January 2022 • Macworld 47look nearly identical. The in-ear ‘pod’
itself is reshaped, less round and more
bulbous, similar
to the AirPods Pro
but without the
rubberized tip.
Regular AirPods
have a fit that is
best described as
personal. Some
people find them
comfortable, and
they stay put easily.
Others, like me, find
that while the size
and weight is quickly
forgotten, the rigid
plastic and shape
don’t like to stay put
in my rather small ear
canal. I’m constantly
adjusting second-gen
AirPods as they worm
their way loose bit by bit,
whether I’m just walking,
working out, or even
sitting in a chair if I make
a lot of jaw movement.
The third-gen
model fits differently
but I wouldn’t say it’s
necessarily better. I
still have problems with
earbuds slowly working
their way free, just as before, though
your mileage will vary depending onThird-generation AirPods (centre) are more compact
than second-gen (left), and resemble AirPods Pro
(right) without the rubberized tips.
The shorter stems are nice, but whether the new AirPods
(centre) fit in your ears better than the old AirPods (left)
comes down to your ear shape. AirPods Pro rubberize tips
(right) provide the best fit.