By Vikram Mehta
With the release of the new Apple lineup, including the iPhone 17 and the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple has released its new AirPods, the AirPods Pro 3! After a huge success with the Apple Airpods Pro 2, many have been wondering what more can be brought to the table with headphones and earbuds. The Pro 2s already lead the industry for the best noise cancelling earbuds, and have become the number one choice of earbuds for consumers. Being the most popular earbuds, what else could Apple do to make the AirPods better?
Well now we know! Although with their similar looks to the Pro 2s, the AirPods have become a lot more than normal earbuds for music and work. In addition to the improved durability, sound quality, noise cancellation, battery life, microphones, better comfortability and ear fit, and much more, the AirPods can now track many health statistics including heart rate and calories burned during a workout. With their new custom-built photoplethysmography chip, the earbuds are able to track over 50 specific workout types without needing an Apple Watch. Also, the AirPods Pro 3 enhances Hearing Health by allowing users to take a Hearing Test to personalize audio settings, and provide active Hearing Protection by reducing the volume of loud environmental noise.
Now, let’s get into the sound quality and bigger hearing changes! Although Apple kept the silicon ear tips on the outside, they used foam for the inside to enhance the fit and compatibility. However, this is different from most earbuds using foam. Usually, foam wears out quickly and consumers are forced to replace the tips often. In the newest AirPods, the quality of the foam combined with the smart placement significantly reduces this problem. With the better fit caused by the foam, the earbuds are able to reach another level of sound and Noise Cancellation. The malleable tips fit deeper into the ear, helping the Noise Cancellation block off more of the noise. Also, when reaching deeper, the sound feels more present and more realistic.
Finally, let’s talk about the increased battery life, which is the main downside when considering upgrading your AirPods. With the Pro 2s, many were disappointed with the battery life not being as long as they expected and only lasting for one to two days before needing charging. Many would think that after waiting for three years, Apple would have drastically improved the Pro 3s battery life. And with Active Noise Cancellation, they actually did, lasting two hours more than the Pro 2s. However, with the case present, the Pro 2s actually lasted longer than the Pro 3s with the Pro 2s lasting 6 hours longer in total.
I think your AirPods are worth the upgrade considering the many new features and upgrades. The new AirPods haven’t gotten more expensive and include many more cool features such as health tracking, twice as good noise cancellation, better sound quality, and a lot more. Will you be buying the new AirPods this year?