One AirPods Pro 3 Feature Upgrade Comes With a Catch [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Apple's new AirPods Pro 3 boast a range of new features and improvements that make them a tempting upgrade over previous models, but there's one enhancement that only lives up to its promise if you pair the earbuds with a new iPhone 17.

The third-generation AirPods Pro Charging Case is equipped with a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that enables Precision Finding. This feature helps you locate the case using the Find My app at longer distances, in the unfortunate event that you lose or misplace your AirPods Pro 3 somewhere around you. The AirPods Pro 3 Charging Case comes with a built-in speaker, so you can also make it play a sound using ‌Find My‌ to more easily locate it.

Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip actually debuted in the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but the chip's implementation in AirPods Pro 3 is more advanced. According to Apple, it enables a location-tracking range of up to 200 feet/60 meters, which is up to 3× longer range compared to Apple's first-generation U1 chip in the AirPods Pro 2 charging case, AirTag, and other devices.

However, Apple's claim of a 1.5× increase in the distance of Precision Finding only applies when the AirPods Pro 3 are paired with an iPhone 17 – a detail buried in its marketing footnotes. Apple doesn't explain why the improvement doesn't apply when the earbuds are paired with older devices that also have the second-generation chip.

• How to Use Precision Finding to Locate AirPods Pro

Note that Ultra Wideband isn't universally supported worldwide, therefore Precision Finding won't work in some countries. AirPods Pro 3 are available to pre-order now, with general availability starting on Friday, September 19, when the iPhone 17 lineup also launches.

(Thanks, Mostafa!)

Update: An earlier version of this article queried whether iPhone Air also got the 1.5x improvement when paired with AirPods Pro 3, since Apple's website didn't specify. Apple has since updated its website to explicitly names iPhone Air as supporting the improvement.

Update September 26: Apple has updated its marketing footnote once again to note that the improved Precision Finding is available when used with an iPhone Air or any iPhone 15 or later, with the exception of the iPhone 16e.

Article Link: One AirPods Pro 3 Feature Upgrade Comes With a Catch [Updated]

 

[cibonak]

Well well well....

 

[mortee]

Bluetooth 6.0 feature

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Wonder if Bluetooth 6 has an advantage that enables a longer range. The 16 Pro's don't have Bluetooth 6.

(AirPods Pro 3 are still 5.3 though.)

 

[Dave245]

Not cool Apple

 

[klasma]

However, Apple's claim of a 1.5x increase in the distance of Precision Finding only applies when the AirPods Pro 3 are paired with an iPhone 17 – a detail buried in its marketing footnotes.

Actual quote from the footnote: "Improved Precision Finding requires iPhone 17 and AirPods Pro 3; availability varies by region."

Clearly the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are losing out as well.

Also, will the 17e count as an "iPhone 17"?

 

[Taq'aix]

No one is going to upgrade for this requirement, except for mansion owners. LOL.

 

[t0rqx]

Bluetooth 6.0 feature

BS. Its the same chip. Just firmware locked. Just like all the camera enhancements, Stagemanager and AI.

They did the same shizzle with APP2 where the USBC connector miraculously unlocks loss less audio and AVP capabilities.

Classic.

Can't wait for the last "catch" for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

At the moment:

All sleazy tricks have been uncovered for:

iPhone 17 range - battery improvement via Adaptive Power Mode

iPhone Air - Battery improvement adaptive power mode and A19 Pro chip that had been firmware degraded.

Apple Watch 11 - Battery Test manipulation and is an S10 in disguise (which actualy is an S9 and S9 is actually an S6.

 

[t0rqx]

Actual quote from the footnote: "Improved Precision Finding requires iPhone 17 and AirPods Pro 3; availability varies by region."

Clearly the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are losing out as well.

Also, will the 17e count as an "iPhone 17"?

Cancelled my iPhone 17 Pro preorder.

Im not moving to the other side of the world to unlock this feature neither!

 

[neuropsychguy]

Not cool Apple

What's not cool? Apple adding features to new/updated products that weren't available before? This extra distance is likely limited to the iPhone 17 models because of some new hardware they have that older iPhones do not have. Apple adds features to older devices regularly when it can do so via software/firmware but some things require new hardware. This seems like some hardware limitation with older iPhones.

 

[BarrettF77]

They’re discontinued to be more and more reasons not to upgrade with Apple.

