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Apple is often considered the company that pioneered the era of truly wireless headphones, and for good reason. The original Apple AirPods, launched in 2016, exploded a segment into huge popularity in its inception.
Since then, audio companies have been rolling out their own iterations of true wireless headphones at several price points. Still, the AirPods series is one of the most prevalent in the world. Last October, Apple introduced the apple AirPods 3, the third-generation AirPods product line, with an upgraded design, spatial audio support, wireless charging compatibility, and many other features.
It can compete with Sony WF-1000XM3, Jabra Elite 7 Pro and other products. But is the third-generation AirPods worth the money, or are there better options on the market? We will find more information in this post.
Apple AirPods 3: Performance — sound quality, spatial audio, microphone, and wireless connectivity
Apple AirPods 3 is equipped with customized low-distortion drivers and high-dynamic range amplifiers, featuring new technology compared to its predecessor, the AirPods 2nd Gen. The headset is also equipped with the Apple H1 chip that previously appeared on the Apple H1 chip. AirPods Pro and AirPods 2. Thanks to the improved hardware, the headphones have made significant improvements in sound quality over their predecessor, the AirPods 2.
Not only that, but the headset also boasts a feature called Adaptive EQ, which uses computational audio and an inward-looking microphone to adjust sound playback in real time to compensate for the loss of mid-soprano due to inappropriateness. Another trick for AirPods 3 is the spatial audio you saw on AirPods Pro before.
【2021】Apple/Apple AirPods (3rd generation) wireless headphones Genuine Guoxing ¥1269 purchase
Spatial Audio takes 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos content and applies audio filters to them to place the sound in a 3D soundscape, making it feel more like it's coming from all around you. This, combined with head tracking, makes you feel like you're always at the center of the track and scene. So, what does all these new features and hardware translate into? In most cases, the performance is quite impressive.
Let's start with sound quality. The AirPods 3 has a bright sonic silhouette with sunken bass and pronounced midrange and treble. The earbuds are semi-open, so due to this design, they are difficult to form a seal that effectively produces the impact and rumble of the bass.
As a result, you may find that the earbuds are a bit lacking in the front, and you may find that the bass response is not as strong as one might expect. However, the rest of the frequency range is balanced and detailed. The mid-range is present and clear, so the vocals and lead instruments sound very primitive in the mix, and the treble is well-made and well-detailed.
Now, go to Spatial Audio, as long as your phone supports Dolby Atmos and you use a source that plays Spatial Audio music, the technology can be used not only on Apple phones, but also on Android smartphones. The resulting effect is quite impressive. The positioning of vocals and instruments in 3D space brings the tracks to life, making you feel like you're in a room listening to a band around you.
Apple/Apple AirPods Third Generation Wireless Bluetooth Headset iPhone Sport AirPods 3 ¥1399 Purchase
Each instrument has its own luminous space, and the AirPods 3 convincingly conveys a sense of space. The whole experience was very enjoyable, coupled with very accurate head tracking, and the immersion was only a few notches higher than normal stereo. As for codec support, the earbuds support both SBC and AAC codecs, so they can't really handle high-resolution audio, which is a bit disappointing.
In terms of microphone performance, the AirPods 3 is equipped with a dual beamforming microphone that captures the speaker's voice well while reducing ambient sounds such as wind. In our tests, the microphone recorded clear sound with minimal distortion.
As for connectivity, AirPods 3 is certainly optimized to work seamlessly with Apple devices. Buds have one-touch settings that automatically pair them with Apple devices in no time. During our 2-week testing window, there were absolutely no interruptions or intermittent connections.
Apple AirPods 3: Features
The AirPods 3 is definitely a high-end product of truly wireless headphones, and they're the company's latest entry-level option. They compete with industry heavyweights such as the Sony WF-1000XM3. Most TWS headphones in this price range have active noise cancellation, but you won't find it on these headphones because they're low-priced TWS products offered by the company.
Apple/Apple New AirPods Pro Wireless Bluetooth Headset Noise Cancelling Magnetic AirPods 3 Generation Headphones ¥1999 Purchase
However, the fact that these headphones don't have earbuds to seal the fit does mean that ANC is a very missed feature. If you're in a noisy environment, ambient sounds are sure to pass through and may prompt most people to raise the volume like we do, which isn't the best for your ears. Due to the semi-open design of airPods 3, there is also a certain degree of sound leakage.
