Apple’s AirPods have played a huge role in the personal audio segment, both technologically and culturally. While true wireless headphones existed prior to the launch of the first-generation AirPods in late 2016, Apple’s product undeniably popularized the style around the world. The success of Airpods has inspired many brands to dive into the fledgling product segment and even take inspiration from its iconic design. Today, while there are plenty of true wireless options from many brands, AirPods continue to stand out with their recognizable design and styling.
Apple recently launched AirPods (3rd Generation), price Rs. 18,500 in India. Although this headset is the successor of AirPods (2nd Generation), it has a completely reworked design very similar to that of Rs. 24,900 AirPods Pro. However, it lacks some of the features that set the company’s flagship headphones apart. Are Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) the best true wireless earbuds you can buy under Rs. 20,000, and how well does it work? Find out in this review.
Like the rest of Apple’s true wireless range, AirPods (3rd Generation) come in only one color – white
MagSafe Charging Case for Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)
With the third generation, Apple has applied a new design to the AirPods, inspired by AirPods Pro. The body of the headset is shorter and now there’s a force-sensitive button on each earbud for control, similar to that on the Pro headphones. However, unlike the Pro, which features silicone ear tips for a more secure fit and noise isolation, the AirPods (3rd Generation) have the same outer ear fit as the original AirPods.
The AirPods (3rd Generation) headphones are also larger than the non-Pro AirPods and have a wider grille. As a result, the fit is more secure than AirPods (2nd Generation), but not as secure and noise-isolating as AirPods Pro.
I can hear a lot of ambient sound when wearing the new AirPods, and this is by design to make them suitable for outdoor use. As has become the norm for Apple’s true wireless headphones, the AirPods (3rd Generation) are available in white only. The earphones and charging case are IPX4 rated for water resistance, and can also handle water and sweat.
One big change is the addition of force-sensitive controls on the Apple AirPods (3rd Generation). Unlike the less precise touch controls on the first and second generation AirPods, force sensing requires a very intentional gesture similar to pressing a button, and the feedback from the headphones also makes you feel as if these were mechanical buttons, even though they weren’t NS.
The controls let you play and pause music, skip to the next or previous track, and answer calls, and invoke Siri without using your smartphone. While you can’t control the volume directly from the headphones, you can use Siri voice commands to adjust it.
The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) charging case is shorter and wider than that of the 2nd Generation variant, to accommodate the shape of the new headphones. The Lightning port for charging is at the bottom, the pairing button is at the back, and the indicator light is on the front. The case supports Qi wireless charging with MagSafe compatibility for supported accessories.
Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) with a snug fit outer ear; no silicone ear tips like on AirPods Pro
Apple continues to use Bluetooth 5 and the AAC Bluetooth codec as the default options when pairing with Apple source devices, although there is also support for the SBC codec. AirPods (3rd Generation) use Apple’s internal H1 chip, which allows for quick pairing and makes the connection work well with other Apple devices. There’s also a skin-detecting sensor, which lets the headset know when it’s in your ear to control automatic playback and pause functions. There is no active noise cancellation on AirPods (3rd Generation) and the sales package includes only a USB Type-C to Lightning charging cable.
Battery life on Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) is better than on 2nd Generation or Pro models; I was able to get over 5 hours of use on the headset with both music and calls. The charging case has enough power to charge the earbuds four times, giving me about 25-26 hours of total battery life per charge cycle. This is pretty good given the feature set of AirPods (3rd Gen).
Spatial Audio and Siri Official on AirPods (3rd Generation)
Apple introduced Spatial Audio with Apple TV and rolled it out to Apple Music mid-2021. AirPods (3rd Generation), like AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, support Spatial Audio, along with head tracking for supported services.
The Siri voice assistant is also supported on AirPods (3rd Generation), with the option to enable the hands-free ‘Hey Siri’ wake-up phrase. This works the same as on iPhone or HomePod, although the headset needs to be paired with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to connect to the Internet. Siri can read incoming notifications, adjust volume and playback control, fetch specific content, call contacts and more, directly from the headset without touching the source device, and this all works as expected for me.
Other key features include Apple’s quick setup and pairing, which detects AirPods (3rd Gen) and associates it with your Apple ID, so you can automatically pair and switch quickly. among your other Apple devices. This also enables enhanced functionality with the Find My app on iOS. Find My functionality includes local tracking and notifications when headphones are left out – similar to what you get with Apple AirTag.
You can of course pair your AirPods (3rd Generation) with other devices, such as Android phones, using standard Bluetooth. However, the advanced features that you get when you use the headset with Apple devices will not be available.
