The AirPods Pro 2 are old now. They're certainly the oldest of the "big buds," with more years on the clock than both the Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. And no, the USB-C update does not count as a new pair of buds.
So now we're expecting the new AirPods Pro 3. There are signs pointing to an imminent release for Apple's next entrant into the best earbuds category, pegged for this year's September Apple event.
We've even got a picture of what kind of features to expect from the buds, from a built-in heart rate monitor to live translation. But there's only one thing I care about when it comes to Apple's next pair of earbuds, and it's none of those. It's the sound.
Unfortunately, a sonic upgrade isn't a given.
Where they can improve
I should start by reminding myself that the AirPods Pro 2 don't sound bad. Far from it, in fact — they sound quite good. Apple always opts for a more detailed and neutral sound profile than its closest rivals, and it's earned them some extra brownie points amongst audio fans. Unfortunately, the competition has moved on and built even better sound into their buds.
When you compare the AirPods Pro 2 to the earbuds of their day, such as the WF-1000XM4, they stack up well. Against more recent options, they fall over. There's a wider soundstage and more clarity to Sony's XM5 in-ears, and more bass depth in the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Upstarts have arrived too, which prove you don't have to spend loads to get epic sound. Take the $299 Noble Fokus Amadeus and their incredible, audiophile sound that completely smokes the AirPods, for example.
Apple is good at sound. The AirPods Max sound very good to this day, and the HomePod 2 is a great-sounding smart speaker. So I'd really like to see some sonic updates come to the firm's earbuds.
Greater detail in the top end is the order of the day. I want the cymbals to ring out and each pluck of a guitar string to be crystal clear. I'd like to be able to hear the nuances of my favorite classical tracks, like when the conductor shuffles their papers. The bits of audio that Sony and Bose struggle with, and what the AirPods Max do pretty well.
I'd also like more bass depth, and a wider soundstage beyond Spatial Audio in Apple Music. More impact on drum beats and bass notes, so that you can really get involved in your music. Spatial imaging improvements so that I can place the instruments better in the mix, while providing greater immersion.
I know Apple has it in it, but there is part of me that's slightly concerned I'm not going to get what I want. Let me tell you why.
The AirPods 4 conundrum
It's no great secret that I'm not the biggest fan of the AirPods 4. They weren't the upgrade I was hoping for in the audio department, instead sounding vastly the same as the AirPods 3 that came before them. Instead of an upgrade to the sound, we got worse battery life, Spatial Audio and a version with noise canceling.
There is a small part of me that's worried the AirPods Pro 3 will suffer a similar sonic fate. I'm worried that the AirPods Pro 3 will sound the same as the AirPods Pro 2, and that concerns me for the future of sound quality in Apple gear altogether.
I was really hoping that "improvements to audio quality" would be a given. That I could count on sound improving steadily throughout a line's lifetime, without worrying about feature creep getting in the way. The AirPods 4, unfortunately, have proved me wrong.
Is Apple focussing on the wrong things?
There are, apparently, loads of features we've got to look forward to in the upcoming AirPods Pro 3. There are potential upgrades to some of the buds' health features, like hearing health, to make them even better for those who are hard of hearing. There are other health measuring sensors coming as well, with rumors pointing towards the heart rate monitor in the Beats PowerBeats Pro 2 as evidence. There might even be a body temperature sensor for even more health metrics.
There are rumblings about AI features as well, including some form of live translation. Duolingo, eat your feathered heart out — I don't need to learn Spanish anymore, my buds do it for me.
But that raises further concerns. As more and more "things" get packed into what are already incredibly small devices, something has to take a back seat — and as we've seen with the AirPods 4, those things tend to be audio quality and battery life. Battery life, I can just about get over, but the sound? No, I need that to be good.
As audio devices first and foremost, earbuds should sound good. That, in my mind, should be where the attention goes. Making sure that the music my buds play sounds incredible, so that I can enjoy my music on the go.
But it occurs to me that Apple might not agree. The AirPods are an extension of an ecosystem of devices, which need to be good at lots of things so that the ecosystem can thrive. Sound might not be a priority anymore, as earbuds become more ingrained in health and fitness. To me, that feels like a shame — and it worries me for the future of the earbuds category.
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