The third-generation AirPods may look similar to the previous model at first glance, but side-by-side, their differences are immediately apparent. Both are open-style earbuds and have a stem-style design, but the stems on the newer AirPods are significantly shorter (1.21 inches vs. 1.59 inches) and better-sculpted for in-ear fit. Internally, the new model has a redesigned driver and even a skin-detect sensor that uses light reflections to determine if they are currently in your ear. An H1 wireless audio chip, the same one found in the second-generation AirPods and the AirPods Pro, also sits in each earphone along with a microphone designed to measure how your ear processes sound. The AirPods get the same IPX4 rating as the AirPods Pro, which means they are capable of withstanding a sweaty workout or light rain but not much beyond that. You can't submerge the earpieces or dunk them for cleaning; a slightly damp cloth is probably the safest bet. The charging case also gets an IPX4 rating, which notable because most true wireless earphones don't get any IP rating. Out of the box, the AirPods are ready to pair automatically with iPhones, iPads, and Macs once you flip open the charging case lid; we immediately got a prompt on our iPhone 13 for pairing when we opened the case the first time. The ability to pair the AirPods without having to go to the Bluetooth menu is always something we appreciate. You can connect them to non-Apple products through the standard Bluetooth pairing process. We tested the third-generation AirPods' audio quality with Spatial Audio turned off, though we discuss that feature in the next section. Simply, the new AirPods offer a balanced, clear sound with solid anchoring in the lows and definition in the highs. On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the AirPods deliver some serious low-frequency depth, regardless of volume level. This is a significant development because the second-generation model struggled to reproduce bass depth even at moderate volume levels. At maximum volume levels (and these drivers can get far louder than they need to, or should), there’s no distortion. L ove the sound quality, battery life and fit of the headphones. For example, they mention the spatial audio is a really cool feature, noise cancelation is good for studying and that they last at least a couple of hours. That said, some complain about the fit. Opinions are mixed on comfort and quality.

To begin with, these are quite expensive headphones for most people, but if the question is: Are they worth it? For me, they are worth every penny. 1. Ergonomics and design. In the design part, they fit my ear well, to the point that I can bring them for several hours and I don't notice any discomfort, even (due to their open design) sometimes it's as if I forgot that I'm wearing them. 2. Functionality. These headphones work excellent with devices from the Apple ecosystem, great sound quality. Fortunately I have iPad, iPhone and MacBook so the change between devices is wonderfully fast, I'm talking about the fact that it's enough to pause what your iPhone plays and play your iPad so that the headphones switch to the iPad. 3. Iconicity. I understand that there are people who do not like the brand for what it is, however it is undeniable that it becomes an icon with the products it launches, this makes the AirPods can become practically a fashion accessory, which I personally like. 4. Extra functionalities. It has many functions that are "hidden" so I invite any owner of the device to delve a little into everything that these small headphones offer. In the same way I want to emphasize the spatial audio, which I feel very well achieved and makes me re-listen to my favorite songs with this addition, it is also proper to mention how excellent the head tracking works makes you feel that the audio is in front of you and you can approach the instruments individually. In conclusion: I think they are excellent hearing pods even for the price, although I recommend waiting for some promo. So if you are a person who enjoys music, going out to the street listening to what you like, the ease provided by free hands (the microphone sounds fantastic) and you have at least one iPhone, I highly recommend them, although if you are not interested in the spatial audio section, I recommend that you go for the second generation which roughly only loses the aforementioned functionality. Thank you for reading and I hope it helps you decide whether to buy.

I’ll start this off by clarifying that I’m upgrading from the 1st Gen Air Pods. So far, my experience with the 3rd Gens is that the volume and sound quality is a lot better than I had anticipated. I can definitely hear more bass coming through than I could on the 1st Gens, so that’s always good. There was always something so frustrating about turning your volume to the max and not having the song or audio be as loud as you want it to be, but the 3rd Gens do not give me the same problem. Connecting wasn’t a struggle, had a strange issue that quickly resolved itself, so now they connect flawlessly. So far the battery life has been very good as well. You can also connect your Air Pods to the “Find My” App as well, so if you ever lose a Pod or anything, you should be able to locate them using that app. The only gripe that I have with the 3rd Gen Air Pods is the shape of the Pods themselves. They don’t sit comfortably in my ears and I find myself constantly adjusting them to make sure they don’t come too loose or fall out entirely. It’s usually when I’m talking or smiling, or making an exaggerated expression like laughing or yawning that I feel them slipping out slightly and require readjustment. I never had this problem with the 1st Gen Air Pods so it’s quite disappointing. I don’t understand why they didn’t settle with a better fitting shape than what they ended up with, but I’m hoping that I’ll simply adjust to the shape over time. Worth your money? For everything else that I mentioned…Connectivity, Battery Life, Sound Quality, Volume, I would say so. Just be aware that you may have to readjust your Air Pods so they don’t come too loose. If you’re very focused on a comfortable listening experience and don’t want to fuss about readjusting them, honestly go for the 1st Gen Air Pods. They’re cheaper, and very solid for what they are! Sound quality, volume and battery life is still good, just slightly less than what the 3rd Gen offers which is to be expected.

I believe that the 2nd Gen Apple AirPods are the best overall pick for consumers looking for Bluetooth earbuds for their Apple product. I will die on this hill saying it’s the most versatile, comfortable, maybe not the best sound but the range is phenomenal. The battery life, depending on how often you’re using them, can last up to 72 hours. I love the charging case design it’s compact and somehow durable even though it feels like a thin plastic. I would’ve loved these same designs just upgraded performance instead of the 3rd gen. I hope the 4th gen AirPods end up feeling and have the quality and longevity of these 2nd gen models. Easy to connect and save onto your device, depending on your smart tv you can even connect them for movies or games on the late night hours when everyone else is sleeping. I hope noise- cancelling features go into the 4th gen model. I love these earbuds. My one and biggest complaint is the upkeep on the case, in my experience, it is almost impossible to keep the crevices clean they get dirt or lint that is impossible to get out. They’re might be hacks online to clean the cases but I haven’t really found any that work. On the other hand, the durability of the earbuds themselves are amazing I have accidentally washed them loose in my pockets on numerous occasions, but after the drying cycle they still work great. Maybe not after the 3rd or 5th time I’ve done it but for being the size they are the durability is astounding. I hope to be getting another pair soon as my current ones are a few years old now. But as an overall rating, I’d give them a 4.77/5 because the case is just hard to clean and there are obvious speaker issues that come into play every once in a while.