Apple Announces Redesigned Third-Generation AirPods

Apple today announced the third-generation AirPods, featuring an updated design, improved sound quality, and more. The new third-generation AirPods builds on features such as Spatial Audio in Apple Music and more.

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The new AirPods, as rumored, features a design similar to the AirPods Pro but without silicone eartips or Active Noise Cancelation. The new AirPods includes Adaptive EQ, which adjusts frequencies in real-time based on what a user is listening to deliver even improved sound quality.

For an optimal listening experience with rich detail, the new AirPods feature Adaptive EQ that tunes sound in real-time based on how AirPods fit in the user’s ear. An inward-facing microphone monitors for sound, and then Adaptive EQ, powered by computational audio, tunes the low and mid frequencies to account for what may be lost due to variances in fit.

Unlike the second-generation AirPods, the third-generation AirPods is sweat and water-resistant, featuring a new contoured design that's meant to fit a wide varify of ear sizes.

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The new design of AirPods is lightweight and contoured, sitting at just the right angle for comfort and to direct audio into the ear. For a more subtle appearance, the stem is shorter than the previous generation and features the same intuitive force sensor as AirPods Pro for media control. The new AirPods are resistant to both sweat and water, with an IPX4 rating for both the earbuds and the charging case.

In battery life, Apple is promising that the new third-generation AirPods will deliver up to an extra hour of battery life compared to the second-generation model. Apple claims that just five minutes of charging provides enough battery for an hour of use. AirPods Pro and the new AirPods now also support MagSafe. The new AirPods start at $179, and are available starting today.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

TheBoyDips Avatar
55 months ago

Why get these over the Pro’s?
Easy answer: they’re not in-ear
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
salz4life Avatar
55 months ago

Will they do Lossless? If not, hard pass.

(Yes I can hear the difference so don't even start)
I'm glad I can't. It must be frustrating for you when it comes to new technology like this.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnyb098 Avatar
55 months ago

Will they do Lossless? If not, hard pass.

(Yes I can hear the difference so don't even start)
Ummmm you can’t do lossless over Bluetooth
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
one more Avatar
55 months ago

Why get these over the Pro’s?
Less expensive and no silicone ear tips.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Serban55 Avatar
55 months ago
Beautiful product, perfect shape
To be perfect it should have slide volume up/down on the steam
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cameronp16 Avatar
55 months ago
These are exactly what I've been waiting for to replace my 1st Gens! Let's go!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)