Apple AirPods Pro 3 review: A masterclass in sound, a lesson in lock-in

Many of us live in a multi-ecosystem world, where we own various devices made by different manufacturers, all eager to pull us in and never let us leave. While you may own an Android smartphone, you may also have an Apple iPad or a MacBook Pro, for example.

If that’s you, or you’re also considering switching to an iPhone in the future, should you buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3 for all your in-ear audio needs? I’ve been using them for a few months now, back-to-back with many competitor products and following on from the AirPods Pro 2, to find out if they’re worth getting locked-in to an ecosystem or not.

Price, specs, and availability

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s flagship in-ear earphones and cost $249. They only come in white and are available directly from Apple, Apple’s retail stores, Amazon, Best Buy, and many other stores.

Its closest rivals include the $299 Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) in-ears, the $230 Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, and the $330 Sony WF-1000XM6. The $250 Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro should be considered if you own an Android phone, particularly a Samsung model.

If you own the Apple AirPods Pro 2, the Pro 3 have improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and I find the sound to have a stronger bass response and velvety vocals, for a clearer, more defined overall audio performance. Consider them a worthwhile upgrade.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 design and comfort

Wear them in, and they’re great

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 stick to a very familiar design, but with a few small alterations compared to the excellent Apple AirPods Pro 2, and these changes do slightly affect the way the earbuds fit in your ear.

on that in a moment. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are compact in-ear earbuds with a short stem, complete with a touch-sensitive panel that’s easy to locate with your fingertip, due to an oblong indentation marking the spot.

Touch control is accurate and responsive. There’s a lovely haptic click when you change the volume, and you don’t have to squeeze the stems like you’re trying to throttle them to change noise cancellation modes. It makes the AirPods Pro 3 very easy to use and to live with each day.

There’s an excellent selection of five ear tip options (from XXS to XL) in the box, and I’ve stayed with the medium versions, which maintain a decent seal in my ear without compromising comfort. It’s in the body where the differences to the AirPods Pro 2 come, as it’s larger and more bulbous, and the ear tips extend further out than the more streamlined in-ear fit that made the AirPods Pro 2 so fantastic.

They’re not uncomfortable, but do need “wearing in,” and I have found they can work their way out during exercise until the silicone has lost its initial slipperiness. I haven’t felt like they’re going to fall out, but it can end up affecting noise cancellation performance, and I stuffed them back in my ear on a relatively regular basis when they were brand new.

After a few weeks, the fit had improved, and the problem disappeared. All ears are different, and not everyone will have this experience, though.

The 5.5 gram AirPods Pro 3 are very light, and I have never felt any fatigue from wearing them. They’re one of the few in-ear earbuds I can wear and fall asleep with them in.

The AirPods Pro 3’s case is compact and, based on the number of times I’ve dropped it without any issue, durable too. The earbuds fit sensibly and logically inside, so you’re never fiddling around with them. The lanyard attachment on the side of the case is a nice touch, as is the speaker that helpfully chimes when it’s correctly aligned on a wireless charging pad.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 sound

Don’t expect to personalize it

With the AirPods Pro 3, your music is going to sound the way Apple wants it to. There’s no equalizer, audio profiles, or customization of any kind. The AirPods Pro 3 use Apple’s H2 audio chip and an Adaptive EQ to tune the sound to suit the way the earbuds fit in your ears. The same chip controls noise cancellation and features like live translation and conversational awareness.

Without a manual EQ, it’s a very good thing the AirPods Pro 3 sound fantastic. It’s a delightfully balanced, well-crafted sound where the bass never overpowers the vocals, yet never fades into nothing at all. I usually find a single equalizer or audio profile setting that works for me and stick with it. The AirPods Pro 3’s sound is exactly how I would set it.

A single audio profile may make it seem like the sound will be flat or generic. The truth is, it’s not. There’s life, vibrancy, and excitement in the AirPods Pro 3, and they never mind the volume being cranked up to make the most of it either. Stereo separation is noticeable, and the wide sound stage seemingly extends far beyond your ears.

This carefully judged audio performance works for music and for spoken word. I love relaxing with podcasts, and voices are warm and natural through the AirPods Pro 3, so I find myself choosing them over most other earbuds when I want to listen. This is the way I feel about the sound in general. It’s so well-balanced, I can listen for hours, and enjoy every second.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 noise cancellation

A real strength

Noise cancellation is a serious strength. It isolates you from the world very effectively, minimizing conversation in a café, and the majority of traffic noise when you’re out and about.

It does so without pressure in your ears, and you’ll be really surprised by just how much ambient noise the AirPods Pro 3 cut out when you remove them from your ears. It makes noisy environments comfortable, and without anything playing through them, allows you to focus on a task.

It’s a step up from the AirPods Pro 2 and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro’s ANC, which aren’t quite as effective at cutting out ambient noise. I can hear myself type when wearing the Samsung earbuds, but not really when I’m using the AirPods Pro 3.

