AirPods Pro 3 Do Not Include a Charging Cable in the Box

[Michael Scrip]

The APP3 are not much of an upgrade. New tips for better ANC is not ground-breaking, and you now only get 24 hours of total charge from a single case recharge, down from 30 hours. The price should have come down, say 10%.

+ Better Active Noise Cancellation
+ Better Adaptive EQ and Transparency Mode
+ Slightly smaller AirPods for better fit
+ Five eartips included vs four
+ Eartips now have foam for better fit
+ Heartrate sensor
+ Better dust, sweat, and water resistance
+ Longer ANC and Transparency Mode battery life
+ Updated U2 chip

- USB-C cable not included


Seems like a good upgrade to me. And I don't need another USB-C cable.


¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[verdi1987]

Apple's cable are awful (at least that's how I remember my lightning cables.)

The braided ones they’ve been using for a while are good.

 

[verdi1987]

more inconsistencies with Apple these days. The watch has a charging cable, yet the AirPods do not? Apple is just doing things willynilly.

The Watch requires a special charging cable. People are less likely to have a bunch of them lying around.

 

[Mr. Heckles]

One day we will see, charging case sold separately 😟

Don't give them any ideas.

 

[lovehateapple]

Wireless is very reasonable especially for AirPods, but does your statement mean you don't have any USBC cable lying around that you rarely or never use?

I have plenty of USB-C cables lying around, but I'm beginning to see the advantage of wireless.

 

[ZMacintosh]

There is logic in this decision. The Apple Watch charges only from a watch sized charging puck. Unlike USB cables, customers may not have a watch charging puck (especially new Apple Watch buyers). As many people stated above, almost everyone has a USB-c cable or at worst can buy one cheaply.

Perhaps because the watch uses a proprietary connector instead of the ever present usbc?

The Watch requires a special charging cable. People are less likely to have a bunch of them lying around.

shouldn't matter, I may not have a charging cable. you also have to understand these are sold in kiosks, vending machines, airports, etc where access to a single cable may not be entirely accessible. so again inconsistencies.

 

[HiVolt]

Let’s be real tho, if you’re buying AirPods, you have an Apple device with a cable

So what? It doesnt hurt having spare cables in different places.

Just penny pinching to the next level.

 

[dwaite]

I honestly wish nothing came with USB-C cables, unless they are USB4 or better.

USB4 is a protocol and does not put new requirements onto the USB-C spec. It does require you to have a minimum of 5Gb data transfer.

I think I'd prefer just only having cables if they are properly labelled with their power and data certifications.

 

[dwaite]

more inconsistencies with Apple these days. The watch has a charging cable, yet the AirPods do not? Apple is just doing things willynilly.

The watch requires a proprietary cable.

If it is your first watch, you are not going to have an Apple Watch charging cable.

If it is your first iPhone, you can still use the cable that came with your previous Android phone to charge it.

 

[JPack]

That's not what they are assuming though. They are assuming 'many' have a spare USB-C cable that can be used either solely or shared with some other device. They are assuming that the relatively few that don't have such a cable can buy one cheaply. They are assuming that those that DO have spare cables are getting tired of them piling up and being wasted.

If that were the case, you'd think Apple would survey customers.

I've received Apple surveys about iPhone, iPad, Mac. But never asking whether I have extra USB-C cables so Apple could save a buck.

 

[emulator]

now if your cable is bit damaged instead relying on Air Pods cable you have to buy a new cable. More money for apple

Buying usb-c cable from  is the equivalent of buying monster hdmi cable for $29 around the turn of the millennium.

 

[Mindfighter]

I get the reasoning behind it. USB-C cables are everywhere now and most people probably have one or more of them at this point. Quite surprised they didn't take them out of the iPhone boxes this year as well.

The braided ones are quite nice but they do wear out over time so having an ”extra” included would have been nice.

 

[ZMacintosh]

The watch requires a proprietary cable.

If it is your first watch, you are not going to have an Apple Watch charging cable.

If it is your first iPhone, you can still use the cable that came with your previous Android phone to charge it.

thats cool, see my reply

shouldn't matter, I may not have a charging cable. you also have to understand these are sold in kiosks, vending machines, airports, etc where access to a single cable may not be entirely accessible. so again inconsistencies.

 

[iammikeDOTorg]

now if your cable is bit damaged instead relying on Air Pods cable you have to buy a new cable. More money for apple

Except why would you buy an overpriced Apple cable when you can get something just as good for half the price?

 

[Pumapayam]

While the AirPods Pro 2 included a USB-C charging cable in the box, the AirPods Pro 3 unveiled on Tuesday come without one, according to Apple's website.

Apple's tech specs page for the AirPods Pro 3 confirms the USB-C charging cable is sold separately. In the U.S., Apple's cheapest USB-C cable costs $19, but you can of course use pretty much any USB-C charging cable from any brand.

The case for the AirPods Pro 3 can be wirelessly charged with MagSafe, Qi, and Apple Watch chargers, so a charging cable is not strictly required.

AirPods Pro 3 also ship without a charger, but that has been the case since the original AirPods Pro launched in 2019, so that is no surprise.

In the U.S., AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249, just like the AirPods Pro 2 were. However, while there was no price increase, Apple is now poised to earn some extra revenue from additional sales of USB-C charging cables.

AirPods Pro 3 are available to pre-order now, and they launch on Friday, September 19. Read our coverage of Apple's announcement to learn about new features, including improved sound quality, increased active noise cancellation, longer battery life, better fit, in-ear heart rate monitoring during workouts, and much more.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 3 Do Not Include a Charging Cable in the Box

You’re welcome for the tip MacRumors…💅

#KiddingNotKidding 🤓

 

[Mat Jam Car]

It doesn’t bother me. I’ve got a 100w USB-C power adaptor and plenty of USB-C cables, plus a stand that can charge my AirPods wirelessly. I’m sure most people have similar situations to not warrant a cable being included.

 

[Abazigal]

Eh, I have a box full of usb c cables, and the cables that come with my Apple products tend to just sit there untouched in their original packaging.

I won’t say no to free stuff, and this move doesn’t really impact me in the slightest.

 

[Kirkster]

Have not used a charging cable on my iPhone 16 Pro or AirPod Pro 2 since MagSafe pucks came out. If it were not for recording straight to SSDs and transferring video footage I would never even use the USB-C port on my iPhone any more. All my cables for my iPad and even my pucks are the 6 foot cables. The three foot ones are just too short.

 

[Michael Scrip]

I have a box full of MicroUSB cables.
I have a box full of Lightning cables.
I have a box full of USB-C cables.

😎

 

[grammatica]

B*tch ass Apple. At least give the option for it to include a charger.

 

[subjonas]

I don't have a problem with this since I have an abundance of charging cables already. But what would be a good customer experience is allowing a free cable alongside the purchase for people that want/need one.

I have more cables than I know what do with, but I'm sure if given the choice I'll always accept another. Don't we all love swag?

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

USB4 is a protocol and does not put new requirements onto the USB-C spec. It does require you to have a minimum of 5Gb data transfer.

I think I'd prefer just only having cables if they are properly labelled with their power and data certifications.

This is a crazy discussion…and of course, Apple can do no wrong here. They win either way. They kill two birds with one stone. They can check off the environmentally friendly checkboxes…they save $ by not including the cable and make $ when folks seeking convenience just buy an Apple cable while they’re at it…

However, yeah, on the other side there are still lots of ppl on lightning devices and could use a jumpstart to their usb C cable collection that many have already started on…at least give the option if you’d like a cable included w/ your purchase, I feel is a great middle ground..