Table of Contents
Intro
Genuine wireless earphones usually conjures up pictures of the 3rd Generation Apple AirPod. Apple’s success has come at the expense of significant investments in audio sound and quality. The common conception is that being popular doesn’t always translate to quality. However, this is not the case with Apple accessories.
The newest earbud model from Apple may cost more, but is it worthwhile to fork out the extra cash? Let’s find out in this in-depth review of the 3rd Gen Apple Airpod.
Who needs it?
- The third-generation AirPods appeals to Apple iPhone and iPad users.
- The sophisticated functions of the Apple H1 processor can only be used with Apple devices, so you’ll need an iPhone or iPad to take full advantage of the chip.
Read also : Review of the Apple Airpod Pro
What does it feel like to use the 3rd generation Apple AirPods?
The pro version and the 3rd Generation Airpod would undoubtedly look alike at first glance. The 3rd Gen has long stems that would get caught on masks. However, they still have the tip-less design. We’ve all seen the glossy white design before, so there’s nothing here that truly surprises us.
As with the AirPods Pro, the charging case seems like a transitional step between the small AirPods case and the larger AirPods. When the casing is closed, the earphones snap into place magnetically. The AirPods (3rd generation) continue to be one of the most stunning wireless earphones on the market, but the Pro version takes things a lot further.
Read our review of the Apple Airpod Pro
The 3rd Gen AirPods include a skin-detect sensor instead of the earlier versions’ optical sensor, which is a subtle but welcome improvement. You can remove the earbuds from your ears and place them in your pocket without resuming playback. But it does handle auto-play and pauses in the same way as earlier versions.
Apple’s AirPods (3rd generation) are still designed in a way that caters to a wide range of users. Poorly designed ear tips mean many users will not achieve a secure fit, resulting in discomfort and a lack of total noise isolation.
For Workout
Using AirPods at the gym is now a reality thanks to their improved sweat and water resistance. However, it doesn’t come dust-protected or water-submersion-protected higher Ipx rating. This means that the AirPods (3rd generation) aren’t the headphones for many activities (including swimming), even if they have an IPX4 designation.
Connecting the 3rd generation Apple Airpods with your phone
The process is as straightforward as ever when it comes to using the AirPods with your Apple smartphone. The Bluetooth 5.0 connection is as simple as popping up the lid and tapping “Connect” on the pop-up widget. It’s easy to move between your iPhone and a MacBook or iPad, thanks to the H1 chip’s iCloud sync.
You’ll need to manually link your AirPods with your Android phone if you intend to utilize them. Hold your phone near the case until the AirPods show up in your list of accessible Bluetooth devices after you’ve opened the case and pressed the pairing button on the rear.
Bluetooth Support Codecs
The 3rd Gen only supports the Bluetooth codecs AAC and SBC, just like previous AirPod models. AAC works well enough on iPhones, but it doesn’t work on certain Android devices, even though the type of hardware used is essential. You may have to force SBC streaming on Android since AAC connection quality varies from device to device. Paying more for aptX-enabled Bluetooth headphones is a pain, especially when there are many affordable options.
Check out previous models : 2nd Generation Apple Airpods
Apps
The same software works with all AirPods models—the iOS and iPad’s Settings app. When it comes to things like firmware upgrades and other premium features, only individuals who purchase Apple products can access them.
You can name your AirPods, customize what occurs when you push the force sensor on each earbud stem, and turn on or off automatic ear identification via the Apple Settings app, which is on by default. Auto-detection of your ears allows you to restart playback when removing or inserting an earphone. After removing both earbuds, the music comes to a complete halt and does not continue even after putting them back on.
You can choose which AirPods microphone is used during phone conversations and speak to Siri using the app. Another Apple-only function, known as “Find My AirPods,” can help users locate a single misplaced AirPod earpiece.
Spatial Audio System
The 3rd generation Airpods with Spatial Audio is even better with iOS 15.1. Apple Music’s earbuds now include Spatialize Stereo, a feature that allows them to turn any audio source into Dolby Atmos-enabled surround sound. The conventional stereo mix is usually preferable to the Spatialize Stereo effects even when using Spatialize Stereo.
One exception is that music mixed in mono may benefit significantly from the spatialized stereo effect. You can hear many songs in genuine stereo quality first by using the Spatialize Stereo effect. Even while the science isn’t quite there yet, and we still prefer the work of a sound engineer to that of Apple, it’s pretty interesting to hear old hit tracks in a new light.