In addition to the lack of active noise cancellation, the AirPods 3 does have a range of features, some of which we did cover in the Performance section, namely adaptive EQ and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. In addition to this, the headphones and charging case are also IPX4 rated, so they can resist slight water splashes, making them safe to use during exercise and light rain. The enclosure can be charged wirelessly on a Magsafe charger or any Qi-enabled wireless charger.
Next, the earbuds are equipped with a new skin detection sensor that automatically pauses the music when the earbud leaves your ears and resumes it when it is put back in. However, there is no volume control, which is disappointing.
However, you can make Siri lower the volume of your hands-free Apple device by simply saying "Hey Siri." Of course, the headset also comes with a hands-free Siri that's unique to Apple devices, so you can just say Hey Siri to make calls, play music, check directions, and more. Apple users can also have Siri read out all notifications via AirPods 3, which is handy.
Apple AirPods 3: Battery life
The 3rd Generation AirPods battery life is longer, rated at 6 hours only on the headphones and 30 hours in total on the charging case. In contrast, AirPods 2 offers up to 24 hours of total wireless playback time and 5 hours of in-ear playtime.
Apple/Apple AirPods Pro wireless noise canceling headphones National Warranty ¥1569 purchase
However, with Spatial Audio enabled, your battery life is indeed the same or slightly worse than gen2 AirPods. In our tests, the headset lasted 4 hours and 20 minutes while Spatial Audio was always active.
Since most users will use a Spatial Audio-enabled headset because it's a key feature for a full AirPods 3 experience, we'd say that this number is a better indicator of battery life. As a result, battery life is fairly modest compared to competitors such as the Sony WF-1000XM3 (which plays 6 hours when the ANC is on) and the Jabra Elite 85t (which plays 5.5 hours when the ANC is on). Still, the AirPods 3 battery life is long enough that it makes it easy for you to complete about 5-7 days of use.
You can also charge wirelessly via Magsafe or any Qi wireless charger. In addition, the headset offers a fast charging function, which gives you an hour of playback time after a 5-minute charge.
Fan Buoyancy for Apple/Apple AirPods Pro III Generation Wireless Bluetooth Headset ¥1999 Purchase
All in all, airPods 3 has good battery life, but with Spatial Audio enabled, it's about the same as the previous generation model.
Apple AirPods 3: Build, design, and comfort
AirPods 3 continues the design of the original AirPods and makes some key changes. These are all-white minimalist headphones with a protruding bending bar. They offer a new contour design that provides a better fit and comfort compared to previous products. The rods are also 33% shorter than the AirPods 2's poles, which makes them more compact and unobtrusive. Shorter stems, contoured earbuds, and brushed aluminum fittings also make these new AirPods look more streamlined.
Force-sensitive capacitive sensors are mounted at the bottom of the stem and they work very well. They also provide some audio feedback when pressed. The headphones are also lightweight and the case is portable. The case is slightly larger than the AirPods 2's charging case, but not excessive. It feels very sturdy. The front of the chassis has a battery indicator and a Lightning port for charging.
As for fit and comfort, that's where the AirPods 3 can be a bit polarizing. Unlike AirPods Pro, these earbuds don't have earbuds on them, and they feature a semi-open design like the AirPods Gen2. While this will appeal to people who don't like pushing earplugs too deep into the ear canal, it does feel less safe to wear, especially when exercising or jogging.
In addition, if your ear canal is smaller, you may find it less secure to wear because the shell itself is very wide, so they may not fit securely in your ears. Still, the earbuds are light, weighing only 4.28 grams each, so they're comfortable to wear for long periods of time. I highly recommend that you try them out in a brick-and-mortar store before you buy them to see if they work for you, as all ears are in different shapes.
Apple AirPods 3: Summary
There's no doubt that apple AirPods 3 is a big step forward in terms of performance, functionality, and construction over its predecessor. It offers an enticing array of features, especially for Apple users, including Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, hands-free Siri, IPX4 rating, audio sharing, and more.
Apple AirPods Bluetooth Headset for iPhone/iPad/Apple Watch ¥940 Purchase
Headphones miss out on active noise cancellation, so if you want headphones to have this, there are many options on the market that offer ANC in the same price range.
However, if you don't care about ANC, the AirPods 3 comes with great sound quality, immersive spatial audio support, good battery life, and more. In addition, if you're an Apple user, you'll have access to more quality of life features. Then these headphones are the best choice for you.
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