We can all thank Apple for where the truly wireless headphone market has landed in recent years. Following the incredible success of the original AirPods, the entire headphone market has transformed and we’re the better for it. While Apple doesn’t release new options every year, that’s for good reason as Apple simply doesn’t need to. This is evidenced by the fact that Apple is keeping the AirPods 2 around even now that the AirPods 3 have been released.
But the big question on many people’s minds might be whether Apple has done enough with the latest iteration in order to warrant an upgrade. That’s exactly what we’re going to try and determine, along with helping you decide if you should grab the AirPods 3 even if you’ve never used AirPods before.
With the AirPods 3, Apple introduced a semi-drastic redesign, as these new AirPods look more like the AirPods Pro and less like their predecessors. This means we have an angled oblong bean acting as the “pod” and shorter stems. The shorter stem helps keep the AirPods 3 in place in your ear, resting against your ear without “dangling” below it very much.
As someone who has exclusively been using AirPods Pro whenever I leave the house with my iPhone, I was intrigued to see how the AirPods 3 actually performed. Another big reason why the AirPods 3 were interesting is that Apple brought the Pro’s design to these new earbuds but you won’t find any silicone ear tips.
Part of this was done to help differentiate the AirPods 3 from the AirPods Pro. If you happened to see two sets of AirPods next to one another, but only one of them were the Pro, it would be rather frustrating and you could end up getting confused.
But how well do the AirPods 3 perform in daily use? Well, if you don’t care about active noise cancellation or Transparency mode, they are simply amazing. These are great earbuds for those who just want some headphones to listen to music or take phone calls while still being able to be aware of their surroundings. Apple also went the extra mile with the AirPods 3 and introduced a few features that were previously limited to the AirPods Pro. These include the likes of Spatial Audio and better wear detection sensors.
Battery life is just what you would expect, reaching the six hours of juice on a single charge with ease. This does get cut down to between four and five hours if Spatial Audio is enabled. As someone who wears headphones and earbuds all day long, battery life is key so that is something that quickly was turned off.
There’s one final piece that I want to touch on with the AirPods 3. MagSafe. Apple’s re-introduction of MagSafe with the iPhone 12 has transformed how I use my different phones, even with the Android phones that I use. But until now, it hasn’t been available with the AirPods. Not only can you slap your AirPods 3 charging case on a MagSafe puck, but it will snap into place ensuring that you don’t misalign the case with the charger. It’s been a Godsend to use, and I never have to worry about grabbing my AirPods and not having a charge.
AirPods 3 Review: What We Don’t
The AirPods 3 are really great headphones that should be considered by anyone who is in the market. However, the fit may not be exactly the greatest depending on the size of your ears. One of the benefits of using the AirPods Pro doesn’t have anything to do with ANC or Spatial Audio. Instead, it’s the fact that the ear tips provide a seal and help keep the earbuds actually in your ears.
Apple’s decision to move away from the more-traditional AirPods design this time around could leave you feeling a bit frustrated. Admittedly, the first time I used the AirPods 3, I had to take them out after about an hour. That’s because my ears are used to using ear-tips, so essentially I had a bit of fatigue as my ears needed to get used to this different design. This is definitely a case of “your mileage may vary”, so it’s something to be aware of.
Another area where we didn’t really see the point is in the inclusion of Spatial Audio. Is it noticeable when using the AirPods 3? Absolutely. But perhaps it’s because I’ve been spoiled by the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, but I didn’t get the same feeling that I did when trying it for the first time on either of the other AirPods models. This feels like Apple just implemented a feature just for the sake of being able to do so, and it adds to the whole marketing machine. But the AirPods 3 would have been just fine without them.
Speaking of the marketing machine, this brings me to my last point, and that’s the price. The Apple Tax with products and accessories is a real thing, and I just don’t know whether the AirPods 3 are worth its $179 price tag. At the time of this writing, you might be able to save upwards of $20, which makes them more appealing. However, when I can get non-AirPods that include Active Noise Cancellation and longer battery life for less than $150, it’s a potentially tough pill to swallow.
AirPods 3 Review: Should You Buy Them?
The most obvious answer here is that if you already own either the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, you should skip the AirPods 3. The AirPods Pro already offers better audio quality along with Active Noise Cancelation and Transparency modes.
But if your AirPods 2 are getting a bit long in the tooth, or you’re looking to upgrade from the OG AirPods, then you should definitely at least give these a shot. The fit could be a bit odd at first, but give your ears a chance to adjust and you’ll likely end up with another set of AirPods that you’ll find yourself using for years to come.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
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