Sometimes, it’s the little things.
Sure, Apple has bragged that the new AirPods Pro 3 – hitting shelves today, September 19 – have better active noise cancellation (ANC), longer battery life, better sound, a babel fish-like ability to let you understand (and be understood) in 15 languages, and there’s even a heart rate sensor that’s more precise than the one Beats recently added to its Powerbeats Pro 2 (ouch).
And while all of those things are welcome improvements, I’m oddly obsessed with the one change that kind of flew under the radar: the new shape.
In the main image above and in the one below, the AirPods Pro 3 earpiece is the one on the left, next to an AirPods Pro 2 earbud (on the right).
Fit changes everything
It should go without saying that if your earbuds aren’t comfortable or they don’t feel secure in your ear, it doesn’t matter whether we say they’re the best earbuds in the world or how great the other features are; you won’t want to wear them.
Now, I’d never say the AirPods Pro or AirPods Pro 2 aren’t comfy. If Apple’s claim that they are the world’s most popular headphones is true, you gotta figure a lot of folks think they’re comfortable. And I include myself in their ranks.
But comfy is a funny thing. Just because earbuds feel fine, it doesn’t mean they actually fit. It doesn’t mean they’re providing a good seal, and it doesn’t mean they’re secure enough for a variety of activities.
Most importantly, it doesn’t mean you’re getting the best sound, or indeed the best ANC.
New AirPods, new shape
For the first time since they made their debut in 2019, the latest AirPods Pro have a new shape. It’s not radically different – in fact, at a distance they’re virtually identical – but it nonetheless repositions both the eartip and the stem, while reducing the size of the portion that sits in your concha.
Take a close look at the second and third-gen side by side above, and you can see the difference in the angles.
The change in geometry was substantial enough that Apple had to redesign the charging case to accommodate the new shape – it’s now slightly larger than the first and second-gen cases.
A change you can feel
As soon as I popped the AirPods Pro 3 in my ears, I could feel the difference.
The first thing I noticed was the change of angle. With the AirPods Pro 2, I could simply push them straight into my ear – the angle almost didn’t matter. Any rotation I applied, I did for comfort or to try for a better seal. The AirPods Pro 3, by contrast, require a twisting motion as you insert them. Instead of just sitting in my concha, they feel like they lock into place.
The eartips pushed a little deeper, creating a better seal with my ear canal, and I was aware of more skin-to-plastic contact around the main body of the buds; it’s a more intimate fit. That might not sound good to everyone, but for me, it’s a big improvement.
I confess, I don’t do much running. I make it a rule to avoid it unless I’m being chased. However, I was curious to see if I’d notice a difference while running with the AirPods Pro 3, so I took them for a very brief jog around my neighbourhood. My utterly non-runner opinion: Yes, they’re absolutely more secure feeling than the AirPods Pro 2.
More ear tips, more choices
On the AirPods Pro 2, I had to swap the default medium tips for the large set to get a more secure fit and better ANC. On the Pro 3, the medium tips are totally sufficient. That might explain why Apple now includes four additional ear tip sizes. New to the collection is an XXS size, which is both shorter and slightly smaller in terms of circumference when compared to the XS version.
The construction of these ear tips is another key change. On previous AirPods Pro models, the silicone tips were ultra-thin – a tiny layer between the earbuds and your ear canal. The new ear tips, which aren’t compatible with the older models, have more structure. In typical Apple fashion, this has a somewhat eye-roll-inducing name: “foam-infused microspheres.” You can ignore that. What matters is that the silicone is just as soft to the touch, but now the inner core has a higher density, which contributes to improved comfort and fit.
Talking it up (and maybe out)
Apple didn’t mention this when it revealed the AirPods Pro 3, but that new shape seems to angle the stem (which contains the voice mics) so that it lines up with your mouth, and not your chin. Everyone’s ears and jaws are different, so it’s possible this is just a me thing, but as you can see in the side-by-side photos, it sure looks like the new AirPods Pro are going for better voice pickup.
Speaking of talking (talking of talking?), in the three days I’ve spent with the AirPods Pro 3 so far, I’ve noticed that the more secure, intimate fit doesn’t necessarily translate into a more secure fit while talking. Over the course of a one-hour FaceTime chat with my son, I had to reposition the buds three or four times. Again, it could be my personal physiology; however, the movement of my jaw seemed to work the AirPods Pro 3 loose faster than the previous design.
I don’t want to overstate this part. Most closed-fit wireless earbuds I’ve tested over the years needed adjusting during longer conversations. Still, it’s worth considering if this is a primary activity.
Worth upgrading?
The AirPods Pro 3 are loaded with improvements and new features, as you can read in our in-depth review. Existing AirPods Pro users should consider all of them. Though as much as better sound, better ANC, and all the rest can impact your daily experience of using wireless earbuds, none will do so as much as comfort and fit. For that reason alone, the AirPods Pro 3 are worth the new investment.
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