
Sensors
Dual optical sensors, Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Published sensor types. Dual beamforming microphones lack an explicit per-earbud count scope, so no physical microphone count is inferred. A speech-detecting accelerometer is not proof of a bone-conduction sensor.
Skin-detect sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensor1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111863Read 7 October 2026
Heart rate sensor
Not available
Not available
Skin temperature sensing
Not available
Not available
Hearing aid feature
Medical clearances
Not available
Not available
Hearing test
Not available
Not available
Hearing protection
Health features
Not available
Fit and durability
2 of 7 differ
Ear tips included
Not available
Not available
Ear tip materials
Not available
Not available
Stabilisers
Not available
Not available
Ear tip fit test
Not available
Not available
Dust and water rating, buds
Not available
Dust and water rating, case
Not available
Water resistance depth
Not available
Not available
Software
2 of 6 differ
Companion app
Not available
Not available
App platforms
Not available
Not available
User firmware updates
Finding network
Precision finding
Live translation
Not available
Dimensions and weight
4 of 4 differ
Weight per bud
Bud dimensions
Width16.5Height40.5Depth18mm(0.6 × 1.6 × 0.7 in)1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Size and Weight explicitly labels width, height and depth for each earbud. These are not dimensions of the pair.
Width18.26Height30.79Depth19.21mm(0.7 × 1.2 × 0.8 in)1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111863Read 7 October 2026Size and Weight. Dimensions of one earbud in published metric units.
Case weight
Case dimensions
Width44.3Height53.5Depth21.3mm(1.7 × 2.1 × 0.8 in)1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Exact published case axis labels. The same body dimensions are listed for both case versions.
Width54.4Height46.4Depth21.38mm(2.1 × 1.8 × 0.8 in)1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111863Read 7 October 2026
Certifications
1 of 3 differ
Hi-Res Audio
Not available
Not available
Communication certifications
Not available
Not available
FCC IDs
Other certifications
Not available
Directive 2014/53/EU, UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017, CAN ICES-3(B)/NMB-3(B)25Owner's manualmedia.tatacroma.com/Croma%20Assets/Entertainment/Headphones%20and%20Earphones/User%20Manual/262016_User%20Manual.pdfRead 7 October 2026Same original-product leaflet contains EU and UK conformity declarations and Canada compliance statement. These are named radio/conformity declarations, not medical or acoustic certifications.
In the box
2 of 2 differ
In the box
AirPods 2, Wireless Charging Case, Lightning to USB-A cable, Documentation1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Wireless A1938 package only. Cable length unstated. No adapter supplied in the published complete list.
AirPods 3, MagSafe Charging Case, Lightning to USB-C Cable, Documentation1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111863Read 7 October 2026Reference configuration is the original 2021 MagSafe case. Later Lightning-only case is not represented.
Cables included
AApple AirPods 2
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Lightning to USB-A cable | 1 |
BApple AirPods 3
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Lightning to USB-C | 1 |
Links
Not compared
Product page
Spec sheet
support.apple.com/en-us/1118561Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Exact 2019 AirPods 2. Reference package uses Wireless Charging Case A1938. The standard wired-only A1602 package is excluded from this file. Current shared case weight 38.2 g conflicts with the contemporary A1938 teardown specification of 40 g. Case weight now uses 40 g from the exact standalone Wireless Charging Case maker sheet 111860, which is more specific than this mixed-case row. Contradiction remains source-qualified. No standalone maker PDF datasheet found.
Manual
cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/start/ma1852_airpods-2gen-qsg.pdf5Owner's manualcdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/start/ma1852_airpods-2gen-qsg.pdfRead 5 October 2026Original 2019 two-page Quick Start Guide for the Wireless Charging Case package, linked by Apple document identity 300122. Both sides read. Current complete user-guide chapters separately establish remapping and wear detection.
EPREL registration number
Not available
Not available
Warranty
0 of 1 differ
Manufacturer warranty (source market)
Both are also in the API. Back to all earbuds.















