Honestly, the conversation around wireless earbuds usually goes one of two ways. You either want the absolute best noise cancellation money can buy, or you just want something that works. In the middle of that tug-of-war sits the AirPods 3.
They aren't the newest kid on the block anymore—not with the AirPods 4 and the heavy-hitting AirPods Pro 3 dominating the headlines in 2026. But here is the thing: a lot of people still prefer them. I’ve talked to dozens of users who actually run away from the Pro models because they can't stand the feeling of silicone tips jammed into their ear canals.
If that sounds like you, the third-gen model is basically the sweet spot of the legacy "open-ear" design.
What AirPods 3 Actually Get Right
Apple changed the game a bit when they moved away from the long "toothbrush" stems of the original AirPods. The AirPods 3 borrowed the shorter, more discreet look of the Pro line but kept the hard plastic shell that just rests in your outer ear. It's a "love it or hate it" fit.
For many, it’s the most comfortable pair of headphones they’ve ever owned. You can wear them for four hours and completely forget they’re there. Try doing that with a pair of buds that use a vacuum seal. Your ears usually end up feeling itchy or "plugged" after sixty minutes.
But let’s talk about the sound. These were the first non-Pro buds to get Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. If you haven't tried it, it's sorta like being in a room with speakers rather than having the sound inside your skull. When you turn your head to the left, the "band" stays in front of you. It’s a trip.
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The Battery Reality
Apple claims up to 30 hours of total listening time with the case. In the real world? It's close. You get about 6 hours on a single charge of the buds themselves.
- Listening to podcasts: You’ll hit that 6-hour mark easily.
- Spatial Audio on: Expect it to drop to about 5 hours.
- Phone calls: Talking kills the battery faster, usually giving you around 4 hours.
AirPods 3 vs The New Guard
It’s 2026, and the market is crowded. You’re likely looking at these versus the AirPods 4 or the Pro series. The AirPods 3 lack Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). That is the big "but" in this equation. If you spend your life on a plane or a noisy subway, these will frustrate you. You’ll find yourself cranking the volume to 90% just to hear your music over the screeching of the train tracks. That’s not great for your hearing.
The AirPods 4 now come in an ANC version, which uses some wizardry to cancel noise without a seal. It's good, but it still doesn't beat the physical seal of the Pro 3.
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So why buy the 3s? Price.
Since they’ve been out for a while, you can often find the AirPods 3 for significantly less than the launch price of $179. I’ve seen them dip toward $130 on Amazon during various sales. At that price, they are a steal for the build quality you're getting.
The Sweat Factor
Don't baby these things. They have an IPX4 rating, which means they handle sweat and rain just fine. I wouldn't go swimming in them—trust me, I’ve seen people try—but for a humid July run? They’re perfect. The skin-detect sensor is also way better than the old optical sensors. It knows the difference between your ear and your pocket, so your music doesn't start playing while the buds are sitting in your jeans.
The Frustrating Parts Nobody Tells You
Nothing is perfect. The biggest gripe I hear about the AirPods 3 is the fit during high-intensity workouts. Because they don't have those silicone tips to "lock" them into your ear, they can feel a bit loose if you're doing burpees or heavy cardio.
You’ll find yourself constantly reaching up to adjust them. It’s a minor thing until it isn't.
Also, the H1 chip inside is getting a bit long in the tooth. It’s still fast, but it doesn't support some of the newer "Adaptive Audio" features found in the H2-powered AirPods Pro 2 or the latest Pro 3. You won't get that feature where the volume automatically lowers when you start talking to someone. You have to do it the old-fashioned way: by pausing your music.
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Should You Still Buy Them?
If you want a reliable, comfortable, and relatively affordable entry into the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods 3 remain a solid contender. They offer much better bass than the original AirPods and much better comfort than the Pro models for people with sensitive ears.
If you find them on sale, go for it. But if the price is within $20 of the AirPods 4, the newer model's H2 chip and improved microphones make it a better long-term investment.
Next Steps for You:
Check your current ear shape. If you have very small ears, the bulbous shape of the 3s might actually feel too big. If possible, try a friend's pair before buying. Once you’ve confirmed the fit, look for the MagSafe charging case version rather than the Lightning-only one; it’ll save you a lot of headache with cables in the long run.