Apple AirPods 3 in the test: in-ear highlight with tricks


Apple’s AirPods are hugely popular headphones. So it’s no wonder that Apple launched the AirPods 3 at the end of 2021, which visually position themselves between the direct predecessor and the Apple AirPods Pro. The “AirPods 3” test from COMPUTER BILD reveals what makes the audio technology stand out.

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Mu3


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Galaxy Buds Pro SM-R190


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Elite 7 Active


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Complete list: The best true wireless earphones

New look, old look

The Apple AirPods (3rd gen) differ quite significantly from the previous models. The style-defining bars are now shorter and have Push buttons (force sensor) on the sides. The typing technology of the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) is obsolete, loyal Apple fans already know it from the AirPods Pro. In general, the Pro version and the AirPods 3 are optically twins. There are only two differences: a sensor is in a different place and the rubber seals that the Pro versions use to stick in the ear canals are missing. The current “normal” AirPods hang loosely in front of the ear canals, but are slightly different from their predecessors. In the long-term test, this did not always ensure the very high wearing comfort, because the technology occasionally slipped out of the ears, especially during conversations and corresponding jaw movements. One active noise cancellation (ANC, Active Noise-Cancelling) does not exist due to this placement.

AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro

The AirPods 3 emulate the AirPods Pro in many other respects. That’s how he determines Adaptive EQ with inward-facing microphones the sound in the ears and compensates for quality losses that may occur if the fit is not perfect. While normally loose-fitting in-ears hardly allow any bass to be heard, Adaptive EQ adjusts accordingly. The adjustment takes a few seconds and is extremely unobtrusive. In general, however, the two models differ little from each other.

Apple AirPods 3

Illegitimate children: The AirPods 3 (middle) are a combination of the AirPods 2 (left) and AirPods Pro (right).

AirPods 3 with Pro features

Thanks to Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos there is also 3D sound up and in your ears. This works, for example, with films and series from Apple TV and Netflix, as well as with some music titles from Apple Music. More and more music appears in the appropriate spatial sound mix. It doesn’t matter whether it’s film or music: with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, the sound doesn’t seem to be created in the middle of the head, as is usually the case with headphones. Instead, the sound builds up around the listener, which is more natural and often less strenuous. This also contributes to the natural sound impression head tracking at: It fixes the acoustic room division on the screen – this works with iPhones, iPads and with the Apple TV streaming box. A dialogue, for example, can always be heard from the direction of the screen, no matter where the user is looking. The AirPods Pro and AirPods Max already use this technology. Now it also works with video calls via Apple’s FaceTime service. Here, too, the voice of the interlocutor always comes from the direction of the screen. The AirPods 3 are now also protected against sweat and splash water (protection class IPX4). The battery life was a good six and a half hours in the test, after ten minutes of charging there is power for almost three more hours – great. With the compact case, the juice lasts for 30 hours.
Apple AirPods 3

When it comes to the charging boxes, the new AirPods (3rd gen) (middle) don’t take much from the predecessor (left) and the Pro model (right).

This is what the AirPods 3 sound like

Overall, the sound of the Apple AirPods 3 is balanced and very clear, the bass is precise and clean – thanks to Adaptive EQ, it is also largely independent of the orientation in the ear. Depending on the recording and recording quality, the playback sometimes seems cool and sober – the AirPods 3 don’t sugarcoat anything and do without the otherwise widespread bass emphasis. If you like more bass, you can adjust it on your smartphone. Thanks to the placement in front of the ear canal, the sound often appears spacious and open. By the way: there is hardly any acoustic interference. Even in the Hamburg wind, there is little noise, and people on the phone are largely spared the noise.

  • Really good sound
  • Decent battery life
  • Volume cannot be controlled directly on the in-ears

AirPods 3 review: conclusion

From a purely visual point of view, the AirPods (3rd generation) are a mixture of the predecessor and the Pro version. That’s good, because it also includes many of the big brother’s functions, such as Adaptive EQ and 3D sound via Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. In terms of sound, the 3 Series are significantly better than their predecessors and on par with the Pro. The battery life of six and a half hours is also good. If you don’t like tight-fitting in-ears, but still want good sound, you should take a closer look at the AirPods 3 for just under 170 euros (as of March 2022). Test grade: 1.9.



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