- Last week,
Apple announced the 3rd generation
of the standard AirPods and I've been using them
for several days now and I've got some thoughts.
This is my AirPods 3 review.
Let's do it.
The original AirPods were released in December 2016.
2nd generation was released in March 2019
with the AirPods Pro dropping that same year in October.
AirPods Max came as a surprise in December 2020
and 10 months later, we've got the 3rd generation
of the standard AirPods,
which hasn't seen an update in two-and-a-half years
and Apple has put in the work
to make these a solid buy.
Let's get started with my favorite new addition,
spatial audio with dynamic head tracking.
Now this isn't new to the AirPods lineup,
as it's a feature you'll find
in both AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, however,
this is the first time we're seeing spatial audio support
in the entry-level AirPods
and it's a big deal
because you'll find spatial audio content
in Apple Music, Apple TV+, Disney+, Netflix
and even in Group FaceTime calls.
The result is an immersive audio experience
that seemingly places sounds anywhere in space
while dynamic head tracking fixes the soundstage
so you feel like you're right in the middle of the music
or movie even if you move your head
or if your device moves.
Now, spatial audio supports Dolby 5.1, 7.1
and Dolby Atmos sources.
Continuing with sound and sound quality,
another feature Apple is bringing
to the 3rd generation AirPods is adaptive EQ.
Adaptive EQ uses microphones to listen
to what's going into your ears
and adjusts the low- and mid-frequencies
on the fly based on several factors.
These include the fit and seal around each of your ears,
taking into account things
like your own personal ear geometry and fit,
ensuring your music is constantly balanced properly
and that detail remains rich.
The headphones know what the music is supposed to sound like
and will adjust accordingly
to make sure you're getting
the best sound thanks to the built-in H1 chip.
This is all thanks to Apple's computational audio prowess.
The headphones are doing the work and compensating
for any inconsistencies to give you the best sound
that they can,
processing the audio going through the speakers
and listening back to it and adjusting it in real time.
Next, let's talk
about another very nice improvement, battery life.
This one is pretty straightforward.
The 3rd generation AirPods now have six hours
of listening time per charge,
which is up from the five hours of listening
on the previous generation.
You get up to four hours of talk time
compared to three hours previously.
So one additional hour of both listening and talk time
and five minutes in the case provides
an hour of listening time.
With the case, you get up to 30 hours of listening time,
which is up from the 24 hours from their previous model.
So that's four full charges with the charging case.
Speaking of this case, it's now MagSafe compatible.
So it'll attach to a MagSafe charger for wireless charging,
but you can still use any Qi-certified charger
or a lightning cable as well.
It should be noted that while MagSafe charging results
in faster charging speeds on the iPhone,
there's no speed benefits when charging the AirPods.
Also different on the new AirPods is the controls.
Gone is the tapping on the earbuds
and in its place is the force sensor
that Apple brought over from AirPods Pro,
making the stem 33% shorter.
This means that you squeeze once to play, pause
or answer a call, twice to skip forward a track,
three times to skip back and squeeze and hold for Siri
if you prefer that over speaking the Siri command.
The in-ear detection is improved too,
thanks to a new skin-detect optical sensor
and this is something Apple didn't even mention
in the keynote.
The AirPods can now detect when they're in contact
with skin, so they know exactly when they're in your ear
and when they aren't, rather than just relying on light.
This means they more accurately turn off and on
and save battery life as well
by not thinking they're in an ear
when they're actually in a pocket.
Other design notes include
a new, more contoured and rounded design.
They look very similar to AirPods Pro,
but without the rubber ear tips that go into the ear canal.
I actually prefer those ear tips myself,
but I've heard from people on both sides of that fence.
So it's a personal preference.
The new design also allows for sweat and water resistance.
Not only are the AirPods themselves IPX4 rated,
which means it's fine
if you use them while exercising or working up a sweat,
but even the case itself is IPX4 rated and that's something
that not even the AirPods Pro can boast,
even though the Pro also just got
a new MagSafe compatible case as well.
So two layers of protection
with the new AirPods 3rd generation.
The next big feature Apple brought
to the 3rd generation AirPods is Find My support.
In the five years I've been using AirPods,
I've never lost them until about four months ago
when I lost my AirPods Pro.
I replaced them and then promptly lost those
just weeks later.
So now I'm on my third pair of AirPods Pro,
but recently Apple added enhanced Find My support to them
and they've done the same here on the 3rd gen model.
This means that if you misplace your AirPods,
you can track them down in the Find My app.
From there, you can see how close they are
with proximity view and you can even get separation alerts
if you leave them behind
once they're out of Bluetooth range.
This is a really welcome feature
and I absolutely love what Apple has been doing
to bolster Find My over the past six months
since the release of AirTags.
Apple's AirPods lineups still includes
the 2nd generation model
at a new lower price of $129,
while the 3rd generation
is available for $179.
The AirPods Pro remain at $249
and the top-of-the-line AirPods Max over-ear headphones
are $549.
With the additional features added to the 3rd generation,
they really do feel like AirPods Pro
without the Active Noise Cancellation and rubber tips,
but with better battery life.
Let me know if you're planning to pick up a pair
of the new AirPods for yourself.
Thanks for watching, as always, guys.
I appreciate your support.
I'm Andru Edwards
and I'll catch you in the next video.