Apple AirPods Pro 3 Review – More Than Just Headphones

Experience next-level noise cancellation and advanced features with Apple AirPods Pro 3, but is comfort compromised?

AirPods Pro 3 are the worthy heirs to one of the most iconic audio lineups on the planet. Their predecessor, AirPods Pro 2, set a sky-high bar with top-tier sound quality, powerful active noise cancellation (ANC), and a treasure trove of smart features—from hearing aid functionality to seamless Apple ecosystem integration. Now, Apple promises double the ANC strength compared to the previous generation. That’s quite the claim, hinting at the best in-ear noise-cancelling earbuds on the market.

Throw in new foam ear tips available in five sizes, improved sound, heart rate monitoring, IP57 water resistance, enhanced “Find My” capabilities, and live translation—and you’ve got an even more compelling package. The tried-and-true features like adaptive EQ, personalized spatial audio, speech amplification, and hearing protection remain intact. Plus, battery life stretches from 6 to 8 hours. Small upgrade, but appreciated. Ready for a deep dive? Let’s get into it.

Design: Familiar Shape, Subtle Tweaks

If you've ever used Apple’s EarPods or earlier AirPods Pro, the recognizable design is a comforting sight. Apple hasn’t abandoned this classic silhouette.

However, with the third generation Pro, Apple made some thoughtful adjustments. The angle of the ear tips shifted to be more perpendicular to the earbud body, helping with a deeper and more secure fit. The stem—the “pear-shaped” section—also shrank slightly to improve comfort and stability, especially during workouts.

Another fresh change is the ear tips. Apple expanded the range to five sizes, adding an XXS option—likely aimed at kids or those with very small ears. The real innovation is the hybrid foam-silicone ear tip. Foam is inserted inside the thicker part of the silicone tip, giving you the noise isolation benefits of foam (which molds perfectly to your ear canal) while maintaining durability and resistance to wear. Clever, but more on comfort later.

Visually, these earbuds look almost indistinguishable from their predecessors when worn, and they only come in Apple’s signature glossy white—a bright, almost blinding shade that stands out no matter where you are. It’s like wearing tiny reflectors in your ears.

As for the charging case, it’s slightly bigger—2 mm wider and taller—but thinner, making it pocket-friendly. Interestingly, it’s lighter by nearly 7 grams due to a smaller internal battery. The physical pairing button is gone; now you double-tap below the bright LED light to pair. The case includes a speaker for status alerts and supports wireless MagSafe, Apple Watch, and Qi charging.

One small gripe? The glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet and scuffs quickly—unfortunately, the white only partially hides the wear.

Comfort: A Trade-Off for Noise Cancellation

Comfort and sound quality are the twin pillars for any headphone, and here’s where AirPods Pro 3’s story gets complicated.

Apple deliberately switched to foam-insert ear tips to enhance noise cancellation. Foam ear tips are common in premium in-ears because they expand to fit the unique shape of your ear canal, creating an almost perfect seal. The downside? That expanding foam pushes against your ear canal walls, which can get uncomfortable over time.

For me, wearing them means constantly feeling the tips in my ears, unlike traditional silicone tips which tend to fade into the background after a while. This leads to noticeable fatigue after a couple of hours.

I tried switching to the smaller size tips to ease discomfort, but then the noise cancellation suffered—more outside noise crept in without the perfect seal. It’s a classic comfort vs. noise isolation dilemma.

These earbuds do sit firmly in your ears initially, but foam can slowly “push” them out, making them less reliable during intense activities. For workouts, accessories like Powerbeats Pro 2 or Powerbeats Fit might be better bets.

Also, the ear tips’ locking mechanism is tricky. Removing them takes effort, and there’s no friction or lever to help. A dry cloth helps grip better when changing tips.

Luckily, the Apple ecosystem is vast, and third-party replacement tips are already flooding the market. These might improve comfort, though with some trade-offs in sound isolation.

Software and Features: Deep Apple Integration

AirPods Pro 3 shine brightest when paired with Apple devices—iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and even the Vision Pro headset. While they can connect to third-party devices for basic functions like audio and calls, many premium features are Apple-exclusive.

Pairing is effortless: just open the case near your iPhone and tap to connect—no additional apps needed. Apple’s settings on iOS and macOS provide access to a vast array of customization options, though some remain hidden in Accessibility or Control Center menus—Mac users, take note!

Here’s a taste of what AirPods Pro 3 can do beyond basic ANC:

• Personalized volume adjustment adapting to ambient noise
• Conversation detection that lowers music volume and activates transparency mode when you speak
• Adaptive transparency that dulls loud noises like sirens without muting everything
• Custom spatial audio profiles created by scanning your ear shape via iPhone’s IR camera
• Auto-pause when AirPods detect you’ve fallen asleep
• Shake your head to answer or reject calls
• “Find My” integration with sound and location alerts
• Sharing audio with two pairs of AirPods or Beats from a single device

A standout feature is the beta live translation: download language packs, and the earbuds translate conversations in real time. Currently supporting six languages, including English, it’s a promising tool that needs more polish to handle fast speech gracefully.

Health Tracking: Heart Rate Monitoring Debuts

Apple introduced heart rate tracking previously on Powerbeats Pro 2, and now it’s in AirPods Pro 3, using a tiny invisible light sensor—smaller than on Beats and less conspicuous than green LEDs. Unlike Beats, which only show heart rate during workouts, AirPods Pro 3 stream data continuously to Apple’s Health app, acting like a fitness tracker.

