With the holidays rolling around, you might be thinking of either gifting away Apple's new third-generation AirPods Pro or buying them as a present for yourself. If you've owned a pair before, you might already be familiar with AirPods and their convenience, especially within the Apple ecosystem, but if you're new to it all, it might be worth doing some research before you splurge. So, what's new with the third-gen AirPods—and should you really get them?
What's New?
If you're coming from the second generation, the new AirPods Pro will likely be a familiar fit. Or maybe not so familiar, as one of the first things you might notice about the new Pros is that they have a different shape than their predecessor. In fact, Apple even claims that the AirPods Pro 3 are the "most secure and best-fitting AirPods ever," and were redesigned to be more compact, stable, and comfortable to wear. They now come with foam-infused ear tips in five sizes, including a new XXS size, so that they can adapt to different ear shapes.
Beyond the fit, the new Pros also boast a heart rate sensor, meaning it can now track your heart rate and calories burned—all of which can be viewed via the Fitness app. Noise cancellation has been improved as well, with Apple claiming that it can cut out four times more noise than the original AirPods Pro, and two times the noise than the second generation. Adaptive EQ means your music is customized and tuned in real-time to your liking. What's more? The new Pros can translate different languages on the fly using Apple Intelligence, so you can converse naturally with people.
Should You Upgrade?
Now that you know what's new with them, should you get them? And if you're coming from an older generation of AirPods or AirPods Pro, is the third generation worth the upgrade? Well, it depends.
For users who care most about noise cancellation, most generally say that it's worth getting the new pair. Others find that it's a better fit for their ear shape, which makes them more convenient for bringing to the gym, on a run, or on a flight without needing to worry that they might slip out. Plus, battery life is up to a whopping eight hours on a single charge, even while using noise cancellation, meaning they're more than ready to be out on the go with you.
If you have the second-generation AirPods, however, it's up to you whether the new features, such as heart rate sensing and live translation, are worth your hard-earned cash. If you already have a fitness watch to track your workout data and don't care too much about live translation, you can absolutely do without the new Pros.
Is It Worth the Price?
Thankfully, the AirPods Pro 3 didn't get a price bump, and they're still offered at the same $249 tag that the second generation was listed at during its release. Of course, that can still be more than what you're willing to pay for, especially if you're only looking for something simple.
Our verdict? If you already have a pair of trusty noise-cancelling earbuds or a pair of AirPods Pro that are still in great condition, skip these. If you're new to the market or your pair is starting to see a lot of wear and tear, then you might want to consider getting the new Pros. And if you're thinking of gifting them, we think they're bound to make anyone happy, regardless of whether they already have something similar or not.
