Third-Gen AirPods Offer Only 5 Hours' Listening Time With Spatial Audio Enabled

[mastercheif91]

If anyone is curious why they used the word “only” in the headline it’s because it helps drive outrage and traffic by making it sound surprising. It’s similar to how tech YouTubers use the “surprised” or “shocked” face in every video thumbnail.

 

[randyhudson]

Have you tried spatial audio? This is going to upset like 3 people.

 

[Sciomar]

If anyone is curious why they used the word “only” in the headline it’s because it’s helps drive outrage and traffic by making it sound surprising. It’s similar to how tech YouTubers use the “surprised” or “shocked” face in every video thumbnail.

That's SOP for MR writers, a regular well written article would drive traffic, but these fake outrage pieces really push their numbers and have the sensitive drones start up the echo chamber.

I have the gen 1's like others here and they do well but are really showing their age, I'm not rushing out to preorder these because I am curious on fitment. I can do trail runs and hard workouts without worrying about my current airpods falling out. As soon as I can see how these compare I may grab a pair.

 

[henrikhelmers]

That's pretty lucky. My first gen were practically unusable by the time AirPods 2 came around (after 2 1/2 years).

So I'm glad reliability is trending up. Still worth the money to me, though. I'd happily pay every year if need be, which is funny considering how reluctant I was to spend "that much money" on the first ones.

I took a gamble and ordered on day one. Also found it to be wildly expensive. But in hindsight, they were great value. Battery life started declining after about 6 months but seems to have plateaued (at a pretty low level I might add).

Nowadays Apple is doing proper battery management, I expect battery life in gen3 to hold up much better.

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

I’ve read the comments until now, and people talks about how the battery last a few minutes.

im a bit confused, for a $200 device dont nobody find the battery degrading speed unfortunate?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

'Only 5 hours' isn't a deal breaker for me. I just hope they fit well...

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

That's pretty lucky. My first gen were practically unusable by the time AirPods 2 came around (after 2 1/2 years).

My AirPods 2 have fared much better. After the same 2 1/2 years, I still get 2h of talk time out of them and more listening time than I need.

So I'm glad reliability is trending up. Still worth the money to me, though. I'd happily pay every year if need be, which is funny considering how reluctant I was to spend "that much money" on the first ones.

That's why I passed on AppleCare for the AP3's. A gamble, but it's also only one more year of coverage. *shrug*

EDIT: If it were THREE more years, I'd bite. One? Ehh, doesn't seem worth it, even with the added 'tech support' bit. *shrug* I usually buy it too.

 

[machpost]

Have you tried spatial audio? This is going to upset like 3 people.

Agreed. To most people it's little more than a gimmick that will be all but forgotten in a few years. Kind of like 3D TVs.

 

[sw1tcher]

lol right cause mine last about 30-45 minutes now LOL!

Perfect excuse to ending a Zoom call.

"My battery's about to die. Gotta go. Sorry!"

 

[_Spinn_]

5-6 hours of battery life is pretty decent but there are days at work or when I'm at home doing yard work that I listen to music or podcasts for 6-8 hours straight through.

 

[MrAperture]

5-6 hours of battery life is pretty decent but there are days at work or when I'm at home doing yard work that I listen to music or podcasts for 6-8 hours straight through.

This is where something like the Sony MX-series headphones or Bose QC-series headphones have the advantage.

 

[macintoshmac]

At least no jelly effect reported yet.

Just wait till deliveries arrive. People might start reporting a slight audio delay between the left and right channels.

 

[eas]

Interesting that running the motion sensors and transmitting the readings back to the phone use 1/5th of the power budget.

 

[thejoshuabradshaw]

I am so glad they are out. Now we don't have to look at the horrible image of the influencer with that nasty bandage on his hand. Hope to have them next week to complete the entire collection.

 

[Lerenard3000]

I don’t understand how they aren’t compatible with old iPhone since they are compatible with any phone/device with Bluetooth right?

 

[Lee_Bo]

Looks like I’m getting out the old LG 900 headset. Yep, it’s old but the battery still lasts for days.

 

[Deliro]

Been waiting for these. Still on my first gen AirPods, purchased on the first day they came out. They are truly showing their age now.

Really surprised if they could hold even a 30 min charge at this point. Mine lasts for 20-30 mins.

 

[erasr]

When did it become normal to have to buy earbuds (AirPods) for £170 every 3 years, along with a £400 watch every 4 years and a £1000 phone every 2 years?

Apple has brainwashed us.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I don’t understand how they aren’t compatible with old iPhone since they are compatible with any phone/device with Bluetooth right?

Likely the type of Bluetooth, I'd imagine. If they make the earlier iPhones incapable of the higher versions of the protocol, and make the buds incapable of adapting down to that revision, it's a adone deal. They aren't going to work. They could also use the microcoded version of the buds to block them on certain hardware. There are ways... Heck, people have locked themselves out of their own computers, networks, and servers before. It's kinda too easy to do it...

 

[SirChristopher]

I feel like the force press controls on the AirPods 3 (and Pro) are harder to use than the tapping gestures on AirPods 2, does anyone else think so? I owned the Pro for about 3 days and returned it because every time I tried to use the force touch I'd wind up loosening it's fit in my ear...

I just bought the AirPods 3 and am worried it'll be the same problem....

 

[Qu1ckset]

I feel like the force press controls on the AirPods 3 (and Pro) are harder to use than the tapping gestures on AirPods 2, does anyone else think so? I owned the Pro for about 3 days and returned it because every time I tried to use the force touch I'd wind up loosening it's fit in my ear...

I just bought the AirPods 3 and am worried it'll be the same problem....

I hated the stem controls when I briefly owned the AirPod Pro’s, even with my Airpod 2’s I find myself using my watch and Siri for controls, more so my watch as of late as the mic’s on my AirPod 2’s don’t work very good anymore.

but I will agree the tap controls are much better!

 

[SFjohn]

They get 6 hours of stereo audio. That’s all that’s in my regular playlist. I don’t subscribe to Apple Music, so I don’t get spatial audio. I’m good.

 

[svish]

5 hours of battery life is still pretty good.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I hated the stem controls when I briefly owned the AirPod Pro’s, even with my Airpod 2’s I find myself using my watch and Siri for controls, more so my watch as of late as the mic’s on my AirPod 2’s don’t work very good anymore.

but I will agree the tap controls are much better!

And I thought they did tap controls too. Shows how much I use them I guess. If they only fit better...

 

[David1964]

I feel like the force press controls on the AirPods 3 (and Pro) are harder to use than the tapping gestures on AirPods 2, does anyone else think so? I owned the Pro for about 3 days and returned it because every time I tried to use the force touch I'd wind up loosening it's fit in my ear...

I just bought the AirPods 3 and am worried it'll be the same problem....

Rather a petty complaint.