Apple AirPods 3 Review – The best AirPods update. But do not rush to buy, and Familiar and new design at the same time.
From the iconic AirPods design, the novelty has carried over to the AirPods Pro’s signature shape. Distinguish only one knowledgeable person, and then closely: the acoustic grill above the external microphone. But more importantly, the AirPods 3 feel better than any other AirPods.
It is a matter of design. The batteries moved from the legs to the central part, and the portions were shortened; when moving, there is no sensation of small pendulums in the ear. You generally forget about them at once; use them at least 24 hours a day. In addition, the AirPods 3 sit perfectly on the ear and do not hang like hooks.
Most people will fit in perfectly. Although after AirPods Pro, there may be a feeling of extra freedom, as if AirPods 3 is about to fall. Will not lose: here, they endured running, training in the gym, and hitting the head with music.
The case is just as easy to scratch. He put it in his pocket with the keys and took it all out on the tags one day. Sellers with covers won’t be out of work. But now, the case is not afraid of moisture (IPX4 protection); you can open it in the rain. In headphones: play sports calmly and sweat from the heart; nothing will happen to you.
Instead of the optical proximity sensor, AirPods 3 installed a skin contact sensor. Previously, you could get and put headphones on the table; they perceived it as a landing in the ear and included reproduction. Now don’t respond to soulless objects: pulled out of ear – pause, inserted back – play Just like this.
It is no longer necessary to touch the headphones instead of sensors – pressure sensors on legs. Squeeze your fingers, like on AirPods Pro. It works perfectly, but you still can’t control the volume. You must reach for your smartphone or ask Siri for help. In terms of management, the most convenient is Huawei FreeBuds Pro and Jabra Elite 85t (and they are cheaper).
Sick theme – marriage. Many have complained about problems with AirPods Pro, such as cracks when active noise is on. Apple even acknowledged the problem and first arranged a free replacement and then continued the campaign. For the third year. There is no noise here, no problems. But the first few months, you should keep your ear attentive until the first feedback from the owners.
Sounds great. With a “but.”
Let’s skip the “connection” element. Everything is simple here. If you have Apple gear, you will see AirPods 3. If you need to hack another device, press the button on the case and search for AirPods 3 in the Bluetooth settings. Tested with Android smartphones, Windows laptops, and smart TVs; everywhere, it works clearly.
Everyone is interested in quality. And here, the journalists and bloggers were divided into two camps. Some see no difference compared to the AirPods five years ago; others love and put it above the AirPods Pro. The truth is somewhere in the middle: The AirPods 3 sound better than their predecessors, and the sound is more voluminous and detailed. , the low frequencies are markedly separated from the middle, the middle from the high. The bass feels deep, which is surprising for ocean liners.
The inadequate sound insulation does not reach the level of the AirPods Pro. The houses in the quiet AirPods 3 office sound great; here we coincide with the second camp. But it would be best if you went out, as the annoying noise seeps into your ears. In the hallway, you can’t escape the dubstep from the speakers; in the subway, the screeching of cars kills Adele’s voice, the drumming of colleagues in the office does not allow you to concentrate. It would be best if you turned up the volume. Fortunately, the population is large: 80-90% of the ears even hurt. But with external factors overlapping, you may be overwhelmed by the cacophony of sounds.
The only inserts with active noise absorption – Huawei Freebuds 4. They do not cut the sound entirely but remove up to 25 dB – this is annoying low-frequency white noise. Complete isolation requires ear cushions, which the AirPods 3 doesn’t have. This has its pros and cons. Choose this format consciously. “Caps”: a universal solution.
And don’t try to figure out your high-resolution audio library – AirPods 3, like any other AirPods, doesn’t support lossless sound. The reason – in the codec limitations. If AirPods Pro and Max is a tragedy, it is useless to demand super details from coatings.
The quality is slightly boosted with the adaptive equalizer. The sound settings change automatically according to the environment. You’re unlikely to notice their work, and that’s a good thing – no one needs sharp jumps like audio. The advantages of an open design also play a role here: more air is pumped, we receive more saturated bass.
New Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio chip. It was previously available on AirPods Pro and AirPods Max bills. The scene expands, the sound becomes more enveloping, you feel in the center, surrounded by instruments. Make sure to give it a try.
There’s also a head-tracking mode – you spin on the spot, and the sound still seems to come through. Apple claims that this mode is perfect for watching movies and videos. But it turned out for an amateur: someone does not notice the effect, someone even annoys. Optimum way: «stereo.» All the benefits of spatial audio without hiss with a head deviation.
Briefly about microphones. At first, it seemed encouraging: three microphones instead of two, a new AAC-ELD codec, unique algorithms to improve the audio. But the sound is still synthesized, “croaking,” fragmentary. On the best mics: Before Jabra, guys started with a headset and ate a whole dog. Don’t expect a qualitatively new level from AirPods.
That’s where AirPods 3 is surprising, is the autonomy. Six hours on a charge, five in spatial audio mode. For comparison, most Galaxy Buds Live and Huawei Freebuds 4 live, one hour less. Among all AirPods (of course, except Max bills), there are no AirPods 3 alike at all.
Also, you are unlikely to listen to music for six consecutive hours. During short breaks, the headphones charge quickly: 5 minutes give another hour of work. Together with the case, the autonomy lasts up to 30 hours. The case itself captures in all poses: via Lightning, from wireless charging, now also magnetized to MagSafe. Easy.
Smart features
Apple’s “magic” is at the root of the AirPods’ success. No other headset is so integrated into company services and devices. The first connection is fast; the switch between Mac, iPad, and iPhone is instantaneous. I called you: you received a call from what is closer – the AirPods will automatically activate.
AirPods 3 also learned new tricks. Headphones can be found in the locator. Forgotten at home, you will receive a message. You can share audio with friends: take a second AirPods to your iPhone or iPad and listen to music or watch videos from the same device. Only Huawei and Samsung headphones are close to such fluid native work, but only AirPods within Apple.
