Apple keynote
AirPods 3 presented: Now there’s something for your ears
Apple has introduced the third generation of its popular AirPods
© Screenshot / Apple / PR
As a little extra, Apple also had the new AirPods 3 in their luggage at its iPhone event. We reveal what you need to know about the new headphones.
You’ve been one of Apple’s secret stars for years: AirPods. Once they saw the light of day as an addition to the iPhone 7, the white headphones have long since developed into a highly profitable field of business and an iconic eye-catcher. With the AirPods 3, Apple has now presented the latest generation.
It skilfully bridges the gap between the “simple” AirPods of the second generation and the Pro models. This is particularly noticeable in the look. If Generation 2 still looked exactly like the first models, the AirPods 3 with the shortened bar come much closer to the Pro models. So they can be recognized as newer models at first glance, which is very important to many Apple customers. However, you have to do without the silicone closures: The ear opening remains the same as with Apple’s classic headphones.
AirPods 3: better, but more expensive
Technically, something has also changed. The sound is not as powerful as the Pros because of the lack of silicone terminations, and noise-canceling is also not possible. Nevertheless, the AirPods 3 should sound significantly better than their predecessors thanks to a new distortion protection system. And: Unlike the previous entry-level AirPods, they also offer spatial audio, previously reserved for the premium AirPods Max headphones and the Pro models, for the first time. There is also more runtime, the charging box now offers wireless charging as standard and even Apple’s iPhone magnet standard Magsafe. They already offer a lot of added value compared to the AirPods 2
That is also important. Because: Apple wants to continue to offer the AirPods 2 – as cheaper budget headphones for 149 euros. This is a clever move. While Apple had little competition in the beginning, dozens of manufacturers now offer wireless headphones that sound as good as AirPods and cost less. Many potential buyers of these devices can perhaps be kept with a cheaper offer. Although Airpods 2 have long been available well below Apple’s list price of 179 euros, a decrease in the official price could even drop the actual retail price below 100 euros.
The new AirPods 3 will be available for order from today and will officially go on sale on October 26th, the price is 199 euros.