And they just can’t help but lock themselves in and only alienate their customers making them less inclined to shop

I’m really becoming very sick and tired of how they do business

 

[Dave245]

What's not cool? Apple adding features to new/updated products that weren't available before? This extra distance is likely limited to the iPhone 17 models because of some new hardware they have that older iPhones do not have. Apple adds features to older devices regularly when it can do so via software/firmware but some things require new hardware. In this case, what others speculated about (Bluetooth 6) is a strong candidate for the hardware that helps with the longer distance.

It doesn’t affect me, I’ve still got my AirPods Pro 3 on order, however i think this kind of thing should have been mentioned at the keynote.

 

[tech_enthusiast_]

Presumably the new iPhone Air also gets the 1.5x improvement when paired with AirPods Pro 3, but Apple doesn't explicitly say so.

The fine print on the AirPods website does explicitly say so:

“12. Compared with AirPods Pro 2. Improved Precision Finding works with AirPods Pro 3 paired with iPhone Air or iPhone 17 models; availability varies by region.”

 

[randomgeeza]

I've said it once and I'll say it again I have severe Apple Greed Fatigue...

 

[TheRdungeon]

This surely has something to do with the N1 chip right?

 

[xmach]

Bluetooth 6.0 feature

It can't be about Bluetooth 6, because the APP3 use Bluetooth 5.3
(which btw is pretty odd -- if Apple went to all the trouble to use BT6 on the iPhones 17, why not also implement it for the APP3?)

 

[Tozovac]

You mean like how Apple buried that the hypertension & sleep scores & live translation are available on devices other than the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and made people think you needed new watch and/or AirPods hardware to get upgraded features coming with iOS 26?

 

[JulianL]

It might well be wrong but my quick internet search suggests that in theory the U2 Ultra Wideband chip could support data transmission rates up to a theoretical maximum of 500Mbps. Even 1% of that would easily support an audio stream.

I'm thinking that, since the AirPods Pro (APP) case has a speaker and a U2 chip in it, might it be possible for the other half of the live translation picture - the bit where you have your phone translating your replies into the other person's language and then either show the other person your phone screen or have the phone speak the translations - to, as an alternative to getting out your phone, have the phone beam the audio translation of what you're saying to the speaker in the APP case?

If the audio quality and volume were sufficient then to me simply holding the APP case in your hand with the speaker facing whomever you're talking to seems like a more discreet and elegant arrangement vs having to get out your more valuable and fragile iPhone to present the translation of what you're saying to the other person.

 

[MVMNT]

The U2 chip only works if you have Songs of Innocence installed on your device

 

[iFishishh]

Similar to when usb-c was debuted with Apple and they throttle controlled the transfer speeds of the non-pro version of the iPhone vs the PM (480Mbps vs 10 GBPs) which is still the case for the every model from 15 to the current 17.

In typical Apple fashion, just gatekeep the standard for the premium lineup.

 

[Howard2k]

Similar to when usb-c was debuted with Apple and they throttle controlled the transfer speeds of the non-pro version of the iPhone vs the PM (480Mbps vs 10 GBPs) which is still the case for the every model from 15 to the current 17.

In typical Apple fashion, just gatekeep the standard for the premium lineup.

They have different USB controllers.

 

[ThailandToo]

Not cool Apple

How is it Apple’s fault? It’s a new hardware implementation. They can’t go back and reinsert a new chip into old phones.

 

[Tozovac]

How is it Apple’s fault? It’s a new hardware implementation. They can’t go back and reinsert a new chip into old phones.

It's the fact that Apple's presentation makes it sound like certain features are available for *anyone* who buys the new AirPods...to entice people to buy the new AirPods...but the feature comes only along with the new 17 phones….while also making it sound like certain features are available only for the new hardware to entice people to buy the new Apple Watch 3 or Phones…but they are available on old hardware via the iOS/WatchOS/IpadOS 26 software upgrade.

So sneakily misleading in Apple's favor to promote purchasing new things first and foremost.

That lack of transparency is Apple's fault.

 

[joecomo]

The U2 chip only works if you have Songs of Innocence installed on your device

no problem: Apple always found a way to sneak "Songs of Innocence" unto my devices

 

[mnsportsgeek]

This unfortunately means the new airtags are only going to get the max distance when paired with an iphone 17 i bet.