Apple AirPods 3rd Generation

The AirPods 3 are a big upgrade over the 2nd gen with better sound, Spatial Audio, and longer battery life. But the hard plastic fit is a love-it-or-hate-it situation, and there's no noise cancellation. If they stay in your ears, they're some of the best open-fit buds around, especially if you find them on sale. If they don't, you'll be shopping for ear hooks or returning them within a week.

The sound profile is where the 3rd gen really stretches its legs. Apple's custom driver pushes out a wider soundstage than the 2nd gen, with a noticeable bump in bass that doesn't muddy the mids. The Adaptive EQ is constantly sampling the audio and adjusting, and in practice, it makes tracks sound more consistent whether you're sitting still or bouncing around. Our sound quality ranking puts these well above average, and for an open-fit earbud, that's genuinely impressive. Spatial Audio with head tracking is the party trick here, and it works shockingly well for Apple Music and video content, making a Netflix show feel more like a home theater setup than a pair of tiny buds.

Battery life is a strong point, landing in the 78th percentile. You get a solid 6 hours from the buds themselves, and the MagSafe case bumps total listening time to 30 hours. That's enough to get through a cross-country flight with a layover, assuming you pop them in the case during your coffee break. The quick charge feature is a lifesaver, giving you about an hour of playback from a 5-minute charge. Connectivity is rock solid with Bluetooth 5.0 and the H1 chip, ranking in the 88th percentile. Multipoint isn't quite the universal standard some Android users might hope for, but the handoff between your own Apple devices is seamless in a way that makes other earbuds feel clunky.

The most direct competitor is Sony's WF-1000XM6, which brings class-leading ANC and a more secure in-ear fit with foam tips. Sony's sound quality is phenomenal, and their app gives you an EQ to tweak things to your taste, something Apple still doesn't offer. But you lose that open-air awareness and the frictionless Apple device switching. The Sony buds are better for focused listening and blocking out the world, while the AirPods 3 are better for staying present and moving between Apple screens all day.

Samsung's Galaxy Buds3 Pro are another strong alternative, especially if you're in the Android camp. They pack ANC, a comfortable stem design, and impressive sound that trades blows with the AirPods 3. The Samsung buds also offer an IP57 rating, which is a big step up from the AirPods' IPX4 for serious workouts. Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the kings of comfort and noise cancellation, but they're bulkier and more expensive. If you want the most peaceful flight of your life, go Bose. If you want to hear your train stop announced and still enjoy your podcast, the AirPods 3 make more sense.

Pricing on the AirPods 3 is a bit of a rollercoaster depending on where you look. We're seeing a spread from $90 all the way up to $313 across vendors, which is a massive $223 gap. If you can snag a new pair at the lower end of that range, the value proposition flips from "kinda pricey" to "absolute steal." At $90, you're getting best-in-class Apple integration, Spatial Audio, and solid battery life for less than most mid-range wireless earbuds. At the full $179-ish retail price, things get trickier, especially when the AirPods Pro 2 with proper ANC and a more secure fit can sometimes be found on sale for not much more.

The MagSafe charging case is a nice touch that adds real convenience if you're already in the Apple charging ecosystem. But if you're paying over $200, you're drifting into territory where competitors offer active noise cancellation and customizable fit options. The value here is heavily dependent on how much you value the open-fit design and whether you find a good deal. For the best price we're seeing, the Amazon renewed or Best Buy sale options are worth hunting down.

Apple's AirPods 3rd Generation sit in a weird, wonderful little spot in the lineup. They borrow the shorter stems and Spatial Audio tricks from the AirPods Pro, but ditch the silicone ear tips for the classic one-size-fits-most hard plastic design. That single decision defines everything about who these are for. If the original AirPods fit you perfectly and you never wanted for noise cancellation, these are basically a straight upgrade with better sound and battery life. If you've ever had an AirPod fall out mid-jog, you might want to keep scrolling.

We're looking at a set of true wireless earbuds that nail the Apple ecosystem experience. Pairing is basically telepathic if you own an iPhone, and the H1 chip keeps things snappy when switching between a Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch. The sound has been re-tuned from the 2nd gen, and our database shows it landing in the 85th percentile for audio quality. That's a real step up, driven by a custom driver and Adaptive EQ that adjusts the low and mid frequencies based on how the buds sit in your ear. It's clever stuff that works in the background without you ever touching a setting.

But here's the elephant in the room: there's no active noise cancellation. In a world where you can grab ANC earbuds for under a hundred bucks, Apple's decision to keep the AirPods 3 open-backed is a deliberate choice, not an oversight. It means you stay aware of your surroundings, which is great for runners or office workers who need to hear a colleague. It also means the 32nd percentile ANC ranking is technically true but a bit misleading, since there's no ANC to rank. The real question is whether the fit and features justify the price for your specific ears.

If you've ever had an original AirPod fall out, just walk away from these. The contoured design is slightly tweaked, but it's still a rigid plastic shell that relies on your ear shape to hold it in place. No amount of sound quality or battery life matters if the bud is sitting on the sidewalk. You're better off with the AirPods Pro 2 or Beats Fit Pro, both of which offer silicone tips and a much more secure fit for movement.

Also, if you take a lot of calls in noisy places, the mic performance here is going to frustrate you. The 45th percentile ranking means your voice won't sound great, and background noise suppression is minimal. Look at the Sony WF-1000XM6 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra if call clarity in loud environments is a priority. And if you want to block out the world during your commute, the lack of ANC makes these a poor choice compared to basically any sealed earbud at this price.

If you loved the original AirPods fit and just want better sound, longer battery, and a splash of spatial magic, the 3rd generation is a no-brainer upgrade. They're the best open-fit earbuds Apple has ever made, and for iPhone users who hate the plugged-up feeling of silicone tips, there's really no substitute. The sound is lively, the battery keeps up with long workdays, and the integration with Apple devices remains the gold standard.

But if you've ever had an AirPod fall out while walking, or you need to take calls in noisy environments, these are a risky buy. The fit is the dealbreaker for a lot of people, and the mic quality won't do you any favors on a busy street. In that case, look at the AirPods Pro 2 for a more secure fit and actual noise cancellation, or the Beats Fit Pro if you want ear wings for workouts. The AirPods 3 are fantastic at what they do, but what they do is very specific: deliver great open-air sound for Apple users with the right ear shape.