The AirPods Pro 2 are Apple’s best buds to date with great sound performance that is enhanced through immersive spatial audio. They come with adaptive ANC, stronger IP protection and USB-C charging.
For
- World-class noise cancelation
- Volume controls on stem
- Dolby Atmos spatial audio
- Improved battery life
- Superior call quality
Against
- Audio performance needs finessing
- Lanyard costs extra
Bundled with a smart case that doubles as a remote and wireless transmitter, the Tour Pro 3 offer hi-res playback, long battery life, and superb noise cancellation in a chic package.
For
- Vibrant, hi-res sound
- The largest feature set of any wireless earbuds available
- Multi-purpose charging case
- Adequate noise cancellation
- Stable playtimes
Against
- Loose fit
- Middling spatial audio
- Buggy companion app
The AirPods Pro 2 debuted two years ago and remain a top seller, thanks to new software updates and a USB-C refresh. Other innovative rivals have come on the scene since then, none more ambitious than the JBL Tour series, which has popularized a new sub-category experts are calling smart-case buds. The recently-launched Tour Pro 3 sit at the top of that list.
Both models are luxury options that deliver premium active noise cancellation, sound quality, and special features. The AirPods Pro 2 and Tour Pro 3 also come with hi-tech charging cases that boast their own set of unique tricks.
These are two of the best wireless earbuds money can buy. As for the better purchase, our in-depth comparison has the answer.
AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Specs compared
AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Price & availability
Apple originally launched the AirPods Pro 2 at $249, but the buds are often on sale for as low as $189. Meanwhile, the all-new JBL Tour Pro 3 carry a $299 MSRP. You can purchase either model at major online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, or on each brand’s website.
Overall performance and sales opportunities make Apple’s wireless danglers the more enticing pickup.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2
AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Design
The Tour Pro 3 are more attractive. JBL composed their buds from hard plastic that features aluminum accents, multiple mic openings, protruding touch panels, and a sleek matte finish. An IP55 rating means dust-/sweat-proofing and water resistance. The buds have a loose fit, though swapping out the silicone tips for the foam tips can improve wearability. What pushes the Tour Pro 3’s design to the next level is the smart case with touchscreen display. Not only is it eye-grabbing and a reasonable size, but it also serves multiple purposes (more on that later).
Very few aesthetic changes were made to the AirPods Pro 2. Apple added a touch volume strip on each bud, along with the AirPods 3’s skin-detect sensors for improved wear detection. The buds provide a more comfortable and secure fit than the Tour Pro 3. If only they didn’t have the same fragile construction as previous entries. The MagSafe charging case with built-in speaker is useful for when you misplace the product. It also shares the same IP rating as the buds: IP54.
Winner: JBL Tour Pro 3
AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Controls
The Tour Pro 3’s touch controls are responsive and register commands with precision. Digital assistance is just as reliable, thanks to JBL’s 6-mic array that demonstrates solid speech recognition for hands-free voice commands. Another way to control the buds is through the smart case. Users can enable most functions on the touchscreen.
As great as the Tour Pro 3 operate, we still find the AirPods Pro 2’s control scheme more practical. Apple's force sensors produce excellent tactile feedback that ensures listeners of intended commands are being met. The touch sensors allow for seamless volume adjustment. Then there’s “Hey Siri” voice activation to instantly fire up the feature when speaking the wake-word phrase and registering voice commands as quickly as it executes them.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2
AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Sound quality
An 11mm driver, balanced armature driver, and countless audio settings provide the Tour Pro 3 with terrific, well-rounded sound. Emphasized bass gives music a lively presence. You can modify frequencies through the customizable EQ or by selecting from several fine-tuned presets. The Personi-Fi feature effectively develops a sound profile based on your hearing. LDAC codec support dynamically scales bitrate to reveal more clarity and detail in recordings (Android only). Several other features are accessible to personalize sound, such as Left/Right Sound Balance, Max Volume Limiter, and Spatial Sound, which is JBL’s 3D audio format that can benefit from better vocal delivery. Lastly, the smart case can retransmit hi-res audio to the buds when plugged into a compatible audio jack. This comes in handy for older audio devices (e.g., iPod Classic, MP3 players) and in-flight entertainment consoles.
The AirPods Pro 2 have an adaptive EQ that automatically tweaks sound on the fly, and it does this very well. A new low-distortion driver and custom amplifier create rich bass and dynamic frequency response. Highs aren’t as clear as they are on the Tour Pro 3, but features like Headphone Accommodations for tuning audio balance/range/brightness help balance frequency range. Apple’s Personalized Spatial Audio mode produces convincing surround sound when watching Dolby Atmos content and live performances.
Winner: JBL Tour Pro 3
AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Active noise canceling performance
Apple’s noise-canceling technology eliminates up to 90 percent of unwanted sounds. Adaptive Transparency widely increases situational awareness, while also reducing harsh environmental noises. The AirPods Pro 2’s listening modes don’t stop there. Conversation Boost emphasizes vocals during chats. Live Listen transforms your iPhone into a live mic that captures sounds and sends them to the AirPods. Conversation Awareness lowers the volume when detecting someone’s voice. Personalized Volume tweaks sound based on the noise levels around you. And if that weren’t enough, new health features are launching this fall to protect your hearing when listening to music.
We’re impressed with the Tour Pro 3’s noise cancellation. These buds block out 85 percent of background noise. The adjustable six-level ANC mode guarantees better results than Adaptive ANC mode. Low- and mid-frequency sounds are muted. Only a handful of high-frequency sounds creep onto the soundstage. The foam tips increase noise isolation when listening to music with ANC off. Ambient Aware opens the mics wide to hear incidental sounds loudly and clearly. TalkThru is also clutch for wanting to hold conversations without removing the buds.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2
AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Call quality
You can expect serviceable call quality from both sets of buds. The AirPods Pro 2 have clearer voice calling with decent noise reduction, whereas the Tour Pro 3 have decent voice calling with exceptional noise reduction. Either entry is sufficient for when you need to make a call in a pinch.
Winner: Tie
AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Connectivity
The Tour Pro 3 are more platform-friendly, thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 with dual-device pairing and one-tap Google Fast Pair for Android devices. They pair quickly with iOS/macOS as well. JBL’s buggy app is the only connectivity grievance.
Despite the AirPods Pro 2 lacking multipoint technology, they offer the more intuitive wireless experience by instantly pairing to any iCloud-linked Apple device. Auto switching makes it easy to jump from an iPhone to iPad to MacBook Pro. Furthermore, the majority of features tied to Apple’s ecosystem are placed at your fingertips.
Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2
AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Battery life
While the AirPods Pro 2 have received a boost in battery life (up to 7 hours per charge), they fall short of Tour Pro 3’s listening time, which is up to 11 hours per charge. Both charging cases hold a max of 30 hours and support wireless charging. Quick charging goes to the Tour Pro 3, which nets listeners 4 hours of use on a 10-minute charge. That’s significantly more powerful than Apple’s Fast-Fuel charging technology that generates 1 hour of use on a 5-minute charge.
Winner: JBL Tour Pro 3
AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Verdict
In the end, Apple wins by a hair. Smart connectivity combined with effective noise cancellation, surprisingly great sound, and the best true wireless control scheme out there give the AirPods Pro 2 an edge that very few competitors can match. Their battery life and design could be better, but these flaws don’t affect overall performance.
The Tour Pro 3 are a fantastic addition to the true wireless market and grant a ton of functionality for the price. Excellent sound, powerful ANC, and a multipurpose smart case are notable hallmarks. Where they lose major points is connectivity; the JBL Headphones app is marred by software bugs.
