Unboxing and First Impressions of the AirPods Pro 3
The AirPods Pro 3 marks the most significant evolution in the AirPods lineup, offering an exciting blend of design improvements, enhanced comfort, and upgraded functionality. Whether you're an athlete, a music lover, or someone seeking top-tier noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro 3 promises to deliver on multiple fronts.
Design and Aesthetics: Sleeker and More Functional
The AirPods Pro 3 charging case is slightly larger than its predecessor but lighter by almost 7 grams, making it more portable despite the size change. It retains key features like a lanyard hole, USB-C port, and a built-in speaker for Find My functionality. Notably, the front of the case now features a hidden indicator light, giving it a sleeker, more streamlined appearance when not in use.
The earbuds themselves sport a new, more ergonomic design, featuring an integrated heart rate sensor. This change also means the new earbuds are too large to fit into the previous AirPods Pro 2 case, a design shift that enhances the overall functionality and user experience.
Fit and Comfort: A Secure and Comfortable Experience
The standout feature of the AirPods Pro 3 is its improved fit. Apple has incorporated advanced ear scanning technology and conducted extensive user research to create earbuds that fit more securely, even during physical activities like running or cycling. The new design now features an "inner spin" that more closely conforms to the ear canal, significantly enhancing stability and comfort.
This redesign means the AirPods Pro 3 stays snugly in place, even during rigorous movement. Whether you're at the gym or out for a run, this enhanced fit ensures the earbuds stay in place, providing a more satisfying user experience.
Heart Rate Monitoring: Fitness Meets Technology
One of the most exciting additions to the AirPods Pro 3 is the built-in heart rate monitoring feature. Using Apple's smallest heart rate sensor to date, this addition enables seamless integration with the Apple HealthKit, allowing users to monitor their heart rate during activities. Third-party apps can also access this valuable data.
In the tests, the heart rate sensor proved to be highly accurate, with a margin of error of just 1-2 beats per minute, making it comparable to the accuracy of the Apple Watch Series 10. Whether you're tracking your fitness or simply curious about your heart rate, this feature adds tremendous value to the AirPods Pro 3.
Noise Cancellation and Audio Performance: A Leap Forward
The AirPods Pro 3 also takes noise cancellation to a whole new level. Apple claims the new earbuds feature twice the noise cancellation of their predecessors. A deeper fit into the ear canal, along with the improved design, contributes to better noise isolation, blocking out a wide range of ambient noise.
In real-world tests, the AirPods Pro 3 significantly reduced background sounds, including low-frequency noises like the hum of a train or airplane. This makes them an excellent choice for travelers or anyone looking for a focused listening experience.
Since watchOS 7, the Noise app on Apple Watch can estimate the decibel level inside AirPods using a weighted method. While this measurement may not fully guarantee accuracy or directly assess the noise cancellation effectiveness, it provides a useful comparison of different earbuds when testing is done under controlled conditions (wearing each pair at the same place and time for extended periods). In the tests—whether on a noisy street, a crowded café, or a quiet indoor space—AirPods Pro 3’s noise cancellation sounds noticeably better than previous generations. However, the decibel readings on Apple Watch for AirPods Pro 2 consistently show lower values, a result confirmed by discussions with other users.This happens might because AirPods Pro 3’s new low-noise microphones capture environmental sounds more effectively, influencing the weighted calculation, while simultaneously delivering better active noise cancellation thanks to these improved microphones and algorithms.
When it comes to audio quality, the AirPods Pro 3 delivers richer bass, crisper vocals, and an overall more balanced sound. Whether you're listening to podcasts, music, or watching videos, the audio experience is noticeably better than the previous generation, making it a perfect option for audiophiles.
Battery Life: Longer Use, Shorter Charging Time
Despite the new features, the AirPods Pro 3 offers an impressive 33% increase in battery life compared to the previous model. You can now enjoy up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge, which is a significant boost. However, while the earbuds' battery life has improved, the charging case has a slightly smaller capacity, offering a total of 24 hours of listening time when combined with the earbuds.
This is still a solid battery life for most users, though it's worth noting that the charging case’s overall capacity is slightly reduced from the previous model.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts: Should You Upgrade?
The AirPods Pro 3 delivers a compelling upgrade over its predecessors, especially in terms of fit, noise cancellation, and health tracking. The heart rate sensor and the new, more secure fit are notable improvements, making it a great option for fitness enthusiasts or anyone looking for a more comfortable listening experience.
While the battery life of the charging case has decreased slightly, the overall experience is enhanced with a better design and new features. AirPods Pro 2 users may find the upgrade worth it, particularly if you value the heart rate monitoring or the improved stability during physical activities.
For those new to the AirPods Pro lineup, the AirPods Pro 3 is an excellent choice, offering seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, enhanced audio quality, and top-tier noise cancellation. It's hard to beat if you're already immersed in Apple's ecosystem and want the best performance from your wireless earbuds.
