Apple introduces the 3rd Gen AirPods
The third generation of AirPods has arrived. The design of the new True Wireless headphones is a mix of the previous and Pro versions.
The leaks of the last few weeks revealed a lot about Apple's new AirPods. Only the launch date was a mystery, as experts and analysts disagreed. Now the third generation of AirPods has officially been unveiled.
The most striking change? The new AirPods no longer feature the toothbrush design. As with the Pro version, the stems are significantly shorter. The new, third generation is very similar to the Pro version from 2019, except that they’re buds instead of in-ear headphones.
The 3rd Gen AirPods specifications
- IPX4 certified; splash and sweat resistant (1. and 2. generation weren’t water-resistant)
- 6 hours of battery life (5 hours previously)
- A total of 30 hours of listening time with the case
- Wireless charging (MagSafe compatible), Lightning connector
- Quick charge function
- Bud design (No silicone attachments)
- No Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)
- Touch control by tapping
- H1 headphone chip
- One earpiece weighs 4.28 grams
- Bluetooth 5.0
Is Lossless Audio (ALAC) supported? This wasn’t mentioned in the presentation.
Spatial audio and better phone quality
Apple decided to attach great importance to spatial audio in the AirPods. Thus, the third generation supports the same head-tracking features as the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, which are also used to watch videos.
Apple also claims to have improved phone quality. «AirPods also feature AAC-ELD, a superior speech codec that offers full HD voice quality, providing clear, natural communication for FaceTime calls,» was said at the Unleashed keynote.
Apple has more competition than ever when it comes to true-wireless earphones. Jabra, Nothing, JBL, Huawei, Sony, Samsung – to name just a few. Many manufacturers offer less expensive wireless earphones. Will Apple be able to prevail? What’s for sure is that they’ll boast great user-friendliness and integration into the Apple universe. What about the other features? Independent reviews will reveal how well they perform.
In addition to the new AirPods, Apple also introduced a new Apple Music Voice Plan in the audio section – which is not yet available in Switzerland – as well as new colours for the HomePods.
In the US, the new AirPods cost $179. The price in Switzerland will probably be around 200 francs. In Austria, they’re supposed to cost 199 euros (no liability assumed).
We will add the new AirPods to our online shop as soon as possible. That’s when the country-specific prices will be known.
Testing devices and gadgets is my thing. Some experiments lead to interesting insights, others to demolished phones. I’m hooked on series and can’t imagine life without Netflix. In summer, you’ll find me soaking up the sun by the lake or at a music festival.