Review: Apple AirPods Pro 3
Given that my original AirPods Pro were starting to die, I wanted to get a review in of the Apple AirPods Pro 3 before they significantly update them with iOS 27. In short, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the most fully formed that the AirPods Pro 3 are at the moment. Which either implies that more features are coming via updates, or a new AirPods are coming.
Anyway, here is a look at the AirPods Pro 3.
If you look at the AirPods Pro 3 on the left, you will see that Apple has changed the shape versus the original AirPods on the right. I find that they fit and stay in the ears better. Even during long sweaty indoor bike rides. One thing that I did note is that I used Comply foam tips to keep the original AirPods Pros in my ears. I don’t have to do that with the AirPods Pro 3 as I use the small hybrid (new for this version) tips that come with the AirPods Pro 3. I should also note that you get four sizes of tips this time around starting with an XS size.
The case is bigger based on the AirPods Pro 3 which gives you eight hours of battery life and the case offers an additional 16 hours, for a total of 24 hours. This is a bit of a drop from the AirPods Pro 2 which offered 24 hours of battery life from the case and six hours from the buds. In other words, it’s a drop from the case perspective. But honestly, I don’t notice the difference because the earbuds last so long. In fact, I run them charging the case to 80% most of the time. Another plus with the case is the the fact that these buds have FIND MY built in that allows for precision finding like an AirTag. Finally, Apple took away the visible light and put it under the white plastic so that you can tell the charge status at any time. Ditto with the external button.
One of the hero features of AirPods Pro 3 is the heart rate sensor. And I am here to say that they work. I tested them with a chest strap and found them to be either on par with that or within one beat per minute. The other thing that they do is to switch between the Apple Watch and the AirPods Pro 3 depending on which is more accurate. It also means you don’t need an Apple Watch to record a workout if you had an iPhone. Could this mean that Apple taking the attitude that you don’t need an Apple Watch to do a workout? Hmmm….
Sound quality is top notch. The AirPods Pro 3 are have more bass. But not overwhelming as they are don’t sound like a Beats product. Which is also an Apple product. In the end, they have the typical Apple sound signature with more bass. I have no issue with them. But Apple is adding an EQ feature in iOS 27 to change that should you want to. In terms of noise cancellation, I don’t know if it is 2x better (relative to the AirPods Pro 2) according to Apple. But it is mostly better. If you have a constant drone that you want to block out, airplane engines for example, then they block that out easily. However I don’t get the same effect with subways trains on Line 1, Line 2 or Line 5 in Toronto. In other words, I would say that your mileage may vary.
Live Translation works surprisingly well. Though not perfect. I tested it with Spanish and Mandarin. The translations are quick enough to keep a conversation flowing, and they feel natural rather than robotic. Even with the slight delay while it waits for context, the results are clear and easy to follow. The feature also works in reverse. When you respond to someone who is speaking another language, your words will appear in the other person’s language on your iPhone screen. It wasn’t perfect as jargon or any sort of colloquial speech can trip it up.
So this sounds close to perfect. What trips it up? Well, it is iPhone only. While you can make it work with an Android phone, I am here to say that you should not bother as it will not work well. While Apple could make this more like a Beats product and make it work with both Android and iOS, it likely will not happen. Apple is also addressing the other issue which is an EQ feature for those who want it. Other than that, I can’t really pick out anything that is wrong with the AirPods Pro 3.
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are $329 CDN. But if you check Amazon, you can find it cheaper at times. Assuming that you’re part of Team iOS in terms of your phone, these are the best earphones available right now. And they will get a bit better in iOS 27.
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