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AirPods Pro 3's Static and Noise Issues Haven't Been Resolved

ice29 said:
Mine don’t have any static noise and ANC is a bit better than APP2, but still sending them back as they are soo uncomfortable im the ears (tried all the tips) - after 20 minutes I can’t wait to pull them out… No comparison to APP2 (medium tips for me) that I don’t even know I have in the ears…
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Had the same issue with comfort. Bought them on release and returned them.
I can wear the Pro2's through their entire charge and sometimes even forget they are in.
The Pro3's hurt after only 10-20 minutes...
 
t0rqx said:
Every unit has it. Depending on the charge and usage the sound if more or less prominent. The sound comes from inside the plateau and the bottom speakers.

when recording videos it also picks up the static noise which means recording video with iPhone is useless.
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I’d check with AppleCare on that one. Doesn’t sound right. No pun intended.
 
Wanted to replace my Pro 1 which developed the infamous annoying static noise after the warranty ended... might as well wait a little bit!
 
ProbablyDylan said:
This has been an issue since the 1st gen. Already fooled me twice, Tim.
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I had no idea this was an issue. I’ve had my pro 1s since they first came out and use them daily with never an issue. I asked for the pro 3s for Xmas so I can get rid of my big Sony XM3 headphones when flying for ANC. I hope I don’t have this issue with the 3s.
 
everybodylovesramen said:
2nd gen’s wouldn’t feedback and squeal if i palmed them as i am walking to put them into their charger case - the 3rd gen’s do this always. i’m guessing it has to do with the extra sensors that i still don’t know why they’re there.

the health stuff? i see no benefit from heart rate from my ears unless its not activated yet due to lawsuits still pending.

transparency mode also feels more muted. which the 2’s don’t. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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My 2nd gens always had that issue. 🤷‍♀️
 
Haven’t noticed this at all. These things have been the first 5 star apple product for me in awhile. They just work and work great. Why they can seamlessly shift from my phone to my Mac to my Vision Pro without any issues while my 2s always struggled is beyond me considering it’s the same damn chip
 
Huracan said:
I noticed those crackling and high pitched whistling noises on my old WH-1000XM4 as they were aging, perhaps it is a common occurrence with noise cancelling headphones. On the Sony side people were commenting about issues with one of the microphones getting clogged or not working (I mean one of the microphones used to drive the noise cancellation). I was getting around some of this issues disabling the noise cancelling. However a thief decided to burglarize my car and steal the headphones together with other things, so I no longer have a WH-1000XM4 cracking and whistling noise issue 😡 I hope Apple figures out a software fix for this airpod issue.
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FWIW the XM4s are still available from Sony for $200 now, the XM5s for $250. I've easily got 7,000 hours on my XM5s and I noticed some ANC feedback loop issues a few months ago but cleaning and replacing the worn-out ear pads made them good as new. I also noticed that the drivers can be easily replaced if necessary - two simple solder points. I expect them to last for years to come and I recommend them although I would definitely research other brands before dropping $450 on XM6's since the ANC over-ear market has expanded in recent years.

I have APP2s and I kind of wanted the AP Max but their high cost, silly case, and crown control made me go with the Sonys. Only after that I learned of the issues with APM condensation, headband wear, discomfort from clamping and was glad I didn't spend that extra $150. I love the APM low profile, though, and I think the magnetic ear pads should be table stakes on any pair that retails over $400.
 
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For my APP3, with nothing playing, and my HVAC running so making airflow noise, if I happen to exhale in a prolonged way, like a deep sigh, the ANC is reliably cut in half, and the HVAC airflow becomes much more audible. This doesn't happen with my Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra or any other earbuds or headphones including my AirPods Max. I'm not breaking the seal, and ANC can be restored by going to the phone app and toggling it off and on, so no physical touching of the earbuds. Conversation Awareness, Adaptive ANC, etc are all turned off. I returned a pair of APP2 a couple of years ago as it would similarly lose ANC after a few minutes, but I never bothered to try to find a repro case.
 
I had some sort of weird sound effect in my left ear - like I was putting a conch shell to it when ANC was on. I could hear my teeth amplified when opening and closing my mouth. I was about to have an ear wax appointment in case that was the issue but after the latest firmware update - it was fixed! Now the best AirPods I’ve ever had. Sorry - had to share that positive story 🙏🏼🤣
 
it’s a weird problem. Bought the 3s for my wife to upgrade from her 1s. She immediately said there’s a high pitched clicking noise when she wore them with ANC nothing playing yet. She had me try them on, i didn’t hear anything. I gave them back to her. She immediately said ugh no. I gave her my 2s to try, she didn’t have the problem with them.
So I returned the 3s and got her 2s instead.
 
t0rqx said:
Every unit has it. Depending on the charge and usage the sound if more or less prominent. The sound comes from inside the plateau and the bottom speakers.

when recording videos it also picks up the static noise which means recording video with iPhone is useless.
Click to expand...
My iPhone 17 Pro doesn't have this issue, and neither has my wife's iPhone 17 Pro. I can say for sure that it isn't every unit. Perhaps it is certain batches, or certain factories that (do not) have the problem. I have a silver iPhone 17 Pro. My wife has a deep blue one. Both were ordered day 1 but didn't arrive at the same time.
 
I was thinking in September maybe I should upgrade to APP3 from my lightning APP2. I think I’ll hold off until the APP4. My APP2 still works fine.
 
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I had this problem with the initial firmware versions but have not heard it at all since the last update. I saw a review from Aaron Loud and Wireless who said the issue is fixed, using sound charts to show it. If people are still seeing it, who knows?

 
Anyone else notice the issue becomes more noticable when the case is in your pocket and touching other objects, or just me?
 
Disappointing that Apple has not fixed it yet. Think it can be something that can be fixed through a software update. Hopefully in the near future Apple will address it.
 
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I think my AirPods were acting strangely yesterday too. I heard the sound of a vacuum cleaner from next door – I put my AirPods on and it disappeared – after a few minutes I heard noise (it gradually got louder). I thought that the vacuum cleaner was closer to my door and that the ANC wasn't suppressing it as well. I took the AirPods out and was very surprised that there wasn't such a loud noise that the ANC couldn't handle it. I've had the AirPods since they came out and have never experienced this behaviour before. However, I do have the latest firmware on them now (unlike when I first bought them).

Perhaps I was mistaken, but it was peculiar... I will continue to observe this.
 
Still going good with my APP2’s, touch wood. What’s happening to Apple recently, seems as if everything they have released in 2025 is having more teething problems than in recent years…?
 
ProbablyDylan said:
It should have gone away with the replacement Gen 1 pair Apple sold me (since I was out of warranty).
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Had the problem with Gen 1. They sent me a replacement, same problem came back later. No fix. Bought the 2nd version and there’s no problems yet. Sucks it came back for the 3rd.
 
I've been thinking about getting these for some time - and already decided before Christmas was a bad time (price-wise).

Am pleased this article has come out before I put my money down. Hoping there is a resolution.
 
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