When the AirPods Pro 3 launched, I found them a worthy upgrade to the AirPods Pro 2. They were more secure, sounded (to my ears at least) better, and offered a much-welcome battery life increase.
But now that I've been testing the AirPods Pro 3 for a few months, I've noticed some issues that I missed in my initial assessment. They're still some of the best wireless earbuds you can buy — but my recommendation comes with some caveats from now on. Here's why.
The good
The AirPods Pro 3 get a lot right, as you might expect from Apple's premier earbuds. They're a worthy successor to the AirPods Pro 2, with plenty of upgrades that keep them fresh and new.
The ANC is a good example. The 2nd Gen model blocked out plenty of noise, sure, but the AirPods Pro 3 kick things up a notch, taking the fight handily to its main rivals, Sony and Bose.
There seems to have been blocking improvements across the board, with attention paid to a range of frequencies. There's greater low-end performance, making sure that bus engines are silenced.
Nearby chatter is all but eliminated, and the algorithm is very good at finding loud noises and blocking them out. The AirPods Pro 3 are up there with the best noise-canceling earbuds, that's for sure.
The battery life is also a massive bonus. The extra hours that Apple has packed make them a vastly better option than the previous model, with 10 hours of listening when you're using the transparency mode. 8 hours with ANC turned on is a big improvement over 6 hours as well.
The inclusion of wireless charging and the fast charge over USB-C are both big boons for the buds. The case is smooth and easy to fit into a pocket. They're still a great pair of earbuds for a range of different users — but use them long enough and some issues start to crop up.
The bad
After a few months of testing, not everything is so rosy for the AirPods Pro 3. The first issue that I've found? The sound quality of the buds doesn't stand up to scrutiny.
The AirPods Pro 2 had a very neutral sound profile. It was one of the buds' greatest strengths, further setting them apart from the likes of the Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
The AirPods Pro 3 do not have a very neutral sound profile. There are improvements over the last model. There's slightly more detail, and the sound is slightly more weighty. In return, we've lost a sense of liveliness and fun in return for more dynamic bass, bringing them right in line with the Sony and Bose options.
That's a shame. On initial impression, the AirPods Pro 3 sound good. But extended listening and experience have shown me that they're a disappointing departure from what were some unique-sounding earbuds.
The ugly
There are a few features that have become genuine irritations: The AirPods Pro 3 are, indeed, more secure than the AirPods Pro 2. They've changed shape to make sure that they stay firmly in your ear without the risk of falling out.
And that change isn't universally loved. Erin, one of our review team's senior writers, outright doesn't like the fit of the AirPods Pro 3 and has chosen to stick with the old model.
I'm not quite to that level. I find them less offensive, but I am not immune to the problems of their new shape. They now dig into your ear where the old model did not, and the new eartips reach further inside your ears.
It doesn't matter which of Apple's new eartips you try, from the XS fitting buds to the XL options; the shape of the buds has changed to a degree that makes them more uncomfortable for some users, myself included.
Should you buy them?
Despite my issues, the AirPods Pro 3 are still good earbuds for the majority of users. Their sound is generally pleasing, and the ANC is excellent by any standard.
That's not forgetting the extra features — the heart rate monitor and live translation — which make them a great option for iPhone and the Apple ecosystem faithful. What I would say, however, is that the purchasing decision now needs more careful thought.
There are plenty of options out there, including Sony and Bose earbuds, that are vying for your attention — and you can find them all on our list of the best wireless earbuds.
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