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AirPods 3rd vs 2nd Generation: Which one is right for you?

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AirPods 3rd vs 2nd Generation: Which one is right for you?
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byCharles

Better, but also more expensive – these are the Apple AirPods 3. They offer 3D sound, pressure and skin recognition sensor, MagSafe compatible charging case as standard, improved fit, slightly longer battery life longer – and by the way, they have become even more compact. However, they don't have any more active noise cancellation than the 2nd Gen, which has the same chip and is more affordable. We will show you the differences in detail.

AirPods 3: 3D audio and superior dynamics

The most important argument for the AirPods 3: Improved sound with 3D audio – like in the even more expensive AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. The smaller jacks are capable of stereo to 3D and Dolby Atmos (5.1 and 7.1). Simply put, the latter is simulated surround sound. Listeners can perceive sounds from the direction they are supposed to come from.

Dynamic head tracking goes even further and consolidates the location of different audio tracks. Here, the sound changes when the AirPod wearer moves their head relative to the virtual audio source. If you see and hear someone say something in a video (or video conference) on the left side of the picture and then turn your head to the right, the sound changes, as if your ear is also getting closer to The source .

Other audio features the AirPods 2 didn't yet have: An adaptive equalizer that adjusts sound to the position of earplugs in the ear, high-excursion woofers, and high-dynamic-range amplifiers , i.e. more powerful bass and cleaner treble.

But not just an improved listening experience: Apple also claims to have improved the microphones of the AirPods 3. The predecessor already had beamforming for both microphones – with this, the AirPods should block ambient noise and better focus on the wearer's voice. The new inward-facing microphone is supposed to do that even better.

The price: advantage for the old AirPods

AirPods 3rd vs 2nd Gen: Which are right for you?

Then the price: Apple claims 199 euros for the new 3rd generation AirPods, and only 149 euros for the 2nd generation. You can now get the latter in offers, sometimes for even less money. The range is therefore 50 euros and more. The new AirPods are 30 euros cheaper than their predecessor with a wireless charging case 2 years ago. I only noticed it in passing.

By the way, Apple only recently sold the older 2nd generation without an inductive charging case. The ones you can still find with a Qi-compatible charging case are remnants.

The 3rd generation AirPods come standard with a wireless charging case, which you can also charge using the iPhone MagSafe plug. But you can also charge the new AirdPods with a Lightning plug. The case itself is now less elongated, but wider and weighs almost the same as its predecessor.

Not revolutionary, but a little more practical: The new pressure sensor, with which you can perform more functions on the connectors than before. With a long press, you can start Siri or jump to the previous title by pressing three times. Sounds good, but on closer inspection, it only offers two other functions:

AirPods 3 “know” when you're wearing them

Another new feature: a skin recognition sensor. It should "just" recognize if you really have the AirPods in your ear, and if not, stop playing. Older AirPods have also "tried" this, but not always with success.

Sweat and water protection according to IP4X is new (water splashing from all sides, no showering, no immersion). Apple promotes its use in sports, which is also supposed to provide better grip. If this works for you, congratulations! There's no plug in my right ear unless it's "plugged in" like the AirPods Pro.

Apple has also slightly changed the dimensions of the AirPods 3. Their iconic stem has become almost a centimeter shorter. The width and depth of the ear cups have increased by a few millimeters – which could indeed provide better support. The new plugs together weigh 4.28 grams compared to the AirPods 2's 4.0 grams. Normally, you shouldn't notice this.

Battery life: every hour counts

While Apple specified 5 hours of battery life for the old plug, it's now 6 hours for the AirPods 3. That doesn't seem like a lot , but I find that more important than the battery life of the charging case. If you want to kill a boring train journey with a series on your smartphone, every hour counts. The AirPods 3 charging case has a battery life of 30 hours versus 24 hours.

You should be able to set up both AirPods as Bluetooth headphones on these, as well as Android smartphones and other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Then, however, with a reduced range of functions and sounds.

Conclusion: what you want

Do you want great sound from your everyday headphones? Then the AirPods 3 should interest you. But to be honest: since they don't have active noise cancellation, you really only get the best sound in a quiet environment. Say: home. Otherwise, the AirPods Pro would be more interesting for you on the go. If you already own the 2nd generation, the change is not worth it in my opinion.

I still own the 1st generation AirPods myself, which I use almost exclusively for phone calls and video conferences. That's enough for me, because I'm not audiophile enough to do better. If I had to have my first wireless headphones today, it would be the AirPods 3.