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Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Whats different this time?

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Apple's Sept. 9 "Awe Dropping" event featured the debut of the Apple AirPods Pro 3, which will start shipping on Sept. 19. That gives you a little over a week to decide if you want to upgrade.

Apple last updated the AirPods Pro wireless earbuds back in 2023, when the company finally gave the AirPods Pro 2 a USB-C charging port. The AirPods Pro 2 hit the market a year earlier in 2022. In other words, Apple fans have been waiting three years for a proper AirPods Pro update.

So what does that update bring? We dive into AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2 comparisons below.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Price

Let's start with good news. Even as other headphones and earbuds get more expensive, the AirPods Pro 3 have the same retail price as the previous model.

  • AirPods Pro 3: $249

  • AirPods Pro 2: $249

It is worth noting that the AirPods Pro 2 are frequently on sale for $169, even reaching a record low of $149 over Prime Day. We don't expect to see them in stock for that much longer now that the Pro 3s are out, so if you're looking for a solid pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that won't break the bank, pick up the Pro 2 while you can.

AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Sound quality

This is hard to evaluate until we can review the new earbuds properly. For now, here's what we know

  • AirPods Pro 3: Personalized spatial audio with head tracking, new multiport acoustic audio design to improve spatial audio

  • AirPods Pro 2: Personalized spatial audio with head tracking

transparent view of left pro 3 airpod

The new acoustic design allows for even better sound quality on the Pro 3 earbuds.
Credit: Apple / Screenshot

Though the sound quality didn't take center stage of Apple's AirPods announcement (fair, considering how good the previous gen sounds), Apple didn't ignore it completely. The fruit company noted the third gen Pros will come with a new acoustic design that helps bring out the lows, mids, and highs, particularly in the spatial audio.

Apple also noted improvements to the sound of transparency mode, which is intriguing, considering the AirPods Pro already offer one of the best transparency modes out there.

AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Active noise cancellation

  • AirPods Pro 3: Double the ANC of the AirPods Pro 2

  • AirPods Pro 2: Double the active noise cancellation of the first-generation AirPods Pro

The AirPods Pro 2 have long been one of our favorite pairs of noise-cancelling earbuds, with Mashable's Stan Schroeder deeming their ANC so good that he called them "the first pair of earbuds I'd actually consider taking on an airplane (instead of my much larger and clunkier over-ear headphones)."

While we don't have our hands on them just yet, the fact that Apple claims the Pro 3's ANC has twice the noise-blocking power is also worth noting. The addition of foam in the ear tips (more on that below) also helps with passive ANC.

AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Design

  • AirPods Pro 3: Five sizes of foam-infused ear tips, IP57 water- and dust-resistance rating, smaller body with updated ear tip alignment, H2 chip

  • AirPods Pro 2: Three sizes of silicone ear tips, IP54 water- and dust-resistance rating, H2 chip

Apple kept the general design of the earbuds the same, and the chipset exactly the same. However, they did make improvements, offering more choices of ear tips, as well as foam-lined ear tips for better passive noise cancellation.

In their efforts to make the AirPods Pro an even better earbud for working out, they made the earbud itself even smaller, and increased the IP rating, so you can worry less while you sweat more.

person planking while wearing airpods pro 3

The improved IP-rating of the AirPods Pro 3 makes them a better option for exercise.
Credit: Apple

AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Battery life

  • AirPods Pro 3: Eight hours per charge

  • AirPods Pro 2: Six hours per charge, 30 hours with case

While we don't have confirmation on the case battery life just yet, the two hour per charge improvement is a solid one, especially considering the norm for most noise-cancelling earbuds these days is leaning toward the seven to eight hour range.

AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Health features

  • AirPods Pro 3: Hearing Aid mode, heart rate monitoring, custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, Apple Fitness app compatibility, Workout Buddy

  • AirPods Pro 2: Hearing Aid mode

Two people talking at cafe table while wearing airpods pro 3

The Hearing Aid feature is one of many health features found on the AirPods Pro 3.
Credit: Apple

Apple went all-in on the fitness features with the AirPods Pro 3, adding a heart rate monitor (a la the Powerbeats Pro 2), as well as the ability to use the Apple Fitness app on your iPhone to start up to 50 different workout types, track calories burned, and close Move rings. This is made possible by the combination of the monitoring from the PPG sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and GPS found in the buds.

Alongside the Fitness app compatibility, the AirPods Pro 3 also work with your iPhone for a new feature, Workout Buddy, which was announced during WWDC earlier this year. Workout Buddy uses Apple Intelligence to combine workout data and fitness history to generate goals.

AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Live translation

  • AirPods Pro 3: Includes live translation feature

  • AirPods Pro 2: No live translation available

The AirPods Pro 3 got the rumored live translation feature, which allows for automatic translation in-person in French English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with availability for Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) slated to come later this year.

While wearing the AirPods Pro 3, users can use their iPhone as a display to the non-AirPods wearer to show the transcription of the conversation, which gets translated directly in the AirPods-wearer's ear. More instantaneous translation can happen in both people in the conversation have the Pro 3 AirPods, with the earbuds' ANC automatically lowering the actual voices of each speaker so the translation is easier to hear.

Where to buy AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3


AirPods Pro 2

Apple AirPods Pro 2

$199
(Save $50)

apple airpods pro 2

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NYT Strands hints, answers for April 24, 2026

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A game being played on a smartphone.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're rowdy.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Hullabaloo

The words are related to sound.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ruckus.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Lets Get Loud.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for April 24

  • Shout

  • Holler

  • Clamor

  • Lets Get Loud

  • Bellow

  • Whoop

  • Caterwaul

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

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Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 24, 2026

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Wordle game on a smartphone

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good drink.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Intoxicated.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is…

DRUNK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

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FCC challenges gender identity themes on kids TV

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A young girl watches TV with remote in her hand.

The Federal Communications Commission is using the presence of "controversial gender identity issues" in children's television programming as a pretense for questioning how TV ratings are developed and enforced, according to a notice published Wednesday by the federal agency.

The notice generally assesses TV ratings, but specifically points out that these industry guidelines have rated shows featuring "transgender and gender non-binary programming" as appropriate for children. It argues that parents aren't provided this information, "thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families."

In the document, the FCC poses a series of open-ended questions about TV ratings development, including whether the board responsible for the guidelines is "sufficiently balanced" with viewpoints outside of the entertainment industry and if faith-based organizations should be represented in the body.

"What more could the board do to include family-oriented perspectives — which are not well represented in the media industry — in its ratings process?" the notice asks.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the public notice on X, explaining that "parents have raised concerns with the industry's approach." He added that these parents believe "New York & Hollywood programmers" promote objectionable content in kids programming without disclosing that to parents. Carr didn't mention gender identity in his X post.

TV parents guidelines can include both a rating as well as descriptors for content that includes crude language, sexual situations, and violence.

LGBTQ+ advocates criticized the public notice, arguing that it amounted to discrimination and censorship.

"Trump's FCC is trying to turn transgender people into a warning label," Tyler Hack, executive director of the transgender rights advocacy group Christopher Street Project, said in a statement. "It is dehumanizing, and it is part of a broader political strategy to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people in every corner of public life."

Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, described the notice as government overreach.

"Media companies must be allowed to create and broadcast stories that reflect one-quarter of their audience without interference from a government agency with its own anti-transgender political agenda," Ellis said in a statement.

This isn't the first time Carr has been accused of censorship. Carr has claimed broadcasters air "hoaxes" and "news distortions" that also happen to be unfavorable to President Trump. Carr has suggested the licenses of such broadcasters won't be renewed.

In March, dozens of free speech experts argued in an open letter to Carr that his threats against broadcasters are "unlawful jawboning" and his vague characterization of "fake news" violates the First Amendment. The authors called on Carr to "withdraw" his threats.

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