1. They’ve Got a Better Design
By now, we’ve gotten used to the look of AirPods. But when the original AirPods first dropped, many reviewers harped on the design and their long stems. Apple brought an entirely new look to the AirPods Pro, which has now trickled down to the AirPods 3. Not only has Apple redesigned the head of the earbuds, but it also shrunk down the stems, making them much less in-your-face.
Apple also added more functionality to the third generation AirPods. Instead of the awkward tap controls on the original AirPods, the AirPods 3 have pressure sensitive buttons built right into the stems. Better controls mean no more awkwardly banging on the side of your head when you want to change the song.
2. MagSafe Makes AirPods 3 Even Easier to Charge
Apple debuted wireless charging as a premium feature on the AirPods 2, but every pair of the AirPods 3 comes standard with MagSafe wireless charging.
Wireless charging is a great feature, but with most wireless chargers, your device has to be positioned in just the right spot to connect. If you’re off the mark, your device might not charge as fast, or it might not charge at all. There’s nothing worse than waking up to a dead phone in the morning because you didn’t position it on the charger correctly.
MagSafe on the AirPods 3 works a lot like regular Qi wireless charging, but if you have a MagSafe-compatible charger, the built-in magnets will connect and lock in your AirPods 3’s case to the right spot on the charger. Having MagSafe means no more fumbling around and making adjustments to make sure your AirPods are charging. Your AirPods 3’s case will always perfectly align on the charger, meaning it’ll always be connected when you need it.
3. Spatial Audio Will Make Your Music Come Alive
Spatial audio debuted on the AirPods Pro, but Apple decided to also bring it to the AirPods 3. By expanding your music’s soundstage, spatial audio is designed to give you a much more immersive listening experience.
You can even use spatial audio with head tracking. Head tracking uses sensors in the AirPods 3 to track which direction you’re facing and adjusts your music accordingly. Head tracking can make it feel like you’re at a live concert instead of just sitting on your couch.
Dolby Atmos on Apple Music is another great feature that you can take advantage of with the AirPods 3. Combining specially designed music tracks with spatial audio, Dolby Atmos can further amp up your immersion level when listening.
Spatial audio and head tracking work with almost any type of media. So whether you’re listening to music, watching a movie, or checking out a viral video, spatial audio on the AirPods 3 can expand and enhance your listening experience.
4. They’re IPX4 Water and Sweat-Resistant
While anecdotal reports suggest the original AirPods had some water resistance, Apple never made any official claims about it. With the AirPods 3, Apple actually got them certified. The AirPods 3 are IPX4 water-resistant, meaning that they can withstand splashes from any direction. So whether you’re jogging in the rain or dripping with sweat from a workout, your AirPods won’t be damaged.
Although the AirPods 3 are water-resistant, they’re not waterproof. They’ll stand up to even the sweatiest of workouts, but you shouldn’t submerge the AirPods 3. So don’t expect to take them scuba diving.
It’s great that the AirPods themselves are water-resistant, but for the first time, the AirPods charging case is also water-resistant. That means your case can stand up to all the same hazards as your AirPods.
5. They’ve Got a Super Comfortable Fit
When Apple debuted the AirPods Pro, it went with a more traditional design that featured silicone tips on the ends of the earbuds. While the silicone tips can create a better in your ear, and help with noise cancellation, a lot of people just didn’t find the AirPods Pro as comfortable as the originals.
Like the AirPods 2, the AirPods 3 don’t have a silicone tip. That means the sit comfortably on the edge of your ear rather than pushing into the canal like the AirPods Pro. Many people find this style of earbud much more comfortable, and enjoy wearing them for longer sessions.
With the AirPods 3, Apple actually improved the design, making the buds bigger and longer. Apple says the redesigned AirPods fit more ears than ever before. If you loved the fit and feel of the original AirPods, you’ll love the AirPods 3.
6. They’ve Got Amazing Battery Life
On the current AirPods lineup, the AirPods 3 are the king of battery life.
The AirPods 2 pack around five hours of listening time per charge, and the case can get you up to an additional 24 hours of listening time. The AirPods Pro’s battery life is similar: you’ll get between four and five hours of listening time, depending on whether you’re using active noise-canceling, and the case can store enough power for another 24 hours of listening.
On the AirPods 3, Apple upped the already great battery life. The AirPods 3 will get you up to six hours of listening time, and the case has enough charges for 30 more hours of listening. If you want to spend the more time listening and less time charging, you’ve got to go with the AirPods 3
The AirPods 3 Live Up to the Hype
The AirPods 3 took what made the originals great, and turned it up a notch. If you’re coming from the original AirPods, picking up the AirPods 3 means keeping a tip-less earbud design that so many people love, while also getting new features like spatial audio and head tracking, to make your music more immersive than ever.
Improved battery life means your AirPods 3 will spend less time in the case and, when you do need to juice them up, MagSafe makes it that much easier to do.
If you loved the original AirPods, you’re going to love the AirPods 3 that much more.
