Apple effectively invented the wireless earphones market in 2016 with the original AirPods.
It’s a market that is now so crowded there seems to be a new set of true wireless earphones launching every week, at every price point.
The second-gen AirPods arrived in 2019 and they remain on sale alongside the newer third-gen AirPods.
I’ve been testing the new Apple AirPods for a week now, and if you are looking for a quick review, it is this: they have been worth the two-year wait and bring better audio, battery life and design to the table.
They cost €199, sitting between the €149 second-gen model and the €279 AirPods Pro which have not been updated since their launch in late 2019.
Here’s my full review…
Design and build
I love the more contoured redesign of the third gen AirPods which now feature shorter stems similar to the Pro model.
They are light and comfortable to wear all day.
They use the same one-size-fits-all approach employed on the original AirPods, a design which has been copied by many other manufacturers over the past five years.
There are no replaceable silicone tips, which usually means passive noise cancellation is weaker as you don’t get as snug a fit.
Audio features
Tech giant Apple put a big emphasis on the addition of Spatial Audio which came to AirPods Pro via a software upgrade a few months back.
Spatial Audio means you get a cinematic surround sound style experience when viewing movies or TV shows which have a 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos soundtrack.
With the dynamic head tracking on Apple headphones, no matter which way you turn your head, it will always sound like the dialogue is coming from the screen. It is so smooth and accurate.
In tested it out on Apple TV+, iTunes and Disney+ content and was most impressed.
It also means you can enjoy a more immersive experience when listening to the limited enough but growing catalogue of albums recorded and mastered in Dolby Atmos.
Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is a compelling feature that it is great to have in earphones at this price point.
The third-gen AirPods also have what Apple calls Adaptive EQ. This listens to the audio coming out of the earphones in real-time and then compares it to the dry version of the signal. It then applies an EQ that attempts to re-balance the sound to suit the geometry and fit of your ears.
It’s a feature that you cannot turn on and off. But it ensures a consistent listening experience.
Like all Apple and Beats wireless headphones, the third-gen AirPods use the AAC Bluetooth codec which does not support Apple Music Lossless.
But I found the audio tuning on the new earphones consistently pleasing. I’ve been testing the third-gen AirPods alongside both the AirPods Pro and the original AirPods and the quality standard is much closer to the former and a big step up from the latter.
You are never going to get an audiophile experience from wireless earphones or headphones. You buy and use them for their convenience.
Call quality
Despite the lack of a transparency mode which you would get with ANC, I’ve found AirPods third-gen to be excellent for making and taking calls.
People on the other end said they can hear me clearly and I’ve not had any connectivity issues at all on calls.
Apple said that a special acoustic mesh covered inset microphone in each earbud minimises wind noise when you’re on a call.
The third gen AirPods also feature AAC-ELD, a speech codec that offers better voice quality for calls on FaceTime and other apps.
Controls
The new AirPods have a force sensor for controlling playback, just as on the AirPods Pro, with one, two or three presses, or press and hold, to trigger different actions. AirPods 2 use just double taps.
You can also control the earbuds using hands free Siri which works for getting directions, answering calls, adjusting volume, changing content.
Battery life
Apple claims up to 30 hours of battery life when you include the charging case.
In my testing I have got close to six hours of continuous use from the new AirPods, about five and a half hours to be precise.
Battery endurance will depend entirely on a variety of factors such as how loud you are listening to your content or how many calls you make.
The compact and easily pocketable charging case is equipped with Apple's MagSafe magnetic standard.
This means it can be refuelled using a Qi supporting wireless charging pad or a MagSafe charger which you may have bought for your iPhone 12 or 13.
Other features
AirPods third-gen are both sweat and water-resistant.
They have an IPX4 rating for both the earbuds and the case.
That means you get protection against water splashing against the enclosure from any direction. So don't take them swimming.
The X in IPX4, incidentally, means they have not been tested for dust resistance.
One of the most appealing features of all AirPods (and Beats by Dre) wireless products is the seamless integration with, and automatic switching between, all of your Apple devices.
This includes one-tap set-up, audio sharing and the new Announce Notifications with Siri feature which I found to be an excellent tool when working as Siri read aloud my messages and I didn’t have to pick up the phone every time fellow employees pinged the office group chats.
The earbuds also work well with the Find My app which can help you locate them easily if misplaced around the house.
Verdict
AirPods third-gen are an excellent purchase for anyone in the Apple ecosystem and are essentially AirPods Pro without the ANC for €80 less.
Only you can decide if you need the ANC that much in your life.
Tech reviewers tend to make a big deal about ANC in headphones and earphones but ask yourself how often do you actually need to block out the sound around you.
If you do a daily commute to and from work on public transport, or if you take a lot of flights, then you may use ANC quite a lot.
But if you work at home like me, there may be very little reason to switch on ANC. After all, music and other audio content generally sounds better when ANC is left switched off, no matter what the brand.
So well done Apple, the third generation of AirPods are a job well done, despite the competition.
Pricing and availability
AirPods cost €199 from Apple.com/ie and usual outlets.
