These Reddit users have major complaints about the AirPods Pro 3

What constitutes good-quality earbuds is subjective based on your wants and needs. Here at SoundGuys, we put headphones through their paces with objective measurements and standardized tests. These aim to provide our readers with unbiased, real-world data that is easily comparable across devices on our platform. However, the opinions and purchasing habits of the market are the ultimate arbiter of a successful product. This was the impetus behind our “Reddit Sentiment Summary” that you may have noticed across our website on reviews, best lists, and VS articles. Analyzing this score reveals how the Apple AirPods Pro 3 are being received in the wild.

What are Redditors saying about the Apple AirPods Pro 3?

At the time of writing, our “Reddit Sentiment Summary” (shown above) shows that most Redditors have a neutral opinion of the AirPods Pro 3. In particular, out of a total score of 129, the earbuds have a neutral score of 48. This is just marginally higher than their positive score of 46. However, combining the earbuds’ neutral and negative scores shows that the AirPods Pro 3 are viewed negatively or neutrally by roughly two-thirds of people. So why exactly are Apple’s flagship buds so mired in controversy among Reddit users?

AirPods Pro 3 Reddit complaints

Spend some time scouring Reddit forums, and you’ll see that the AirPods Pro 3’s default frequency response is largely to blame. For example, Reddit user Jaboyyt notes that the earbuds’ V-shaped frequency curve makes ‘Death & Romance’ by Magdalena Bay sound worse than when listening with the AirPods Pro 2. In the same thread, Redditor Acrobatic-Monitor516 states, “I dislike the sound a lot. I will most likely be returning them.” This last comment has been upvoted 58 times at the time of writing.

Other users, such as MVPizzle_Redux, note that “Apple not offering an EQ for their headphones is insane”. This comment has been upvoted 195 times. Redditor aceCrasher agrees, stating, “We really need some sort of EQ with these, graphic EQ would be enough.” These comments track current market expectations. After all, much cheaper earbuds, such as the EarFun Air Pro 4 ($89.99 at Amazon), offer a comprehensive 10-band custom EQ in the EarFun Audio app (Android/ iOS).

Redditors’ complaints about the Apple AirPods Pro 3’s sound quality align with our objective measurements and hands-on experience here at SoundGuys. For example, my colleague Harley Maranan observed that the bass output was louder than he would prefer at times. While this was fine for short commutes, it became fatiguing during long listening sessions. Frustratingly, the sensor inside the buds dictates how the AirPods Pro 3 sound. If it doesn’t come close enough to your ear to detect wear, you can expect boosts in the high bass/low mids and a wild bass overemphasis relative to the highs. This is caused by having the wear-detect sensor disabled, the sensor not detecting your ear, or issues with the fit.

Ouch!

The AirPods Pro 3’s redesigned shape is another hot topic among Redditors. For clarity, Apple made the AirPods Pro 3’s bulb smaller so that they can sit further inside the ear canal. Likewise, the stem has been made longer and thinner, and the ear tips protrude at a more inward-facing angle than their predecessor. Apple also now includes XXS to L foam-infused ear tips. These are designed to conform more easily to the shape of your ear canal. They should also protect the foam interior from sweat and skin oils.

Unfortunately, these changes haven’t gone down well with a large portion of the Reddit community. For example, julieturner99 states that “so far I’m finding the APP3 significantly less comfortable than APP2.” This comment has been upvoted 100 times at the time of writing. Similarly, Redditor raphtan states, “I honestly feel like they’re a downgrade in terms of comfort compared to the previous design.” They go on to explain that they feel excess pressure on the base of their ear canal that leaves an imprint on their outer ear. This is backed up by The_Potato_Monster, who also notices an imprint on their ears after use.

Most concerning, though, are reports of problems with the earbuds’ built-in heart rate sensor. This appears to be due to a manufacturing error whereby some devices have a slightly raised heart rate monitor that is not flush with the rest of the bulb. The r/airpods thread is awash with complaints about the AirPods Pro 3’s fit. One Redditor attributes their experience of minor bleeding within the ear canal to chafing from the heart rate sensor. This is corroborated by brandonmp, who has experienced similar issues. Of course, this could be caused or aggravated by ear pimples and common ear infections.

Apple’s new ear tips are also causing a stir on Reddit. While it’s vital to experiment with different sizes to attain a comfortable and secure fit, many listeners are struggling. For example, Redditor Dontcallmetiger explains how they “Went to change the tips and ripped both”. This comment has been upvoted over 1100 times at the time of writing. Boogeyboychasings concurs, stating, “I spent an hour trying to get it off and ended up puncturing the speaker grill”. Some Redditors have since offered advice to remove ear tips safely. However, the AirPods Pro 3 appear to suffer this issue significantly more than their predecessor.

But what do you think? Are you happy with the AirPods Pro 3, or have you experienced similar issues? Let us know in the comments section and poll below!