AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

[TheMountainLife]

The ANC has been reduced after each firmwsre version, as with the AP1. Now the ANC in my AP2 is almost non-existent. So, the new version will just have the “good algorithm”. Apple is just pushing damaging updates to makes us believe the new version is really better.

People laugh but I agree with ANC not working as well as before. The cleaning putty kits have helped but I can still hear my washing machine and other ambient noise that I didn't previously so I don't even bother enabling it now. It seems better at catching quick sharp sounds like the beep of the car locking but not so great at consistent sounds.

All I want is more battery life. I finally got sick of switching between multiple pairs of AirPods multiple times a day and got some cans.

Geez how much battery life are you getting? I get about 4-5 hours with transparency enabled if playing something consistently but its connected to a droid using bluetooth.

All I want is better sound quality for listening to music. I don't use/need any of the other features.

Could easily be solved if custom EQ profiles were offered.

 

[TheMountainLife]

The only true thing I care about for APP3 is improved call quality.

The design flaws of the earlier versions were beyond problematic. Apple used software enhancements and firmware upgrades to try to solve for this flaw, but call quality seemed to be an afterthought - something I could never understand going all the way back to APP1. To this day, AP2 are still the best for call quality, hence why they’ve retained their price point despite being more than 5 years old.

It surprises me that call quality rarely gets discussed on these wishlist threads - almost as if folks here don’t use their AirPods for phone calls. I need something that works on trains while commuting, walking outside on city streets bustling with traffic and sirens, and taking work calls while driving in the car.

If Apple can’t solve for these things with APP3, count me out.

I haaate when my coworkers use airpods in Teams calls. Its a fight to understand what they are saying

 

[neotint]

Won't buy AirPod Pros until they support 24-bit/48 kHz lossless. Music audio quality first, then call-quality, the rest are details: function over form.

@ me when that happens MacRumors

 

[neotint]

I haaate when my coworkers use airpods in Teams calls. Its a fight to understand what they are saying

When possible I ban AirPods and most tiny wireless headphones from remote meetings, the audio quality is horrible compared to $20 wired earbuds. If you're professional doing professional work get professional gear, even a cheap wired or wireless lavalier is better.

 

[neotint]

The only true thing I care about for APP3 is improved call quality.

The design flaws of the earlier versions were beyond problematic. Apple used software enhancements and firmware upgrades to try to solve for this flaw, but call quality seemed to be an afterthought - something I could never understand going all the way back to APP1. To this day, AP2 are still the best for call quality, hence why they’ve retained their price point despite being more than 5 years old.

It surprises me that call quality rarely gets discussed on these wishlist threads - almost as if folks here don’t use their AirPods for phone calls. I need something that works on trains while commuting, walking outside on city streets bustling with traffic and sirens, and taking work calls while driving in the car.

If Apple can’t solve for these things with APP3, count me out.

Many people, especially the US, only care about looks. Meanwhile, their audio quality on calls is crap and others just see how basic/amateur they are.

Related: this is why a lot of US restaurants only design for looks, not acoustic qualities. While restaurant design in other cultures cares more about the quality of talking with people when dining, as well as looks, but prioritizes the whole experience, not just the looks of it.

 

[Jsl262]

I hope the rumored AirPods pro 3 upgrades assist hearing impaired seniors like me. I mostly use them for talk shows and podcasts.

 

[pp_amorim]

I will only buy again if they give up on the dynamic driver. It's been the time to inovate.

Interesting post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/18dr4ny/comment/kck8b2t

 

[pp_amorim]

I haaate when my coworkers use airpods in Teams calls. Its a fight to understand what they are saying

Everyone that uses airpods to communicate is doing a disservice. Yet to see a good experience of someone speaking through them.

 

[TgeekB]

Everyone that uses airpods to communicate is doing a disservice. Yet to see a good experience of someone speaking through them.

Sure. I have done it many times without issue but I’m sure you know better. 🤣

 

[Ralfi]

The only true thing I care about for APP3 is improved call quality.

It’s been one of the strongest points in my experience with the AirPods1 & AirPods Pro1.

but call quality seemed to be an afterthought

I don’t believe what I’m reading 😏

AirPods are regarded by many as the best wireless Bluetooth buds for phone calls.

It surprises me that call quality rarely gets discussed on these wishlist threads - almost as if folks here don’t use their AirPods for phone calls

I use mine every day for calls & hardly receive any complaints by those on the other end.

I also notice the inferior quality of other brand buds on the other end of calls, compared to those who use AirPods.

I wonder if it’s carrier-related for you? Have you remained on the same provider or tried others to compare? - I also notice delays/missing words when people I’m calling are on an inferior provider that doesn’t have as solid coverage.

 

[JippaLippa]

Had every airpods pro generation, and despite having a better liking for big open-back headphones (Really like the natural sound), I have been a very sarisfied customer.

