the better version of the AirPods Pro?

Finally, the AirPods have received a completely new successor. According to Apple, the AirPods 3 have a better fit and better sound. In addition, they shine with a number of ‘Pro’ features. You can read who these earbuds are for in our AirPods 3 review.

The New Pro-Like Design

A practical design, great ease of use and solid sound: it is not without reason that the AirPods have been extremely popular since their launch in 2016. Now Apple has completely revamped the standard version of its wireless earbuds for the first time.

Apple says it has processed all feedback from previous generations of AirPods and performed thousands of ear scans and measurements. The result is a modified design, which is somewhere in between the predecessors and more expensive AirPods Pro. The biggest design difference with the Pros is that the AirPods 3 do not have silicone attachments.

The pros and cons of the design

The lack of those attachments is both an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand, it means that the new AirPods don’t completely close off your ear canal. This makes you less shielded from the ambient noise and the bass is (usually) a little less emphatic.

On the other hand, some users really like the fact that you don’t have to put the earplugs deep in your ears. Just like their direct predecessors, the AirPods 3 are a bit lighter and more comfortable in your ears. Moreover, some do not want to completely shut themselves off from the outside world and appreciate that some sound comes through.

With the thicker ‘heads’, the third-generation AirPods are slightly less airy, but tighter in your ears than the second generation. Because of this, you have to put in a lot of effort to make them fall out of your ears. However, you still notice them much less than the AirPods Pro. On the iPhonedWe find that the AirPods 3 are more comfortable to wear than the AirPods Pro and just as comfortable as the AirPods 1 and 2, but with the advantage of a tighter fit.

AirPods 3 review: how good do they sound?

The new earphones sound clearer and less ‘dull’ than their predecessors. This increases the intelligibility of the vocals on the one hand and makes the sound more spacious on the other. If you’re concerned that this detracts from the warmth of the music, we can reassure you. The tuning of the caps also fits perfectly with quieter songs, such as ‘Wasting my young years’ by London Grammar.

Apple has further boosted the bass without making it too obtrusive. As a result, Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ is even with the AirPods groovy, and with Depeche Mode’s ‘Enjoy the Silence’ also the low synths your eardrums. As for the bass, you’ll soon forget that your ear isn’t stuffed with silicone earplugs like traditional in-ear earphones. Cheers, Apple.

Just like the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, the AirPods 3 also adjust the sound to the ears via an automatic equalizer. The measurement for this is made possible by a microphone located on the ear-facing side of the earphones.

What we have to miss is the active noise cancellation of the more expensive AirPods Pro. As with the silicone attachments, however, this is only a problem if you want to completely shut yourself off from the outside world. It does not affect the sound quality and is therefore a matter of taste.

Spatial Audio and other sound features

As with the AirPods Pro (and unlike the AirPods 2), with the AirPods 3 you get the “Make stereo spatial” button in the iOS volume setting (in the Control Center). With this Spatial Audio, the sound is placed in a virtual space, as it were, and the vocals and instruments seem to come from different angles.

The result does indeed sound more spacious and less direct; it’s a little bit like listening to a live performance. Whether or not you like this sound is a matter of taste. Personally, we prefer to listen to as little modified music as possible, but there are probably users who appreciate this.

The dynamic head tracking, on the other hand, is genius. For example, if you’re watching a movie on your iPad and turn your head left or right, it sounds like the voices are still coming from the direction of the tablet. It’s a shame that the position of the playing device doesn’t matter, because the AirPods only measure your head movement with acceleration sensors, and not the distance to your iPhone or iPad.

New ear detection and charging of the AirPods 3

To prevent music from continuing to play when you remove the earbuds from your ear, Apple uses a new ear sensor with the AirPods 3. This recognizes your skin and therefore – unlike a normal proximity sensor – does not confuse your pocket with an ear. Also new is the resistance to water and sweat (IPX4), which is useful during sports.

From the AirPods Pro we already know the push button in the stem to control your music and the “Find My” integration to easily find lost AirPods. Other features, such as the battery status display, the link with all your devices via your Apple ID, Siri integration and audio sharing correspond to the previous generation. Unfortunately, there is no way to control the volume without Siri help.

The package also includes a Lightning to USB-C charging cable. So you can’t charge the case with an older iPhone charger. Qi and MagSafe charging mats are supported and the case magnetically snaps onto the latter. Will there ever be a possibility to charge the AirPods via your iPhone (reverse charging)? Only Apple knows that.

Prices of the AirPods and AirPods Pro

The AirPods 2 previously cost 179 euros at Apple without a wireless charging case. With the Qi-compatible box, the price was 229 euros. The latter remain in the shop and now cost 149 euros.

The AirPods 3 are available in only one version, always with wireless charging case for 199 euros. Apple continues to sell the AirPods Pro for 279 euros, now with a MagSafe charging case. In addition to this new Pro version, some stores also offer the discontinued model without MagSafe, at a much lower price. They cost just over 200 euros and are therefore almost as expensive as the AirPods 3.

Which is the better deal then depends on your preferences. Prefer a slightly more airy fit that allows ambient noise to pass through more easily? Opt for the AirPods 3. Is noise canceling essential for you and do you have no problem with in-ear buds? Then you have to go to the AirPods Pro.

Conclusion AirPods 3 review

Apple’s mission accomplished. The AirPods 3 are exactly the update that previous generation enthusiasts have been waiting for. The fit and sound have indeed improved and Spatial Audio and MagSafe are welcome additions. We would only opt for the AirPods Pro if you absolutely want active noise cancellation.

Buy AirPods 3 or AirPods Pro

Do you want to buy the AirPods 3 after reading this review? Or are you going for the AirPods Pro? Check out our price comparison with the best offers in a row.