Apple AirPods 3rd generation

The Apple AirPods 3rd Gen are solid wireless earbuds for iPhone users who prioritize call quality and spatial audio over noise cancellation. They excel at calls with a top-tier mic setup and offer good battery life with fast charging. But the lack of ANC, hit-or-miss comfort, and wide price spread mean they're not the best choice for commuters or anyone wanting to block out background noise.

Sound quality lands at the 68th percentile, which translates to solid but not spectacular. The Apple-designed dynamic driver and custom amplifier deliver clean, detailed audio with punchy bass and crisp highs. Adaptive EQ does real work here, adjusting low and midrange frequencies based on what the inward-facing mics pick up. It's a nice trick that keeps music sounding consistent whether you're sitting still or moving around. But if you're an audiophile chasing the absolute best sound, these won't dethrone the top-tier options.

Battery performance is well above average at the 72nd percentile. Six hours on the earbuds and 30 total with the case is respectable, though not class-leading. The fast charge is genuinely useful: five minutes in the case gets you roughly an hour of playback. Connectivity sits at the 59th percentile, which is about average. Bluetooth 5.0 is stable and pairing with Apple devices is effortless, but it's not the latest Bluetooth standard and Android users won't get the full seamless experience. The ANC score is where things get rough. At the 31st percentile, there's effectively no noise cancellation here. These are open-style earbuds, so outside noise comes right in. That's the trade-off for not having silicone tips jammed in your ears.

Stacked against the Sony WF-1000XM6, the AirPods 3rd Gen lose on sound quality and noise cancellation. Sony's flagship earbuds have real ANC and better overall audio, but they cost more and the mic quality isn't as strong for calls. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is another strong competitor with excellent sound and solid ANC, though again you'll pay more. If you want spatial audio and the best call quality in this price bracket, the AirPods hold their own.

The Nothing Buds 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are interesting alternatives. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro offer ANC and a more secure fit with silicone tips, and they play nicer with Android. The Nothing Buds 2 undercut the AirPods on price while offering decent sound and a unique design. The Soundcore P31i is the budget pick, way cheaper but with noticeably worse sound and build quality. For iPhone users who take a lot of calls and want spatial audio without spending Pro money, the AirPods 3rd Gen make sense. For everyone else, there are better options at similar or lower prices.

Pricing on these is all over the place. Our data shows USD 149 to USD 263 across two US listings, which is a USD 114 spread. That's a huge gap for the same product. If you're paying the high end of that range, you're getting into territory where better-sounding, ANC-equipped earbuds live. At the lower end, around USD 149, the value proposition gets a lot more interesting. The best deal in our database comes from the cheaper listing, so shop around before you pull the trigger. For Apple users who want spatial audio and great call quality without spending AirPods Pro money, the lower price makes these worth considering. At full retail, you're paying a premium for the Apple logo and ecosystem integration.

The Apple AirPods 3rd Gen sit in that classic Apple spot: not the cheapest earbuds you can buy, not the most feature-packed, but the ones a lot of people default to when they want something that just works with their iPhone. They're stem-style in-ears with a dynamic driver, Bluetooth 5.0, and a Lightning charging case. No silicone tips here, which is either a blessing or a curse depending on how your ears are shaped. We'll get into that.

If you're searching for wireless earbuds with spatial audio, these are one of the most recognizable options out there. Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is the headline feature, and it genuinely makes movies and Apple Music tracks feel wider and more immersive. Adaptive EQ tunes the sound to your ear shape in real time, and the IPX4 rating means sweat and light rain won't kill them. Battery life lands at 6 hours per charge with 30 hours total from the case, and a quick 5-minute top-up gets you about an hour of listening.

For calls, the mic setup is a real strength. Three microphones with noise cancellation for voice, plus that acoustic mesh to cut wind noise, put these at the 87th percentile in our database. That's one of the best mic setups you'll find on earbuds in this price range. Gaming and fitness scores are more middle of the pack, and commute performance is the weakest area at 36.3 out of 100, mostly because there's no active noise cancellation to speak of.

Skip these if you commute on noisy trains or buses, work in a loud environment, or just want to tune out the world. The lack of ANC and the open design mean you'll hear everything around you, and the commute score of 36.3 out of 100 is the weakest area in our testing. If you need a secure fit for running or intense workouts, the comfort score at the 28th percentile suggests these might not stay put. Android users should also look elsewhere, since features like seamless pairing and Personalized Spatial Audio are Apple-only. The Sony WF-1000XM6 or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are better picks for noise cancellation and secure fit, while the Nothing Buds 2 offer a cheaper alternative with silicone tips.

Should you buy the AirPods 3rd Gen? If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, take a lot of phone calls, and want spatial audio without paying AirPods Pro prices, yes, especially if you can find them at the lower end of that USD 149 to USD 263 range. The call quality is genuinely excellent, the sound is good enough for most people, and the fast charging is a nice bonus.

But if you commute on public transit, work in a noisy office, or just want to block out the world, these aren't for you. No ANC means you'll hear everything around you, and the open design lets in a lot of ambient noise. The comfort score at the 28th percentile is also a red flag. Without silicone tips, the fit is a gamble. Some people love the open feel, others find them loose and uncomfortable after an hour. Try before you buy if you can.