Audio
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Review: The Critics’ Verdict
"A well-balanced, enjoyable and intuitive pair of premium wireless earbuds" — What Hi-Fi?
No single aggregate score — here's what the reviewers agree on, below.
The short version
Reviewers agree that the AirPods Pro 3 make meaningful gains where they count. Sound is clearer, more spacious and more dynamic. Noise cancellation is stronger. The redesigned foam-infused tips produced a snugger, more secure fit for CNET and Tom's Guide. Heart-rate sensing and Live Translation add practical new uses. The trade-offs are the hefty $249 price, limited sound adjustment and a fit that still may not work for every ear.
What reviewers loved
- Stronger noise cancellation that Tom's Guide found effective at filtering out the London Underground during a commute.
- Clearer, more spacious and more dynamic sound, with deeper, tighter bass and cleaner voices reported across What Hi-Fi?, CNET and PCMag.
- A more secure workout fit: Tom's Guide says the redesigned foam-infused tips stayed put through skipping, hopping and jumping.
- Heart-rate sensing and Live Translation expand the earbuds beyond music and calls.
- Improved battery life that Engadget says can cover an entire work day, without an increase from the $249 launch price.
What held it back
- The $249 price remains hefty, particularly when the older AirPods Pro 2 are discounted.
- CNET says Apple does not provide manual EQ controls for adjusting the sound profile.
- What Hi-Fi? still lists battery life as an area that could be improved despite Engadget and CNET reporting gains.
- The revised in-ear design fit reviewers well, but What Hi-Fi? warns that it may not suit everyone.
Buy them if you use an iPhone and want stronger ANC, better sound, a more secure fit and Apple's latest health and translation features.
Skip them if you want manual EQ controls, dislike sealed in-ear designs or can get the still-capable AirPods Pro 2 at a much lower price.
What the reviewers say
Sound and ANC are the clearest points of agreement. What Hi-Fi? reports a more spacious, powerful and dynamic presentation with clean voices, taut bass and a balanced tone. CNET describes purer, more accurate sound with tighter bass and greater openness. PCMag calls the audio first-rate and the noise cancellation leading, while Tom's Guide found the ANC effective on the London Underground.
The physical changes matter too. CNET reports a narrower shape, revised angle and memory-foam-infused tips, with five sizes available. Tom's Guide found the fit snug, comfortable over long periods and secure during workouts. Engadget calls this the most comprehensive AirPods update yet, pointing to heart-rate sensing, Live Translation, improved ANC, stronger sound and longer battery life.
⚙ Best settings — dial it in
There are no calibration values in the supplied reviews, so we will not invent any. The most useful setup step is getting the seal right before judging sound or ANC. For fully calibrated values, see Tom's Guide.
| Ear Tip Fit Test | Run Apple's fit checker after inserting the earbuds. |
|---|---|
| Tip size | Try a smaller or larger tip if the earbuds move during exercise or fail the fit check; Tom's Guide found switching sizes easy. |
The competition
Apple AirPods Pro 2
PCMag still rates the Pro 2 highly, and they are often discounted. Choose them to save money; choose the Pro 3 for the stronger sound, ANC, fit and newer features.
Should you buy it?
Yes, if you are an iPhone user shopping for premium wireless earbuds and can accept the $249 price. The professional reviews consistently describe better sound, stronger noise cancellation and a more secure fit than the previous generation. The new health and translation features make the upgrade broader than a routine audio refresh. AirPods Pro 2 owners should still compare sale prices before upgrading, and shoppers who need manual EQ should look elsewhere. Disclosure: RightWei summarizes independent reviewers' hands-on tests. We do not test review units ourselves.
Sources
RightWei aggregates and summarizes independent reviews — we link to the original hands-on tests so you can go deeper. We don't test units ourselves.