Apple Airpods Pro headphones have become so popular that any drastic change in its design or sound would be a risky bet for the company. But in a year in which the consumer electronics giant has presented its greatest renewal of the iPhone in a long time, it is taking equally ambitious steps with the new Airpods Pro 3, although at first glance it does not seem like it. The first impressions can be this deception.
The wireless headphones, which went on sale on Friday, maintain the characteristic style of their predecessors and are still available only. However, the company has implemented considerable improvements in key aspects such as comfort, noise cancellation, audio quality, durability and microphone performance, all maintaining the same price of $ 249 as the Airpods Pro 2 of the previous generation.
The new model also adds incorporated heart rate, which makes it more appropriate for training.
None of this is evident to the naked eye: the design with stem resembles that of all recent airpods. However, there are subtle differences in the Airpods Pro 3. Apple adjusted the angle in which the headphones are inserted so that the sound arrives more directly. Each headset is also slightly heavier (approximately 5.6 grams, compared to the previous 5.3 grams), but this increase is imperceptible.
The most shocking change in adjustment, comfort and stability are the new pads. In general, They resemble the same silicone pads before, but Apple has incorporated foam into the part that is introduced into the auditory channel, which expands for a firmer and safest seal.
As a result, the Airpods Pro 3 remain in their place better than any of the previous AirPods of Apple. Headphones now include five different pairs of different pads, including a new extrapequeño size. (The Airpods Pro 3 pads are not compatible with the previous versions and vice versa).
The renewed tip and the most ergonomic design should make these headphones suitable for an even broader audience. Inevitably, there will be those who prefer the previous design, but Apple’s advances make the Airpods simply do not move, even when eating, speaking or in the midst of intense training.
Apple incorporated an outer silicone layer to ensure that the tips resist intense exercise sessions or occasional rain. The headphones are more durable in general and now have a classification of water resistance and IP57 dust, compared to the IP54 of the 2023 Airpods Pro Update, which included a USB-C load case.
In use
Together with a more robust hardware, a new function comes that could encourage fitness fans to update: the Airpods Pro 3 incorporate an optical heart rate monitor. Users can start any of the 50 training available with Apple’s fitness app, and their heart rate will be shown together with other metrics. These data also appear on the lock screen, which allows you to see them with the naked eye.
If you use an Apple Watch and the Airpods Pro 3 at the same time, Apple will recover the heart rate information of the device that has the most precise readings at all times. (The company has not revealed how it determines it).
The monitoring of the heart rate in the Pro Airpods Pro could also encourage those who do not have an Apple Watch to subscribe to the company’s fitness+ service, which costs US $ 9.99 per month. More people use headphones than Smartwatches, which expands the scope of Apple’s health initiatives. In addition, once customers have many training data in the Fitness app, the company’s ecosystem becomes more attractive and difficult to leave.
The active noise cancellation of this model has improved markedly. Apple claims to have the most powerful ANC technology of all wireless headphones in the market and states that they are twice as effective as the Airpods Pro 2 to silence ambient sound. This improvement has been noticed especially in the journeys by subway; The Airpods Pro 3 are better than the previous version to soften noise throughout the frequency range.
You will continue to hear voices around you if there is no music, but the headphones have sufficient capacity to keep music at a volume of between 30% and 40% to listen without interruptions. It is difficult to find a winner between these and the second generation ultrabuds quietcomfort in Bose in terms of noise cancellation power. But Apple inclines the balance in other aspects.
The transparency mode of the Airpods Pro 3 offers a more natural hue and a sensation similar to having nothing in the ears. This greater transparency is also beneficial for those who use Apple headphones as headphones. In this way, the Airpods Pro 3 can now reach 10 hours with a single load, which reduces the battery life difference between them and the hearing aids for unique use.
To listen to music in general, you can wait up to eight hours of playback with the cancellation of activated noise, compared to the previous six hours. The load case has a slightly lower capacity than before, but prolonged continuous listening is more important.
Apple states that the Airpods Pro 3 offer a broader and more spacious sound than their predecessors, and several days of proof of tracks of different musical genres confirm it. The new headphones offer deep serious and greater vocal clarity compared to the second generation version. Like intraaural adjustment, the updated audio profile requires some adaptation, but most people prefer it over time.
Whether you record a video with your iPhone and if you make a call, the new AirPods also capture your voice better. Fidelity has improved so much that some creators could prefer the simplicity of using the Airpods Pro 3 for the offers, especially in hurry situations, instead of resorting to wireless brand microphones of marks such as DJI.
The Airpods Pro 3 also incorporate some popular functions of previous models that only work by matching them with an iPhone. This includes the automatic change between devices, sharing audio and listening privately when we see content in an Apple TV decoder at night.
Even minor details have been improved, such as the possibility of locating the case with an iPhone when it is lost; The location function now works more accurately. As with the previous version, you can use them as hearing protection in noisy environments or do a quick test to determine if Apple’s mode is useful.
Language translation with AI
Another new function available for the Airpods Pro 3 and Airpods Pro 2 as of this month is the translation of live languages. Apple launched this function with several compatible languages, such as Spanish, and plans to add more at the end of this year, including Mandarin.
When activated, what can be done quickly by holding both headphones stems, The cancellation of Silence noise The voice of who speaks to him, which makes it easier to concentrate on the translated audio than he will hear during the conversation.
If the other person also uses airpods, it can have a similar experience, Or you can use the translation of the iPhone to show written translations of what you are saying in response.
An iPhone is required for this function to work, but once the necessary language packages are discharged, It works practically as it is announced. Sometimes, the delay can be frustrating, and Siri usually makes the typical translation errors, but it is perfectly useful to capture the essence of what is said.
Apple does not attempt to imitate the unique voice of each person as Google does in their last Pixel smartphones; Instead, a quite robotic Siri voice is obtained. Even so, the general experience is impressive, which represents an unusual success in the midst of the slow implementation of the company’s AI.
Take food
They may be very familiar, but Apple’s Airpods pro 3 significantly improve those that were already the best headphones in the market, At least for iPhone users. The adjustment is more stable, noise cancellation is remarkably more powerful and music sounds richer and with better detail conservation. And that without counting additional improvements such as heart rate monitoring and live translation.
If you still use old airpods with little battery, the Airpods Pro 3 offer a list of convincing reasons to update them. The complete package is so good that it could even arouse the envy of those who buy outside the Apple enclosure.