Good sound but poor noise isolation on Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
This generational change to the AirPods goes beyond design; The AirPods (3rd Generation) take a number of key features from the AirPods Pro that set it apart from the 2nd Generation model. These include adaptive EQ, the company’s custom high excursion drivers, and range amplifiers. high dynamic range, and supports Spatial Audio. All of this gives the new AirPods a sound that’s closer to that of the more expensive AirPods Pro, albeit without active noise cancellation.
To unlock the full feature set of AirPods (3rd Gen), you’ll need an iOS device
The lack of ANC is both a boon and a drawback on the AirPods (3rd Gen); the actual audio signal is ‘non-biased’, so to speak, but at the same time, you’re hearing a lot of ambient sounds along with music that can interfere with the listening experience. That said, the headphones are loud and clean enough to provide a good listening experience even in slightly noisy environments.
Apple’s adaptive EQ feature – also found on the more expensive AirPods Pro and AirPods Max – is present on the AirPods (3rd Gen), aided by a microphone on the inside of the headset that allows for automatic equalizer adjustment. according to the shape of the user’s ear. Indeed, I find the sound more similar to the sound of the AirPods Pro than the second-generation AirPods; Notation seems to be able to adjust itself to a variety of genres and tracks quickly.
Starting with Netsky’s Snitch and Aloe Blacc, the Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) produced an instantly engaging and well-calibrated sound to the track, bringing every part of the frequency range to mind. The beginning of the track is very detailed, with Aloe Blacc’s vocals crisp and clear. This powerful synthesizer sounds impressive, with the AirPods (3rd Gen) running through it almost intuitively.
Stronger and faster tracks like Monsta’s Holdin’ On (Skrillex and Nero Remix) sound cohesive and attacking, with the AirPods (3rd Gen) managing to keep up with the constant change in speed tempo in the track, switching between softer vocals and aggressive bass. With the slower and more refined Truth of Kamasi Washington, the headphones have managed to bring out the detail in jazz instruments, while adjusting slowly and deliberately to subtle changes in tempo. and tunes.
Adaptive EQ and fine tuning make the AirPods (3rd Gen) sound good, but the lack of noise isolation makes the experience a bit compromised
Performance is also pretty good with audio-only voices of audiobooks, although I did need to turn the volume up to near maximum when outdoors to overpower the ambient sounds. Overall, Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) make for an engaging listening experience and can adapt themselves to the genre and song playing. The sound is just as good as on the AirPods Pro, but obviously slightly different because of the lack of active noise cancellation and the ability to hear a decent amount of what’s going on in the background.
While Spatial Sound with Dolby Atmos support and head tracking isn’t new to even the AirPods range, it’s become much more relevant since the Apple Music mid-2021. AirPods (3rd Generation) support all of these Apple TV and Apple Music features when used with a compatible source device.
Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio performance is as good as on the AirPods Pro, with the headphones able to simulate a surround sound experience despite the obvious limitations of two-channel audio. Head tracking is also very impressive; turning the head when listening to certain tracks results in the music “staying in place” as it was; Vocals in Dolby Atmos-enabled tracks often sound as if they’re coming from the direction of the source device, even when my head is turned in a different direction.
Apple has its own way of reducing wind and other ambient sounds when making calls, using an acoustic grid around the microphone. While it’s hard to tell how much of a difference this makes to the overall experience, I’ve had good experiences with calls on my AirPods (3rd Gen) both indoors and outdoors. However, the lack of active noise cancellation and noise isolation significantly affected my ability to focus on calls if I wasn’t in a quiet space.
There’s also support for the new AAC-ELD codec, which is said to improve voice performance during FaceTime calls. However, I didn’t particularly notice any difference from before.
Identify
Valuation Rs. 18,500 in India, the Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) are an expensive pair of true wireless earbuds, due to the lack of active noise cancellation. However, above all other aspects, this is a good pair of headphones. It works great with Apple devices and accessories, sounds good, and offers a comprehensive user experience tailored for iOS, Siri, and Apple Music. While naturally not quite as good as the AirPods Pro, it’s the next best option, especially if you’re on a budget under Rs. 20,000.
Several competing options at this price point and even below offer better passive noise isolation (unless you prefer to wear external ears) and active noise cancellation, but the AirPods (3rd Generation) ) is designed to work well within the Apple ecosystem. If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you’ll want to consider AirPods (3rd Generation) rather than selections from competing brands, purely because of how well they work together. That said, with AirPods Pro get a huge discount on sale, you can get it for a little more than AirPods (3rd Gen).
