The Honeymoon Phase is Over
I’ve had the AirPods Pro 3 in my ears almost every single day since they dropped last October. That’s roughly 120 days of podcasts, Zoom calls, and trying to ignore the construction noise across the street from my apartment.
When I first unboxed them, I was hyped. The H3 chip promised the world, and the slightly tweaked shape looked like it might finally solve my issue with the left bud slowly migrating out of my ear during runs. But now that the “new gadget smell” has worn off — and been replaced by the inevitable earwax accumulation — I have some thoughts. And honestly? I’m conflicted.
Most reviews you read in the first week are useless. Everything feels great for five days. It’s only after you’ve dropped the case on concrete three times and worn the buds for a four-hour flight that you actually know what you’re dealing with.
The Fit: Better, But Not Perfect
Apple made a big deal about the “refined contouring” on the Pro 3s. Marketing speak, mostly. But physically, there is a difference compared to the Gen 2s. They sit a fraction deeper.
For the first month, I thought they nailed it. I ran a 10K in November and didn’t have to adjust them once. But lately? The silicone tips have started to lose that initial grippy texture. It’s subtle, but I’ve noticed the “seal check” in iOS 19 settings failing on my left ear more often than it used to. I swapped to the new XS tips included in the box, which helped for a week, then the slipping started again.
Pro tip: If you’re struggling with the stock tips, don’t bother buying replacement Apple ones. I grabbed a pair of memory foam tips from Comply (the 2.0 versions released in late 2025) and the passive isolation is night and day. The stock silicone just gets too slippery with sweat.
ANC and the “H3” Effect
Here’s where I have to give credit. The noise cancellation on these things is terrifyingly good. I was on the subway last Tuesday — the loud line with the screeching brakes — and with ANC on, the screech was just… gone. Not muffled. Gone.
I did a quick A/B test against my old Bose QC Ultra earbuds (which I keep in my desk drawer as a backup).
- Bose QC Ultra: Great low-end rumble reduction, but voices still cut through.
- AirPods Pro 3: The H3 chip seems to be doing something aggressive with mid-range frequencies. It actually muted a guy talking loudly on his phone next to me.
However, it’s not all magic. I’ve noticed a weird bug on firmware version 7B34 where the ANC flickers if a loud bus drives by. It’s like the algorithm overcompensates for a split second, creating a “pop” sound. It doesn’t happen often, maybe once a week, but it’s jarring when it does.
Battery Life: The 4-Month Degradation
Apple claimed 6.5 hours of listening time. In October, I was getting that easily. But now? It’s February. I track my usage pretty obsessively because I’m paranoid about being left without music at the gym. Last week, I clocked my listening time. Starting at 100% at 9:00 AM, the right bud died at 1:45 PM during a call. That’s 4 hours and 45 minutes.
To be fair, I had Spatial Audio enabled and ANC on “Max,” which drains the tank faster. But losing nearly two hours of claimed battery life in four months seems steep. I suspect the battery health algorithm is being overly aggressive to preserve longevity, or maybe I just got a dud unit. Either way, I find myself tossing them back in the case for a “top-up” way more often than I did with the Pro 2s.
The USB-C Case is a Scratch Magnet
Can we talk about the material of the case? I don’t use a protective skin because I hate the bulk. Big mistake.
My MagSafe charging case looks like it went through a blender. The glossy white plastic scratches if you look at it wrong. I put it in the same pocket as my keys once — literally walked from my car to my front door — and it looks 3 years old. I know, “it’s a tool, not a jewel,” but for $250, I’d expect the plastic to be a little more resilient.
On the plus side, the U2 chip precision finding is a lifesaver. I lost the case in my couch cushions (classic) and the iPhone 17 Pro pointed me directly to it, down to the inch. No more playing the “hot or cold” game with the Bluetooth signal strength.
Connectivity: Still the Garden Walled Garden
This is my biggest gripe. Switching between my MacBook Pro (M3 Max) and my iPhone is still… clunky.
It’s supposed to be automatic. But half the time, I’ll be watching a video on my Mac, I’ll pick up my phone to check a text, and the AirPods aggressively switch to the phone just because a silent notification came through. Then I have to manually go into the Control Center on the Mac and force them back.
It’s been years, Apple. Why is this still a thing? I ended up turning off “Automatic Switching” on my Mac completely. It’s faster to just click connect manually than to fight the automation.
Verdict: Should You Upgrade?
If you’re still rocking the original AirPods Pro or the first-gen Pro 2s (Lightning port), yes. The upgrade is substantial. The sound profile is richer — the bass doesn’t muddy the mids anymore — and the USB-C convenience is non-negotiable in 2026. As mentioned in The iPod Modding Scene Just Got Too Good to Ignore, the transition to USB-C has been a game-changer for many Apple accessories.
But if you bought the USB-C Pro 2s late last year? Save your money. The fit is similar enough that if the old ones hurt your ears, these probably will too. The ANC is better, sure, but not “$250 better.” As discussed in The Rumored ‘Ultra’ AirPods Pro: My Wallet Is Already Crying, the incremental upgrades can sometimes be hard to justify.
I’m keeping mine, mostly because I’m deep in the ecosystem and I’ve made peace with the battery life. But I am definitely buying a case cover. And maybe some superglue for those ear tips.
