After a full week of using the AirPods Pro 3 as my daily earbuds, I came away impressed by the upgrades Apple delivered this year. These feel smarter, stronger, and more refined than before, but they’re not without flaws.
Design and Comfort
At first glance, the AirPods Pro 3 don’t look wildly different from the last generation, but subtle changes make a noticeable difference. The buds are a bit more compact, and the new ear tips fit more securely in my ears. I liked that Apple added an extra-small size (finally!), a better seal for people with smaller ears. The case feels as sturdy as ever, and the overall design still carries that clean Apple aesthetic.
In everyday wear, they’re comfortable for hours at a time. During workouts, they stayed put for the most part, though I did have the occasional slip when running.
Sound Quality
The sound is the best I’ve heard from AirPods yet. The bass is punchier without being overwhelming, vocals come through clearly, and highs sparkle just enough to keep music lively. They handle podcasts, streaming, and playlists equally well, though I wouldn’t call them studio-grade. For most listeners, they strike a really nice balance of warmth and clarity.
Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency
This is where the Pro 3 really shines. On a busy street or in a noisy café, the noise cancellation cut through background sounds so effectively that I almost forgot where I was. It’s noticeably stronger than previous versions, especially with voices and higher-pitched sounds.
Transparency mode also feels much more natural now. I could hold conversations without pulling the buds out, and the ambient sound didn’t feel artificial or hollow.
Smart Features
Apple packed in two new tricks that I was eager to test: heart rate monitoring and live translation.
- Heart rate tracking worked surprisingly well during walks and light workouts. It kept up with my activity and gave me a good sense of intensity, though during high-movement workouts it sometimes lagged or spiked briefly.
- Live Translation is clever and fun. In short, casual conversations it was quick and accurate enough to be useful, though it still stumbled on slang or long sentences. It’s not a replacement for a translator app yet, but it’s an exciting preview of what’s possible.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life has been solid. With active noise cancellation on, I consistently got around 7–8 hours of playback before needing a charge. The case kept me going through several days without reaching for a wall outlet.
Charging is faster than before, hitting 50% in around 20 minutes with a decent USB-C charger. The one annoyance: Apple didn’t include a charging cable in the box, which feels like an unnecessary omission.
Durability
With an IP57 rating, the AirPods Pro 3 handled sweat and rain without issue. I wore them on runs in light drizzle and during long workouts at the gym, and they held up fine. Knowing they’re fully dust-resistant also gives peace of mind for long-term use.
What Fell Short
While the AirPods Pro 3 impressed me in many ways, there are a few shortcomings:
- The fit isn’t perfect for intense workouts, occasionally a bud shifted out of place.
- Live Translation is promising, but not reliable enough for anything more than casual use.
- Lossless audio support is still missing, which feels like a missed opportunity for a “Pro” product.
- No charging cable in the box is an unnecessary frustration, but typical for Apple products these days.
Verdict
The AirPods Pro 3 are the best version of Apple’s earbuds so far. They combine excellent noise cancellation, natural transparency, improved fit, and genuinely useful smart features. They aren’t flawless, but they’re a significant step forward.
For everyday users in the Apple ecosystem, they’re an easy recommendation. For fitness enthusiasts or audiophiles, they might leave you wanting just a little more.
Overall Score: 8.1 out of 10