However, they can’t quite match the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) earbuds’ performance. It’s very close, but I may as well be alone in a silent room when I’m wearing the Bose. Samsung does win with its excellent transparency mode, though, and I find the AirPods Pro 3’s (admittedly still effective) transparency mode a little harsh.

I feel noise cancellation is a fairly personal preference. Not everyone wants to be shut out completely, and the AirPods Pro 3 get very close to that point. If you like that, you’ll like the AirPods Pro 3’s performance.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 app and compatibility

Yes, you can use them with Android

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are primarily made to connect to another Apple device, whether that’s an iPhone, an iPad, or a Mac computer.

Connection is almost always instant, the earbuds will recognize multiple different devices, and will switch between them without a fuss. What’s more, when you upgrade or change a device, the AirPods are remembered without any need to re-pair them. Music playback makes good use of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone, and the Bluetooth connection has been faultless.

You don’t use a dedicated app, and the control options are all found under the Settings app. Apple’s extensive list of accessibility features can all be found, or added to, the shortcuts under the notification Control Panel. I really like the built-in ambient sounds and white noise generator, for example.

What about using the AirPods Pro 3 with a non-Apple device? It’s a bit like using Galaxy Buds 4 Pro with an iPhone, in that you can easily pair them, but you won’t get access to any special features. The double-tap on the front of the charging case to activate pairing is cool.

Connected to an Android phone, you can still use all the touch controls, such as a swipe to adjust the volume, a double-press to change tracks, and a long-press to activate ANC or transparency mode.

To my ears, there’s only a little difference in sound, although without the ability to measure your hearing, the Adaptive EQ won’t tune itself like it will on an Apple device. The H2 chip won’t work in the same way either, so expect changes compared to using them with an Apple device in noise cancellation, Bluetooth connection stability, and in-call audio.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 special features

Interesting additional benefits

There are a few added features that are worth noting on the AirPods Pro 3, including the earbuds working as a hearing aid, a heart rate monitor, head gestures, and live translation. Not everyone will use each one, but in typical Apple fashion, they’re easy to get working if you want to try them out.

For the hearing aid mode, the app runs a hearing test, which takes about 10 minutes. It plays different tones, and you indicate if you can hear them. I ran the test and was told I had no hearing loss, which is nice to know. If it did register hearing loss, the earbuds will boost conversation in transparency mode.

The heart rate monitoring mode is a fantastic addition if you use Apple’s Fitness+ workout plan, but don’t own an Apple Watch. Fitness+ can show live heart rate tracking when connected to a compatible wearable, and it adds a significant extra dimension to workouts. You only need a single AirPod in your ear, too.

The live translation feature works in tandem with Apple’s Translate app, and requires you to select the language you’ll be hearing, and what language you want to hear first, then press both touch panels on the earbuds to activate it.

I haven’t used it in a “live” translation setting, but have experimented with YouTube videos in Japanese. It suffers from the same issues as other similar systems, where it’s best if the other person speaks slowly and clearly. If they don’t, the translation can’t keep up. What’s more, it can get very confused by colloquialisms and slang.

Finally, there’s head tracking, and it’s probably the feature most people will find useful. Siri will read notifications, and you can reply using voice, or answer and decline calls too. While you can speak to Siri, it’s less weird to use head gestures in public, and the AirPods Pro 3 recognize even the smallest of gestures. It’s a great feature.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 battery and charging

Up there with the best

Apple claims eight hours of listening with ANC active, and 24 hours total with ANC from the case. It supports USB charging and wireless charging, and has a very helpful fast charging feature, where a five-minute charge adds an hour of listening.

During my use, I’ve found the eight-hour use is perhaps on the conservative side when the earbuds are new, as an hour of ANC listening seems to take about 10% of the battery. Either way, the battery life is excellent.

This is a couple of hours longer expected playtime than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) earbuds and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, and around the same as you can expect from the Google Pixel Buds 2 Pro.

Should you buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3?

If you own an Apple product, the AirPods Pro 3 are a superb buy, and due to the way they interact with an Apple device, by far the most convenient option. There’s no need for an additional app or even much effort to initially pair them either. Noise cancellation is among the best, and battery life excels too.

Some will be frustrated by the lack of an adjustable equalizer, and not all the extra features will apply to everyone, but you’re never pushed to use them. I love the audio performance and find that they sound great regardless of what I’m playing.

Apple has also nailed head gestures and notification support through its earbuds. I find it useful to hear and then dismiss messages using my voice or a head shake when listening. It’s reliable, Siri’s voice is clear, and I’ve used it a lot.

If you own an Android phone, there are better choices, as although the AirPods Pro 3 work, you miss out on all the extras.

I find Apple’s stock music and podcast apps superior to Android’s options, and it makes the AirPods Pro 3 the earbuds I tend to most regularly pick up on my way out of the house. It has never been a choice I’ve regretted, despite a host of other options on my desk. I don’t think there’s a higher recommendation than that.