Tech
Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Whats different this time?
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.
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AirPods Pro 3: $249
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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
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AirPods Pro 3: Personalized spatial audio with head tracking, new multiport acoustic audio design to improve spatial audio
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AirPods Pro 2: Personalized spatial audio with head tracking
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
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AirPods Pro 3: Double the ANC of the AirPods Pro 2
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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
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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
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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.
Credit: Apple
AirPods Pro 3 vs. 2: Battery life
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AirPods Pro 3: Eight hours per charge
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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
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AirPods Pro 3: Hearing Aid mode, heart rate monitoring, custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, Apple Fitness app compatibility, Workout Buddy
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AirPods Pro 2: Hearing Aid mode
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
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AirPods Pro 3: Includes live translation feature
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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.
AirPods Pro 3
Apple AirPods Pro 2
(Save $50)
TL;DR: Australia vs. Argentina in the 2025 Rugby Championship is available to live stream for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Australia have surprised a lot of people with their performances in the 2025 Rugby Championship. Fresh from beating South Africa in the opening round, they've now secured a victory over Argentina. Can they do the double over Los Pumas?
If you want to watch Australia vs. Argentina in the 2025 Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Australia vs. Argentina?
Australia vs. Argentina in the 2025 Rugby Championship starts at 2.30 p.m. AEST on Sept. 13. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Stadium.
How to watch Australia vs. Argentina for free
Australia vs. Argentina in the 2025 Rugby Championship is available to live stream for free on 9Now.
9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone from around the world can access this site with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Australia vs. Argentina in the 2025 Rugby Championship by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
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Visit 9Now
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Watch Australia vs. Argentina for free from anywhere in the world
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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to Australia vs. Argentina without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch top fixtures before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for 9Now?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Australia
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
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Up to eight simultaneous connections
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A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Australia vs. Argentina in the 2025 Rugby Championship for free with ExpressVPN.
Paramount+ Premium annual subscription
(save $60)
Paramount+ Premium for students
(save $6.50 per month)
Paramount+ Essential
(save $59.99 per year)
From returning favorites like Severance and Andor to new gems The Pitt and The Studio, 2025 has been another excellent year for TV. And those shows are just the tip of the iceberg.
Severance is Mashable's number one show of the year (so far) and the Television Academy apparently agrees. It racked up the most Emmy nominations of any show this year with more than two dozen. Other shows we loved have also received high praise from the Academy. Which series will take home the biggest awards at the 2025 Emmys? You'll have to watch to find out — here's how you can watch the Emmys live with or without cable in 2025.
When are the 2025 Emmys?
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will be held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, and will air live at 8 p.m. ET. This year's awards will be hosted by Grammy-nominated comedian Nate Bargatze. For those with cable or over-the-air TV, you can tune your TV to your local CBS station, watch online via CBS.com, or log into the CBS app with your pay TV service provider.
No cable access? No worries; we've rounded up the best ways to watch the Emmys live without cable below.
Who are this year's Emmy nominees?
While FX shows dominated last year's Emmys, this year the major awards are Apple TV+'s to lose. Both Severance and The Studio are poised to win big; the former with 27 total nominations and the latter with 23, tying The Bear's 2024 record of the most nominations for a comedy series in a single year. Other major contenders include The White Lotus (23 nominations), The Last of Us (16 nominations), Hacks (14 nominations), and The Penguin (24 nominations). See a full list of the 2025 Emmy nominations at the Television Academy website.
How to watch the Emmy Awards live without cable
Credit: CBS
This year, CBS is broadcasting the Emmy Awards live, which means its streaming counterpart, Paramount+, will also simulcast the ceremony. Only Paramount+ Premium subscribers will be able to stream the awards live; Paramount+ Essential subscribers can only watch the show on demand the day after it airs.
On the flip side, you can also use a digital TV antenna, a one-time purchase that will unlock all the local networks — ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC — within range. We'll leave the decision up to you.
If you're new to Paramount+, you're in luck. The streaming service is offering a fall promotion through Sept. 18 that saves you money on your plan. We've rounded up all the best deals for signing up below.
Best Paramount+ streaming deals
Best overall: 50% off annual Premium subscriptions
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New subscribers can sign up for an annual Paramount+ Premium plan for only $59.99 through Sept. 18. That's half the price of a usual annual plan and the same price as the Essential plan on a regular day. That means you can catch the Emmy Awards live, then enjoy ad-free viewing, the entire Showtime library, the ability to stream new episodes of Big Brother and FBI live as they air, and much more all year long. While you won't get a free trial, the savings are definitely worth it in the long run. Essential subscriptions are also half price — just $29.99 through Sept. 18 — but you won't be able to watch the awards live.
Best for students: 50% off monthly Premium subscriptions
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Students who want to watch the Emmy Awards can score a Paramount+ Premium subscription for only $6.49 per month (for one year) instead of $12.99 per month. That's 50% cheaper than a typical subscription, and you can cancel whenever you want. You'll just have to verify your student status to unlock the deal.
Best for Walmart shoppers: Free Paramount+ Essential with Walmart+
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A Walmart+ membership is the gift that keeps on giving. Like Amazon Prime, subscribing comes with many perks beyond free shipping. Walmart+ members can also enjoy Paramount+ Essential for free with their subscription. You won't be able to watch the Emmy Awards live, but you can watch the broadcast after it airs on your Essential account. New subscribers can also score a 30-day trial to kick things off.
Another option for watching live: Get a digital antenna
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For those who live decently close to your local TV station broadcast towers, a digital antenna is the best way to access broadcasts live and for free. These indoor antennas can be placed on your wall and hide behind your TV and offer — at the very least — your local CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC stations. Just be sure to check the distance and range before making a purchase.
The closer you are, the clearer your local broadcasts will come through. Our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) have a few recommendations, including this basic one from Best Buy that retails for just $24.99. It's reversible to match your decor, multidirectional, and has a range of 50 miles.
SAVE $20: As of Sept. 12, get the Craftsman Mechanics Tool Set for $39.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $59.98. That's a discount of 33% and the lowest price we've seen.
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Do you have a set of projects that need doing around the house? No tools to complete them with? This Amazon deal can get you together with some of the tools you need to finish up, whether you're working on home maintenance like plumbing or general repairs or some automotive tasks. Plus, it's on sale for a great price.
As of Sept. 12, get the Craftsman Mechanics Tool Set for $39.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $59.98. That's $20 off and a discount of 33%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.
This 61-piece tool set comes with 3/8-inch drivers, with a low-profile 72-tooth ratchet. The ratchet head is about 25% thinner than some of Craftsman's other models. You also get a variety of 6-point sockets and drive tools for better grip on fasteners. It's a good selection of options that can help you accomplish a wide spectrum of tasks. Plus, it all comes in a handy case to keep it all organized.
Should you run into any issues, Craftsman also offers a full lifetime warranty on this tool set, so you'll be covered if something doesn't work the way it should or you have a faulty tool that gives out on you. That way you can feel good about buying, even if this is a lower end set of tools that won't break the bank.
Be ready to tackle all your DIY projects this fall while you're hanging out around the house and save some serious cash while doing it.
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