Apple AirPods Pro 3 Review

Our Apple AirPods Pro 3 Experience

The AirPods Pro 3 have a similar case to their predecessor. It is longer than it is wide and slicker than snot.

While it is small enough to fit almost anywhere, the hard, shiny plastic shell makes it difficult to hold onto, and a textured surface or lanyard might have made it easier to handle or avoid fumbling. We recommend buying a silicone case to make them easier to hold and less likely to fall out of your pocket.

While you can pair these with Apple and Android alike, they were designed to pair harmoniously with Apple, and it is so easy that we can tell they are soul mates. If you have an Android device, it probably isn't worth he hype as they lack the features and shine they contain when connected to iOS. Pairing with an iPhone is a quick process, involving a double-tap on the front and following a few easy-to-understand prompts.

These buds are more comfortable than most, and the silicone ear tips, available in different sizes, helped us find the perfect fit. Apple includes a fit test that works pretty well to ensure you get the best sound and noise cancellation, but some daith ear piercings rendered it virtually useless. We found the AirPods to be remarkably stable for activities like running and working out at the gym, but the stems still catch on clothing if you're not careful. Overall, with eight hours or more of wear time and no discomfort, not many in-ear buds can compare.

While the stems might get in the way, they do offer the opportunity for easier-to-use touch controls thanks to the increased size. The controls worked well, but when we only wore one bud, the case kept giving warnings and pausing the music. While not a concern for everyone, sometimes we prefer one bud over two to extend battery life with no downtime and for better communication when working with coworkers.

Calling anyone or attending meetings online with the AirPods is a pleasure. We never had any issues hearing or being heard, regardless of how loud the background noise was. Train rumbling by? No problem. Highway overpass on a lunchtime stroll? No problem. Our family couldn't even tell we were outside by the rushing cars.

Live language translation is a cool concept we are seeing more in earbuds. It's a cool concept for travelers or those living abroad. Apple offers a handful of popular language options, and they work okay. When using them, we were able to grasp the gist of basic information, such as ordering at a restaurant or asking for directions. However, longer, more involved information, like a news broadcast or storytime, wasn't translated as well, with frequent mistakes, some of which were quite significant. The future likely holds great things for this technology, but we wouldn't rely on it for now.

No one has a battery life this long, and it is a lifesaver if you travel frequently, put in long hours on an assembly line, or have a brutal commute. We loved being able to head to work on the bus, hit the gym after work, and make the ride home all without missing a beat or musical bliss. If almost 13 hours of listening time isn't long enough, a quick charge can top you off, or a short break can bring you back up to full power in about an hour.

We love the noise cancellation at the gym, but it doesn't block everything. We didn't realize there was a grunting man pushing heavy weights around or loud music on the speakers until we took them out (hurray for being able to lock in and reach personal goals without distractions!). We also noticed a strange whistling sound with noise cancellation on when blowing your nose. While not a common occurrence, it took us by surprise. We'd still choose them over others if blocking out the world is the priority.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Sound Quality

The AirPod Pro 3 has a more neutral sound than some higher-end competitors, with a lovely balance between the frequencies.

The bass is tight, precise, and clean, with more emphasis than the previous generation, but it remains delightful. Whether jamming to bass-heavy Megan Thee Stallion or the lush, flamboyantly produced “Life of a Showgirl,” these lows sound well-defined and balanced. There's a level of refinement here; the lows have a great presence but are not overpowering or theatrical (unless produced to be so). There's more warmth than the Pro 2s, but still not as impactful as the top-of-the-line models, such as some of the Bose models.

The mids are a gorgeous range of vocal timbres. Raspy, velvety smooth, smokey, clear as a flute; all of the vocal types were brought to life respectfully and artistically, with textures that are realistic yet vibrant. They feel pleasantly forward in the mix, not off-balance, but somewhat emphasized to give vocals and lead instruments, such as guitar, more prominence. They are not as rich and fully developed as some competitors; they are 2% over whole milk in a latte.

The treble is shimmery and sweet. A palate cleanser against the prior variants of the AirPod line, which were bland and occasionally muddy. The highs feel cleanly displayed, but not quite as balanced as they were in the Pro 2.

The AirPods Pro 3 frequency curve, compared to our house's preferred curve, confirms much of what our expert ears felt while listening to music across various genres. The lows feel refined but lack real depth, and the mids and highs have a good range but fail to match the richness of competitors.

Soundstage

The AirPod soundstage is expansive and open. There's space to differentiate each instrument and vocal harmony. Their sound is uncluttered; even within complex, dense tracks, there is neat precision, especially regarding location. Across a broad range of genres, these buds deliver a pleasing, well-rounded performance. Adequate width and depth create a sense of space, tight dynamic control ups the stakes, and great textural abilities throughout the frequency ranges provide the color and vibrancy to bring tracks to life. It isn't quite like being in the movie, but it is like sitting and watching it in IMAX.

Comfort and Fit

The Pro 3 are some of the most comfortable options and relatively stable, assuming you don't catch them on clothing, hair, hats, or helmets.

The silicone tips fit well in ears and they are secure and withstood many of our stability tests. We were able to regularly wear them for more than 8 hours at a stretch, and they feel lightweight and don't create hotspots.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancellation can be a godsend when the world gets hectic and the Apple AirPods block more of the chaos than any other pair we've tested.

These buds block so much sound that even walking by the highway created a whisper-quiet situation that grows even quieter when music is playing. In an open office, we can hear a hint of coworkers talking, but the din is far less than that of competitors; even a giant cough nearby was barely heard with the music playing.

App Features

Apple doesn't really provide an app for iOS, and there is nothing available for Android (so you don't get most of the features). Within the Apple world, there are several features built into the operating system, such as the Find My earbud locator and the ability to track your heart rate via the Health app (which wasn't particularly impressive).

The Apple system can pause your music if it senses you falling asleep, use your buds for remote camera control on your device, try out the ear fit test (assuming you don't have certain piercings), and use the spatial audio setting (which did sound pretty darn good). We were particularly intrigued by the real-time translator component, but it didn't perform well beyond basic conversations; we were unable to follow more in-depth stories as the translation didn't match that provided by the storyteller. Though we suspect it would do in a pinch, it is better than outright guessing when in a foreign land.

Battery Life

Apple claims a 10-hour battery life, and our tests eeked out a mind-blowing 12.8 hours. Seriously, almost 13 hours of continuous play is beyond awesome and one of the longest battery lives in the group.

If the goal is to listen with less downtime, you can't do better than the AirPods. They also have three charges in the case, a 5-minute quick charge, and the ability to charge wirelessly.

Call Quality

If calls to mom or keeping up with collaborations at work are frequent occurrences, then the AirPods should be on your shortlist. These buds offer some of the best phone-quality we've encountered, and their closest competitor is their older version.

Voices are incredibly clear and life-like, as if they were right next to us and not hundreds of miles away. We could hear some faint keyboard clicking in our office testing, but overall, the Pro 3 put the caller's voice front and center.