AP2s are very capable small earphones, with good sound quality, great anc (not exceptional, with the 3 years since they'll have been released) and a tight integration with apple device.

I'm actually very interested in the improved anc, as there'll be some very noisy renovation work to be done this year in my building, and I can expect it to last at least 1 year.

If only my gen 1 mac studio didn't have truly awful bluetooth... (it's literally the only think I have been disliking about my machine, and I'll hardly have any funds to upgrade it before the M5 Ultra generation comes out)

 

[WU27f1xcCs]

All I want is better sound quality for listening to music. I don't use/need any of the other features.

Will they be able to do this with existing Bluetooth technology. For the Pros they have lossless but that’s via wired.

 

[MauiPa]

AirPods pro need a serious redesign on the screen which can’t be effectively cleaned. I received a pair as a gift and they worked great. Then they developed that buzzing and popping problem when using noise cancellation. Got them replaced under apples program. But the new ones are now unusable as well. My question is after knowing there was a problem and undertaking an expensive repair/replacement program, did no one think to investigate the root cause and correct it?

 

[jmpage2]

Class leading noise cancellation? What a crock. I can't even use my AirPods Pro 2s on flights because the noise cancellation is so crummy I get a headache. I go for walks with them in my ears and all I hear is traffic.

 

[Andy_2341]

Class leading noise cancellation? What a crock. I can't even use my AirPods Pro 2s on flights because the noise cancellation is so crummy I get a headache. I go for walks with them in my ears and all I hear is traffic.

I’ve been using mine to mow the grass with no issue. It almost completely drowns out my push mower, and my riding mower is significantly quieter. I can listen to music at 55dba and hear it just fine, which is only a few higher than I do when I’m not mowing.

 

[JTK Awesome]

All sounds good.. would love to see USB-C to AUX so I can use them on an airplane and leave the AirFly home.

B&W Pi8 do this - case with included cable acts as an AUX dongle for wireless earbuds.

Wish I found these sooner and didn’t waste so much time, money, frustration making APP work for me.

 

[LordArchie]

B&W Pi8 do this - case with included cable acts as an AUX dongle for wireless earbuds.

Wish I found these sooner and didn’t waste so much time, money, frustration making APP work for me.

Yeah, I tried them as well as the JBL.. they were both returned, as a user deep in the Apple ecosystem, they were a hassle to work with different devices. Would love to have that feature, but for now I'll stick with the AirFly

 

[Engender]

I'm hoping that Apple will add some "self-voice" technology like Bose has so I can stop screaming at everyone I'm talking to on calls.

 

[tipoo]

I would like much better ANC. If people don't think airplanes, lawnmowers, snow throwers etc aren't still super loud (and high pitched because it mostly takes out the low tones) in the Pro 2's they might be half deaf. I wonder if I'm just at the realistic limits of what's possible in IEM since some sound is transferred through your skull, but some competitors are already much better in IEM ANC so there's room for improvements.

 

[AlanBeyond]

AirPods 4 feels much better than the Pros in my ears. I sold my APP2 and switch them to AP4 ANC

 

[KLZ]

Well, I'm still on APP gen 1.
I mean... All headphones/buds has their place. For everyday use I still think they are good enough, and with the convenience factor - Superior.
For longer train travels or flights I rather use my QC.

But I think it's time for these APP1 to be donated to my mother and I'm looking forward to the new APP3!

 

[x-evil-x]

Still waiting for black…. I have good earbuds and am in no rush. Probably wont happen and really don’t know why they don’t do colors.

 

[McNoise]

All I want is better sound quality for listening to music. I don't use/need any of the other features.

From a certain age, you need one thing above all: better ears.

 

[McNoise]

It’s amazing how my AirPods 4 with ANC basically replaced my AirPods Pro 2

And I'm amazed at how bad the AP4 sound is and ANC is almost unrecognizable. Also, they don't work as reliably as the APP2. I will sell them again ...

 

[Shredder-]

The only true thing I care about for APP3 is improved call quality.

The design flaws of the earlier versions were beyond problematic. Apple used software enhancements and firmware upgrades to try to solve for this flaw, but call quality seemed to be an afterthought - something I could never understand going all the way back to APP1. To this day, AP2 are still the best for call quality, hence why they’ve retained their price point despite being more than 5 years old.

It surprises me that call quality rarely gets discussed on these wishlist threads - almost as if folks here don’t use their AirPods for phone calls. I need something that works on trains while commuting, walking outside on city streets bustling with traffic and sirens, and taking work calls while driving in the car.

If Apple can’t solve for these things with APP3, count me out.

I agree - no review here on Macrumors ever mentions call quality. So far, all Airpods Pro models have had major issues with calls - especially when outside