If the iPhone is Apple’s crown jewel, the AirPods are its quiet empire, the one product that redefined how we consume sound without ever asking for attention. It’s funny how Apple keeps making the AirPods look like they’ve barely changed, and yet somehow, they always end up feeling like something new. The AirPods Pro 3 continue that tradition, familiar at first glance, but a quiet evolution once you live with them. Apple’s latest Pro earbuds aren’t just about music anymore; they want to be your hearing aid, translator, and workout companion, all tucked inside a glossy white pebble of a case. But the real question is simpler: do they still feel as magical as the first time you tried AirPods?
Design & Fit: Familiar, but Finally More Secure
Apple didn’t touch the design much, the AirPods Pro 3 look identical to their predecessor. The same glossy stem, the same bulb-like body, still the kind that tends to collect micro-scratches faster than you’d like. But the magic is in the small refinements. The earbuds sit a bit deeper now, and the slightly smaller bulb means they’re less likely to slip out when you’re walking or talking. For once, people with smaller ears can finally wear AirPods without worrying they’ll pop out halfway through a call.
Apple’s new foam-infused silicone ear tips deserve some credit here. They’re soft, adaptive, and come in five sizes, including a new XXS. They do a better job at sealing than the old silicone ones, though they’re not perfect. Even though they have been upgraded to an IP57 rating, sweat or oil build-up still makes them loosen over time. It’s one of those classic Apple “half solutions”, innovative on paper, but not a miracle.
Sound Quality: Familiar, Yet Fuller
The AirPods Pro 3 sound exactly how you’d expect them to, clean, balanced, and refined, but there’s more muscle underneath that polish now. Apple’s tweaked the acoustic chamber and fine-tuned its custom drivers to deliver noticeably better low-end response and cleaner separation.
There’s a new sense of control in the bass which is tighter, more deliberate and the mids sit beautifully balanced without feeling overly forward. Instruments sit apart without feeling artificial. It’s not the widest soundstage you’ll find in wireless earbuds, but for something this small, it’s impressively cinematic.
Apple has clearly re-tuned the drivers this time. Where the Pro 2 leaned slightly warm with a hint of mid-bass bloom, the Pro 3 deliver a cleaner, more balanced signature, tighter lows, airier highs, and a newfound sense of space.
Spatial Audio remains divisive. I love it for films and series, where Dolby Atmos mixes truly breathe, but I still find it unnatural for music. Though when you’re watching something like Dune: Part Two at 2 AM with the world asleep, it’s hard not to be impressed by how immersive the presentation is.
Active Noise Cancellation: Now It’s Personal
Apple claims the AirPods Pro 3 have twice the ANC performance of their predecessor. Hyperbole aside, they’re not wrong, it’s an enormous leap. The AirPods Pro 3 block out more frequencies across the board, from low rumbles to sharp chatter. I tested them on a morning metro ride to Connaught Place. The metallic clatter and station announcements melted away the moment I hit play. The low drone of the train vanished, replaced by the steady pulse of The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights. At one point, I removed a bud mid-song, and the noise hit me like a physical wave. That’s how good the cancellation is. In a cafe, the ANC neutralised conversations so well that it felt like sitting in a private cocoon.
Transparency Mode is also more natural now. It’s uncanny how well Apple has tuned it to sound like you’re not wearing earbuds at all. Voices come through clear, without shouting or the electronic hiss that older models had.
Smart Features: Genius That Sometimes Overreaches
Apple’s added a heart rate sensor inside each earbud and it’s surprisingly accurate. During my morning walks, the readings matched my Apple Watch nearly beat for beat. But once you start lifting or sweating heavily, the buds begin to slip, and the sensor loses contact. Without ear hooks or fins, this was inevitable. It’s cool tech, but it’s not a replacement for something like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. For now, it feels more like a “nice-to-have” than a must-have.
Then there’s Live Translation, Apple’s bold attempt to break the language barrier. It works decently in quiet spaces but stumbles in real-world chaos. It’s a bit limited in terms of understanding different languages and feels more like a proof of concept than a travel companion.
On the flip side, the hearing health tools are genuinely useful. The ability to personalise your sound profile through an in-app hearing test, or use the buds as mild hearing aids, is something no mainstream brand is doing this well. For older users or those with mild hearing issues, this could be a life-changing feature.
Battery & Connectivity: A Bigger Win Than You’d Think
Battery life is one of the biggest upgrades. In testing, the AirPods Pro 3 lasted 8 hours with ANC on, nearly 3 hours longer than the AirPods Pro 2. That’s a massive leap in daily convenience. Pop them in the case for a few minutes, and you’ll get an hour of playback. Wireless charging, MagSafe, even Apple Watch charging, everything works seamlessly.
You can charge via USB-C, MagSafe, or even your Apple Watch puck. Wireless charging feels as seamless as you’d expect, though the missing USB-C cable in the box still feels stingy.
The AirPods Pro 3 still don’t support any high-res codecs like LDAC or aptX. If you’re using an Android phone, you’re essentially getting basic SBC playback and no ANC controls, no firmware updates, no EQ. It’s like buying a Ferrari and only being allowed to drive it in first gear.
Everyday Use: Thoughtful Little Touches
Apple’s polish shows up in the small details. You can now use the earbuds as a remote shutter for your iPhone’s camera. The new Conversation Awareness mode automatically lowers your volume when you start speaking, which feels natural in practice. Personalized Volume also learns your environment and adjusts loudness accordingly, like turning itself down when you walk into a cafe.
The new case now features a built-in speaker and U2 Ultra Wideband chip, which means you can precisely locate it through the Find My app. It’s one of those quality-of-life updates that you don’t realise you needed until you misplace your earbuds under the couch.
Verdict: Apple’s Most Complete AirPods Yet
The AirPods Pro 3 are the best earbuds Apple has ever made and arguably the best noise-cancelling earbuds most people can buy. They sound great, fit better, cancel noise like a dream, and integrate beautifully into the Apple ecosystem.
But they’re also not perfect. The Live Translation feature is still half-baked, the heart rate sensor feels gimmicky for serious athletes, and the lack of EQ controls is baffling in 2025. Android users, as always, get the short end of the stick.
Still, for iPhone users, this is the most well-rounded, forward-thinking pair of earbuds Apple has ever shipped. You’re getting near-flagship sound, class-leading ANC, smarter everyday features, and the kind of integration that makes everything feel effortless.
Rs 25,900 isn’t cheap. But the comfort, consistency, and quiet brilliance they deliver make the AirPods Pro 3 not just a pair of earbuds, but a lifestyle upgrade, the kind that fades into your day until you can’t imagine life without them.
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Siddharth Chauhan
Siddharth reports on gadgets, technology and you will occasionally find him testing the latest smartphones at Digit. However, his love affair with tech and futurism extends way beyond, at the intersection of technology and culture. View Full Profile
