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@warm_osprey_76 · Owner-reported
Owned 1–6 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Great battery life and the ANC is just the best.
@mellow_cedar_81 · Owner-reported
Owned under a month · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
AirPods Pro 3 I think it is the best ANC I have already used within oppo free series, X series, samsung buds pro series and qcy series. High cost bring high quality, however, the ANC TWS of Chinese Mobile OEM also a good choice which bring nice experience in affordable price.
@brisk_aurora_44 · Owner-reported
Owned 6–12 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Very comfortable and amazing ANC, but sound isn't a massive upgrade from Pro 2, and the new eartips and fit can take some getting used to.
Own it? Your review joins these
Three answers, four quick reads, one sentence nobody tells you before buying · Sign-in needed to publish · Photo optional
Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation
At 9, its noise cancelling beats 99% of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 91 of the 252 we've cataloged.
A 4.5 puts its audio quality in the bottom third of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 64 of the 252 we've cataloged.
6 of 6 would buy again. 6 of 6 still use it daily.
Owned under a month to 6–12 months.
above average for wireless earbuds — based on 236 of 252 we've cataloged.
IP57 appears on 5% of the 232 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 252).
Platform ai appears on 33% of the 24 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 252).
Active is the most common — on 61% of the 172 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 252).
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen Frequency Response (measured on a B&K 5128)
Click a line or a legend entry to highlight it. Click again to clear.Tap a legend entry to highlight its line. Tap again to clear.
Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 4.3 |
| 25 | 4.4 |
| 32 | 4.5 |
| 40 | 4.3 |
| 50 | 3.8 |
| 63 | 3.0 |
| 80 | 1.6 |
| 100 | -0.2 |
| 125 | -2.1 |
| 160 | -2.7 |
| 200 | -1.6 |
| 250 | -0.9 |
| 315 | -0.6 |
| 400 | 0.1 |
| 500 | -0.6 |
| 630 | -0.0 |
| 800 | 0.4 |
| 1000 | 0.9 |
| 1250 | 0.5 |
| 1600 | 1.8 |
| 2000 | 4.9 |
| 2500 | 6.8 |
| 3150 | 5.1 |
| 4000 | 3.5 |
| 5000 | 6.1 |
| 6300 | 7.7 |
| 8000 | 5.1 |
| 10000 | -0.3 |
| 12500 | 2.7 |
| 16000 | -11.5 |
| 20000 | -36.6 |
Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen Attenuation (measured on a B&K 5128)
Click a line or a legend entry to highlight it. Click again to clear.Tap a legend entry to highlight its line. Tap again to clear.
Solid lines: passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Dashed lines: total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -0.6 |
| 26 | 0.9 |
| 33 | -0.0 |
| 41 | 0.8 |
| 52 | -0.1 |
| 65 | 0.8 |
| 82 | 0.8 |
| 103 | 0.6 |
| 130 | -0.2 |
| 163 | 1.1 |
| 205 | 2.5 |
| 259 | 3.5 |
| 325 | 6.5 |
| 410 | 9.9 |
| 516 | 9.7 |
| 613 | 9.2 |
| 772 | 13.4 |
| 972 | 15.4 |
| 1220 | 17.7 |
| 1540 | 20.1 |
| 1940 | 23.6 |
| 2440 | 28.4 |
| 3070 | 37.7 |
| 3870 | 45.3 |
| 4870 | 24.3 |
| 6130 | 26.6 |
| 7720 | 27.7 |
| 9720 | 38.9 |
| 12200 | 32.5 |
| 15400 | 42.0 |
| 19400 | 26.1 |
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 2.3 |
| 26 | 14.8 |
| 33 | 16.6 |
| 41 | 23.9 |
| 52 | 31.1 |
| 65 | 31.7 |
| 82 | 34.4 |
| 103 | 41.7 |
| 130 | 32.6 |
| 163 | 40.4 |
| 205 | 37.9 |
| 259 | 39.9 |
| 325 | 34.7 |
| 410 | 38.9 |
| 516 | 32.2 |
| 613 | 28.5 |
| 772 | 31.2 |
| 972 | 33.8 |
| 1220 | 37.3 |
| 1540 | 37.6 |
| 1940 | 43.1 |
| 2440 | 42.8 |
| 3070 | 43.5 |
| 3870 | 36.7 |
| 4870 | 23.9 |
| 6130 | 29.0 |
| 7720 | 30.6 |
| 9720 | 36.1 |
| 12200 | 27.3 |
| 15400 | 37.4 |
| 19400 | 27.4 |
Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen MDAQS
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores, Scale 1 - 5
Virtual mean opinion scores (MOS) on a 1–5 scale, modeled from the measured response by HEAD acoustics’ MDAQS (Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score) model. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
The verdict
The AirPods Pro 3 is a "jack of all trades, master of some" pair of earbuds that now acts as a fitness tracker, language translator, and hearing aids. While features like Live Translation still need some refining, these earbuds offer a lot of value for iPhone users.