In addition to Spatialized Stereo, Apple offers Head Tracking, which employs inbuilt accelerometers to measure your head movement. The AirPods work to span the audio to the right earpiece when the head turns to the left (and vice versa), providing the impression that the music is always in the same spot. This neat feature creates a virtual stage in front of the user, like a live concert.
Discover if the Apple Airpod Max is for you
Control System
The force sensor on each earbud’s stem is used to manage many features on this device. Because an oval dimple delineates the sensor, you can’t accidentally tap on the stem.
The transparency mode seen on the Apple AirPods Pro is missing from the third-generation AirPods. Because you can’t get a seal with the AirPods, their absence makes a little sense. You can choose which AirPod stem to use for Siri in the Settings app.
Battery System
The 3rd Gen AirPods’ battery life has improved noticeably with each iteration. In our objective testing, the Apple AirPods 3rd generation lasted for an estimated 6 hours and 30 minutes on a single charge, which significantly increased over the previous generation’s estimated 4-hour battery life.
See also the improved battery system in our review of the Apple Airpod Pro
The 3rd Gen AirPods include an improved battery charging mode that learns how often you charge them so that when you need to use them, they will have enough battery life. True wireless earbuds aren’t meant to last. This means that using them every day for more than a few years is unlikely since the battery capacity decreases with each charge.
MagSafe Charging Case.
MagSafe and wireless charging provide new methods to charge the case. However, the MagSafe charging pad isn’t included with the third-generation AirPods, so you’ll have to purchase it separately. You may also need a Lightning cord to charge your phone since Apple isn’t wholly committed to USB-C. An extra four charges from the case extend the earphones’ listening duration to more than 30 hours, which is fantastic. The fast charging feature also gives a full 60 minutes of battery life after just five minutes of charge
Noise Attenuation
Background noise is generally unavoidable while using the 3rd generation Airpods. Despite the new design of the third-generation AirPods, Apple has kept the open connection feature. When you’re sprinting through the streets of a crowded metropolis or careening through the countryside, having an open ear may come in handy. Even if you manage to keep the earphones in place, the open-fit design will dramatically reduce the sound quality of your music..
Rubberized ear tips are standard on most earbuds, providing passive isolation by sealing the ear canal. Unlike other sealed earphones, the AirPods (3rd version) do not attenuate sounds below 1 kHz. Auditory masking occurs when a loud sound (external noise) makes it difficult to perceive a relatively quiet sound since your ear canals are still exposed to the noise (your music). In addition to lowering the sound quality, this might lead to noise-induced hearing loss if you must crank up the volume to drown out the noise of your surroundings.
Airpod Sound System (3rd Gen vs. Airpod Pro vs. Airpod Max)
The “poor fit” narrative of the Apple 3rd Gen is somewhat accurate, in our opinion, but Apple makes up for this by pushing more on the “tiny speakers that sit in the ears. As a result, the frequency response is remarkable, even though obtaining a measurement that looks nice is almost impossible. However, if your speaker system has a low-pass filter, you won’t hear any discernible difference in your music unless you have an additional subwoofer to go down to frequencies as low as 50 Hz.
Discover if the Apple Airpod Max is for you
Try to keep the 3rd generation Airpods out of your ear canal if you’re a bass fan. The open design of the earbuds might encourage you to do this, but you’ll discover that they cannot achieve good sound quality since it misses out on bass. Instead, you will experience high-frequency noises, ambiance, and effects in a mix if the highs and mids are more accentuated than the lows. However, since higher frequencies and harmonics are so much easier to hear, you’ll likely hear more “detail” in your music, at least if you’re in an atmosphere where this is possible
Even if these earbuds aren’t perfect, they can be improved by using the Apple Music EQ settings. For Android users, the only option is a phone with an EQ built-in or a music player with an EQ built-in.
Fortunately, the AirPod 3rd generation has Apple’s Adaptive EQ function on many devices. By measuring how the music stream is transmitted to your ear, adaptive EQ adjusts the frequency of low and midrange frequencies in real-time to compensate for fit. In summary, the Apple Adaptive EQ is designed to maximize the performance of the AirPods regardless of where the bar is set. Both AirPods Pro and AirPods Max also have the adaptive EQ feature..
