https://www.soundguys.com/apple-airpods-pro-3-vs-airpods-pro-2-145016
https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-replaced-my-airpods-max-with-the-airpods-pro-3-for-flights-and-its-been-a-game-changer/
SoundGuys.com did a great technical review of the new AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 2 and other top earbuds. “The AirPods Pro 3 offer the best ANC performance we’ve ever tested in earbuds.” 90% of external noise reduction, up from 83% with the Pro 2.
And the microphone is better for voice calls too, check out their page for samples.
Battery life now up to 8 hours, but in truth, even after 3 years of using my Pro 2, I rarely ran out of battery. Only when I have full day online meetings, I might run out after a whole morning session, but then, if you have used AirPods for a long time, you will know the trick of just putting one earbud back in the case for a few minutes and then swap the other one to extend it for an hour or so quickly.
After using mine for 3 years, I still managed to sell my Pro 2 for about 1/3 of the original price, making the upgrade more affordable. (If you are not in a rush to sell them, you might even get better price to sell each earbud and case separately. It’s common for people to replace a single lost earbud on ebay.)
It’s telling that as Bose and Sony finally began earning praise for their latest true-wireless earbuds, Apple surged back to the top with the AirPods Pro 3. Given Apple’s typical three-year product cycle, it’s unlikely competitors will overtake them within the next twelve months—and Apple will likely lead for at least half of that cycle. Of course, that view overlooks Apple’s broader audio strategy: the company spans every price segment and estimated to employ 200–300 engineers across its audio teams. Each product enjoys a staggered, three-plus-year upgrade window, allowing Apple to pilot new technologies in one model, refine them in the next, and deliver truly meaningful improvements. This approach maximizes profitability—mass-producing each iteration for years—rather than chasing annual refreshes that encourage consumers to delay purchases.
Other than my iPhone and Watch, I always bring my AirPods with me. Kind of an essential business tool, enable me to take calls anywhere, even the noisiest bars and cafes. But you need to learn to trust the magic of it, don’t need to shout out even though the ANC will soften your own speaking volume a lot, just trust you can speak in your normal speaking volume and the other side will be able to hear you without any background noice.
As always, Apple is rarely the first to market in any sector, but when they decide to do it, they will dedicate the resources and play the long game. Not just to aim at beating competitors, but making the best product to their own standards.
Wish list:
- I wish Apple will come up with a feature, very similar to hearing aid or live translation. But allow me to use it in a noisy bar or train, put my AirPods on and talk to my friend nearby. Sure, I can use the phone to call them, but silly if they are just sitting a few seats away. I know there are walkie-talkie type of apps, but I am looking for a real time bluetooth/p2p phone call app. – https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/07/11/apple-is-trying-to-reinvent-group-audio-chat-with-no-cell-or-wifi-needed
Leave a Comment