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Review: Two Months With the AirPods Pro 3

It's been almost two months since Apple released the AirPods Pro 3, and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using them since they came out. He has some new thoughts to share on longer-term ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ use, so check out our video if you're thinking of picking up a pair for the holidays.


There have been recent reports from some people who are experiencing an ongoing static issue with the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, so that's something to be aware of. Apple does seem to be replacing affected units for customers who are bothered by the noise, which appears to be audible when ANC is active but no sound is playing.

Other users have been hearing a high-pitched whine when on airplanes, which could be related to pressure. Not all ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ units are experiencing the issue, but it sounds like Apple is looking into it.

The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ offer excellent sound quality and noise cancellation capabilities, and for some people, the fit is much better than the AirPods Pro 2. Battery life has held up well in our testing, and the heart rate sensor offers readings almost identical to the Apple Watch.

What do you think of the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ if you've been using them since launch? Let us know in the comments below.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Neutral)
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Top Rated Comments

SkyRom Avatar
9 months ago
My two cents:
-have had no issues charging (my AirPods Pro 2 would sometimes fail to maintain "contact" with the charger, resulting in the left pod constantly being 0%-20% in the morning,) glad this seems 'fixed' it was super annoying.
-i like the new feature where, like the iPhone/MacBook Pro they offer the opportunity to max at 80% battery when you don't need full power
-noise canceling has improved since latest firmware updates
-overall Build and Sound Quality feel WORSE than AirPods Pro 2. i would describe the sound and quality as "thinner" than before. not tinny and cheap, and they may break in better, but just... 5% worse. there could be a slight placebo effect because they are new and feel lighter or more "slick" than the old ones. but i think i'm right.
-i have never successfully drained them to 0%, so battery life seems incredible.
-charging case is exactly the same size as Gen 2 which was disappointing but neither good nor bad
-device switching feels faster and less glitchy with the updated Bluetooth which is great
-head tracking is good, but sometimes over-dramatic and results in poor performance from one AirPod

I still own AirPods Pro 2, and the new Powerbeats Pro 2, but haven't had to go back to them, I think my sister actually swiped them lol. AirPods Pro 3 are still my go-to due to the form factor over the Powerbeats.

tl;dr: 9.3/10. With this long to prepare, I would have liked to see a 10/10 with flawless sound, all issues fixed, better noise canceling, and a smaller case, but, they are still the 'buds to beat.

[edit] one complaint: Apple literally redesigned the shape of the ear snaps so you can't use the AirPod Pro 2 shapes interchangeably. pure money grab, goes against all their environmental claims, and felt ridiculous and unnecessary on its face to milk $10 for replacements later to me, especially since i preferred the AirPod Pro 2 earbud material/shapes. not enough for me to dock the score, and i don't regret buying these at all, but, scummy in this economy.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago

The AirPods Pro 3 offer excellent sound quality and noise cancellation capabilities, and for some people, the fit is much better than the AirPods Pro 2.
I am certainly in the minority but fit is much worse for me and noise cancellation is therefore no better. I asked my girlfriend to test and same results. We tried all the sizes. Not much difference. Sure trying to force them inside the ears increases the noise reduction but makes them even more unconfortable.
Sound is indeed better, and range is too. No static noise either. But the pro 2 fit much better (perfectly actually) in our ears, are more comfortable and therefore provide better noise cancelling. Do other people have a similar experience or are we a rare exception?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
StevesBobs Avatar
9 months ago

I am certainly in the minority but fit is much worse for me and noise cancellation is therefore no better. I asked my girlfriend to test and same results. We tried all the sizes. Not much difference. Sure trying to force them inside the ears increases the noise reduction but makes them even more unconfortable.
Sound is indeed better, and range is too. But the pro 2 fit much better (perfectly actually) in our ears, are more comfortable and therefore provide better noise cancelling. Do other people have a similar experience or are we a rare exception?
My issue as well, they simply hurt my ears after 15-30 minutes of use. No issue with the pro 2, I can wear them for hours. I just worry what's to come down the line, are pro 2's the last airpods I can comfortably use?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago
I’ll join others by saying these just don’t fit well. They were a day one purchase for me as I was looking forward to the heart rate monitoring during workouts as the watch isn’t super reliable at times. However, they do not fit nearly as well as the Pro 2’s. Interestingly they fit worse in my left ear than my right, but the previous ones I had no issues. I already handed down my 2’s to my daughter, tried trading her the 3’s for the 2’s back, she tried them and did not want to make the trade. ANC is better for sure, but I just don’t like their fit.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago

I am certainly in the minority but fit is much worse for me and noise cancellation is therefore no better. I asked my girlfriend to test and same results. We tried all the sizes. Not much difference. Sure trying to force them inside the ears increases the noise reduction but makes them even more unconfortable.
Sound is indeed better, and range is too. But the pro 2 fit much better (perfectly actually) in our ears, are more comfortable and therefore provide better noise cancelling. Do other people have a similar experience or are we a rare exception?
I tried them at an apple store and found them to feel uncomfortable compared to the APP2. Definitely something to do with the foam inside the silicone tips. I also tested one ear with APP2 and the other with APP3, and the additional noise cancelling was somewhat noticeable, but nowhere near what apple advertised in the keynote.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Happy_John Avatar
9 months ago
Are we really continuing the APP3 outrage-bait articles? I know it generated a lot of clicks last month, but isn’t APP3 a hate-fad that’s past its sell-by date? I thought we’d moved on to colourful logo hate?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)