You may want to check out Sony WF-1000XM4
Even with the newer, rounder headphone design, the 3rd Gen AirPods product line is yet to transcend its physical restrictions. In terms of AirPod performance, this isn’t a big concern, but it still means the earbuds are more likely to slip out of your ears
Apple AirPods (2nd generation) and AirPods (3rd generation) exhibit very comparable performance flaws since sound quality is so strongly dependent on the AirPods’ capacity to reach your ear canals.
A lack of bass extension into the sub-bass area is evident in the AirPods (2nd generation) and AirPods (3rd generation). Still, the AirPods Pro offers by far the most satisfactory bass response.
In certain songs, the kick drums and other low-frequency parts may be too quiet or sound different than they should with 3rd Gen AirPods. Notably, in Billie Eilish’s NDA, Lil Nas X’s THAT’S WHAT I WANT Post Malone’s Circles. The rhythm may not have the same effect in real life, but it seems worse on a chart than it sounds.
The sound quality of the AirPods Pro is superior to that of the other two earphone-style devices. Adaptive EQ, sealed construction, and noise cancellation (ANC) make the AirPods Pro a lot easier to use. For the sake of argument, let’s say that the trade-offs in sound quality when you forego a seal are considerable, not only because of the seal itself but also because you’re never going to be in a perfect listening situation, which is why this comparison is unfair.
What about the mic system of the Apple Airpods 3rd Generation?
Because genuine wireless earbuds, by definition, lack a built-in microphone, it’s essential to keep this in mind. The Apple AirPods (3rd generation) has a decent microphone quality for phone conversations and the likes, with good noise cancellation and a clear sound.
You won’t be able to do any professional voiceover work with them, but that’s OK since that’s not what AirPods are for: they’re meant for listening to music.
What is the major difference between the Apple Airpods 3rd Generation and other Airpods?
The Apple AirPods (3rd generation) combines sophisticated features such as Spatial Audio, IPX4 design, head tracking, and automated device switching—but with a significant demerit: an open-type fit.
With the third generation of AirPods, Apple-inspired its AirPods Pro. Compared to the AirPods (3rd generation), the AirPods Pro sounds better, and because of the way the AirPods (2nd generation) fit, you’ll hear more bass from them than you would from a 3rd generation Airpod. The third-generation AirPods, on the other hand, have a longer battery life than many other headphones.
Is the 3rd generation of Apple Airpods worth the money?
If you’ve made it this far, you probably already know if you’re going to purchase 3rd Gen Apple AirPods or not. You may want to consider them over Apple AirPods Pro if you can’t tolerate the idea of it slipping from your ears.
The AirPods Pro not only outperforms the original AirPods in practically every area, but you can also change your charging case for the AirPods Pro to the MagSafe version later (if you wish to).
Apple AirPods (3rd generation) may not be the best option for everyone, but getting the newest and finest is always appealing. These earbuds are good, but if you already have a pair and are looking for a slightly improved version, the Pro version is worth a try. Be advised that many alternative (cheaper) wireless headphones on the market don’t have the same issues as AirPods.
If you can acquire the third-generation AirPods at a lower price than the price of the AirPods Pro, it may still be worth the investment.
What are the alternatives?
The AirPods Pro is one of the AirPods line earphones that we can honestly endorse. The AirPods Pro includes all the conveniences of the 3rd generation, but the snug fit makes them even more comfortable.
Consider the noise-canceling Beats Studio Buds instead of AirPods if you need more sound quality. Even without the H1 chip, you can still say “Hey Siri” while using Beats headphones in conjunction with an iPhone. Aside from producing louder bass, the Beats Studio Buds have an IPX4 certification and function just as well on Android and iOS. The Beats Powerbeats Pro, with its ear hooks and 10-plus-hour battery life, could be a better option for more active listeners.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 have somewhat stronger ANC than the more expensive Galaxy Buds Pro, making them an excellent AirPod competitor for those who aren’t sold on the AirPods. The Galaxy Buds 2 have a pleasant sound with well-balanced bass and treble, but their IPX2 rating is less encouraging. 3D sound is not included in the Galaxy Buds 2, and Samsung 360 Audio is only accessible on Android devices with some capabilities exclusive to Samsung models.
Let’s say you want a cross-platform experience for your Android and iOS devices. As a result, you may want to consider the Bose Sport Earbuds. Because of the cozy ear stays and the fact that it can be used with any device running the Bose Music app, this headphone is a no-brainer. Even though you can’t edit the quality via the app, the default sound is excellent, and few listeners will feel obliged to change it.