While they don’t replace dedicated fitness trackers (no sleep or oxygen tracking), for casual users who don’t wear a watch, these earbuds offer surprisingly useful workout tracking.

Performance: Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation

Sound Quality

Apple claims improved sound with richer bass, clearer vocals, and a wider soundstage. The AirPods Pro 3 sport a bold V-shaped sound signature, a shift from the more neutral previous generation.

Those sub-bass hits come in strong, surprising at first—a genuine bass lover’s delight. The low-end boost targets deep frequencies, avoiding muddy mid-bass, which is refreshing. But the sub-bass can sometimes overpower the mix.

High frequencies are equally energetic but verge on harshness, with piercing sibilance and shimmer that can fatigue the ears on brighter tracks. The midrange, meanwhile, feels a bit overshadowed, playing second fiddle to booming bass and sparkling trebles.

Overall, the sound can feel shouty and tiring, a departure from Apple’s traditionally balanced Pro tuning. Perhaps this caters to mainstream tastes shaped by cheaper earbuds or fitness users craving pump-up vibes. Whatever the reason, it’s less refined and less audiophile-friendly.

Apple doesn’t offer a system-wide equalizer, which feels like a missed opportunity. While iOS Music app presets and Spotify’s EQ exist, many apps lack EQ controls. The adaptive EQ tries to compensate by tweaking sound based on ear fit, but it can get annoying—especially boosting bass at low volumes, making relaxation tough.

Soundstage and detail are adequate but not outstanding, partly limited by Apple’s reliance on the aging AAC codec for wireless audio, except for the Vision Pro, which uses a special low-latency, lossless codec for ultra-short distances.

Noise Cancellation

Where AirPods Pro 3 truly shine is noise cancellation. The passive isolation from foam tips combined with the ANC system creates one of the most surreal experiences ever—noise gradually fades away until it’s like you’re wrapped in silence.

While not quite rivaling full over-ear headphones, these earbuds deliver stellar ANC, and it’s the main reason to buy them.

Transparency mode is similarly impressive, offering the most natural ambient sound experience I’ve heard—so natural you might forget you’re even wearing earbuds.

The adaptive mode blends ANC and transparency, muting loud noises while keeping important sounds audible—a perfect balance for staying aware yet undistracted.

Apple’s investment in hearing health features embedded within these modes is remarkable, allowing those with hearing challenges to experience the world with greater clarity.

Microphone Quality

The AirPods Pro 3 mic quality is outstanding—clearer than most Bluetooth headsets and rivaling wired options. Great for voice and video calls.

Apple likely uses a proprietary protocol to deliver high-quality audio through both earbuds and mic simultaneously without compromise, ideal for gaming and calls.

They even work as a mic for video recording, though audio is mono, unlike the stereo mics built into iPhones.

Latency and Connectivity

Latency is impressively low, with no noticeable lag in tested apps. iOS and macOS can optimize audio for gaming to further reduce delay.

Connectivity

Connectivity is rock solid with a long range, thanks to the simple yet reliable AAC codec.

They don’t pair with multiple devices traditionally but link to your Apple ID, allowing seamless auto-switching across your Apple gear. Start playing music on your Mac, then switch to your iPhone, and the earbuds follow you effortlessly.

All this works so smoothly you won’t miss the traditional multi-device pairing. In fact, it’s better.

Battery Life: Longer Listening, Fewer Charges

Apple claims 8 hours of continuous playback—up from 6 in the previous generation. However, the case battery is smaller, reducing total playback from 30 to 24 hours. That means only three full charges from the case compared to five before.

Informal testing found actual total playback just over 24 hours, slightly exceeding Apple’s claim.

Longer earbud battery life suits long flights and marathon listening sessions, but you’ll need to recharge the case more often. Wireless charging helps convenience but may accelerate battery wear.

Conclusion: A Mixed Bag of Innovation and Compromise

AirPods Pro 3 are undeniably premium headphones, packing best-in-class noise cancellation, rich Apple ecosystem features, excellent microphone quality, heart rate tracking, and decent battery life—all for around $250.

But comfort takes a hit with the new foam tips, making long listening sessions potentially unpleasant. The sound signature, while bass-heavy and energetic, is harsh and less refined than its predecessors.

Comfort and sound quality are the heart and soul of any headphone, and it’s disappointing that these don’t fully deliver on those fronts.

The good news? Both factors are subjective. Try them on before buying. If you can wear them comfortably for an hour, AirPods Pro 3 could be your perfect match—just remember to add a personal engraving to your order!

“One of the most surreal experiences I’ve had is turning on the AirPods Pro 3 ANC and feeling the world quietly fade away.” — Reviewer

FAQ

• Are AirPods Pro 3 compatible with non-Apple devices?
  Yes, but you lose many advanced features and microphone quality declines. Best experience is with Apple devices.
• Do the new foam-insert ear tips improve noise cancellation?
  Absolutely, they provide better passive isolation and enhance ANC but may reduce comfort.
• Can AirPods Pro 3 track fitness without an Apple Watch?
  Yes, they monitor heart rate and some workouts but lack sleep and oxygen tracking found in dedicated devices.
• How long does the battery last on AirPods Pro 3?
  Up to 8 hours of continuous use per charge, with around 24 hours total playback including case charges.
• Is the live translation feature ready for everyday use?
  It’s in beta and currently supports limited languages. Translation can lag, so it’s not fully polished yet.

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