AirPods Pro 3 Review: A Month With Apple’s Most Complex Upgrade
▼ Summary
– AirPods Pro 3 received widespread praise for their improved audio quality and active noise cancellation compared to previous models.
– The reviewer experienced fit and comfort issues with the new design, finding them less comfortable than AirPods Pro 2 despite trying all ear tip sizes.
– Battery life improvements are mixed, with longer single-charge duration but reduced overall capacity in the charging case compared to the previous generation.
– The reviewer considers AirPods Pro 3 both an upgrade and downgrade simultaneously due to the trade-offs between enhanced features and new drawbacks.
– Despite the mixed experience, the reviewer would still recommend AirPods Pro 3 to others and doesn’t regret upgrading.
After spending a full month with Apple’s latest wireless earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3 present a nuanced upgrade that delivers remarkable improvements alongside unexpected compromises. While the audio performance and noise cancellation capabilities reach new heights, comfort and battery logistics introduce complications not present in the previous generation.
The initial consensus among reviewers praised these earbuds as a straightforward enhancement, with many declaring Apple’s best had gotten even better. Having relied heavily on AirPods Pro 2, the new model appeared on paper to be a clear winner across the board. In several key areas, this has held true. The improved audio quality and more powerful active noise cancellation (ANC) are immediately noticeable and genuinely impressive. These two features represent the core of the AirPods experience for many users, and their enhancement is significant.
However, the transition hasn’t been as seamless as with past upgrades. The experience with AirPods Pro 3 is more complex, primarily due to challenges with fit and the practical implications of battery life.
Apple introduced a redesigned shape for the AirPods Pro 3, promising a superior fit for a wider range of users. For this reviewer, the opposite has been true. The new design feels less comfortable than the AirPods Pro 2, representing a noticeable step back. Experimenting with all included ear tip sizes revealed a persistent problem. The medium-sized tips provide the only workable solution, passing the built-in acoustic seal test without causing significant pain. Larger tips pass the test but are uncomfortable, while smaller sizes are more comfortable but fail to create an adequate seal for optimal noise cancellation.
This creates a user dilemma. You can prioritize comfort by choosing smaller tips, but this sacrifices the performance of the flagship ANC feature. Alternatively, you can endure mild discomfort to access the full capabilities of the earbuds. So far, the choice has been to tolerate the discomfort for the sake of audio quality.
Battery life presents another mixed bag. Apple boasts eight hours of listening time on a single charge, a solid increase from the six hours offered by the Pro 2. The trade-off, however, comes from the charging case. The total combined battery life has been reduced from 30 hours to just 24 hours. While enjoying longer sessions between case charges is welcome, the overall reduction means the case requires more frequent charging. It has become another device added to the nightly charging routine, not out of strict necessity, but to avoid the annoyance of low-battery warnings appearing more often than preferred.
A month of use reveals a product that is harder to judge than anticipated. The AirPods Pro 2 set an incredibly high bar, making any successor a challenging act to follow. The superior sound and exceptional noise cancellation are deeply appreciated. Additional features like the integrated heart rate sensor, while not heavily utilized, are nice bonuses. Ultimately, the decision to upgrade isn’t one that is regretted.
These earbuds still come with a strong recommendation. They remain excellent wireless earbuds, and for users who don’t encounter the fit issue, they are likely a near-perfect upgrade. For those who do struggle with comfort, the experience may fall short of expectations. The journey with AirPods Pro 3 is one of spectacular highs countered by frustrating practicalities.
(Source: 9to5 Mac)