✓Liked: Excellent ANC, Great sound quality, Hearing Aid features, Improved fit
✕Could be better: No EQ, Many Apple-exclusive features, Some connection issues, Live Translation needs improvement
What readers who own the Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen report after living with it. Owner-reported, checked before publishing; ordered photo-verified first, then newest.
Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.
6 owner reviews
WOEvery author writes under a generated pseudonym; a member can choose to show their name and photo beside it. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned 1–6 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againGreat battery life and the ANC is just the best.
MCEvery author writes under a generated pseudonym; a member can choose to show their name and photo beside it. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned under a month · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againAirPods Pro 3 I think it is the best ANC I have already used within oppo free series, X series, samsung buds pro series and qcy series. High cost bring high quality, however, the ANC TWS of Chinese Mobile OEM also a good choice which bring nice experience in affordable price.
BAEvery author writes under a generated pseudonym; a member can choose to show their name and photo beside it. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned 6–12 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againVery comfortable and amazing ANC, but sound isn't a massive upgrade from Pro 2, and the new eartips and fit can take some getting used to.
RCEvery author writes under a generated pseudonym; a member can choose to show their name and photo beside it. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned 1–6 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againThere may be better sounding earbuds out there but I'll take the comfort, ease of use and insta connections with Mac/iPhone all day.
RCEvery author writes under a generated pseudonym; a member can choose to show their name and photo beside it. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned 6–12 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againEven though they are expensive, they are worth every penny. I have taken multiple flights and commuted with them, and it is outstanding how quiet the world becomes. The active noise cancelling is out of this world, as well as the comfort; I can wear them for hours.
QMEvery author writes under a generated pseudonym; a member can choose to show their name and photo beside it. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned 6–12 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would buy againWhat nobody tells you before buying how good the ANC really is.
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What readers ask about the Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen, answered by the people who own it.
Nobody has asked the owners yet.
Ask the first question →See how the Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen stacks up against the competition.
Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen
Apple AirPods Max 2VSVersusApple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen vs Apple AirPods Max 2Premium over-ear headphones or top-tier earbuds? Here’s how the Apple AirPods Max 2 and AirPods Pro 3 compare.Read comparison ›Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen
Technics EAH-AZ100VSVersusApple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen vs Technics EAH-AZ100Two very different takes on what a $300 earbud should be.Read comparison ›Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 ProVSVersusApple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen vs Samsung Galaxy Buds4 ProTwo $249 flagship earbuds go head to head, but the real decision comes down to which ecosystem you use every day.Read comparison ›Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen
Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)VSVersusApple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen vs Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)The upgrade is worth the cash.Read comparison ›Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
Sanuj BhatiaI'd pick the AirPods Pro 3 over the AirPods 5, unless you hate ear tipsThe price gap matters less than how they sit in your ears.
Adam BirneyManaging EditorI ditched my AirPods Pro 3 for Sony's WF-1000XM6 and only lasted a weekI thought the more expensive earbuds would win. I was wrong.
Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterI thought I'd always travel with over-ear headphones—until nowOne trip made me realize I'd been optimizing for the flight, not the travel day.Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterI've been using AirPods Pro 3 like open-ear earbuds, and I'm never going backTry this trick before buying a pair of open-ear earbuds.Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterI tested Apple’s AirPods equalizer: Here's what works (and what doesn't)An improvement — if only a small one.
Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeAirPods' three-band EQ may not be so badIt may be baby's first EQ, but it has potential.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeSamsung wants to be the AirPods for Android, and I'm okay with thatSamsung didn't reinvent the earbud. They just finally built one for the other side of the pond.Adam BirneyManaging EditorThis hidden iPhone setting improved the sound of my AirPods ProApple doesn’t offer a real EQ for AirPods Pro, but this hidden iPhone setting lets you tweak the sound in seconds.Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterAll the new AirPods features you probably didn't know aboutApple's been quietly turning your AirPods into hearing aids, real-time translators, and way more through free software updates. Here's everything you're missing.Adam BirneyManaging EditorAfter using the AirPods Pro 3 for 2 months, this one problem is testing my patienceLong-term testing reveals the good, the great, and the genuinely frustrating.Adam BirneyManaging EditorAirPods Pro 3 beat Sony and Bose in our latest reader pollSony and Bose put up a fight, but readers still chose the AirPods Pro 3.Adam BirneyManaging Editor
1 of 2 would buy again
2 owners
The battery beat their expectations
Comfort beat their expectations
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Expected more from comfort
2 of 2 would buy again
2 owners · owners report ~10 h per charge vs 8.73 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Comfort beat their expectations
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Expected more from the noise cancelling
2 of 2 would buy again
2 owners
The battery beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner · owners report ~7 h per charge vs 10 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
