January 2022 • Macworld 49You may not ever have a real need for MagSafe on
your AirPods case, but it’s there.
minutes in the case will give you
enough charge to last for an hour, just
as with the AirPods Pro. In my testing,
the buds went from zero to over 30
per cent in that short time and lasted
almost 90 minutes before dying.
VERDICT
Apple sells three AirPods now. The
second-generation are still on sale for
£119 with a wired case. The new third-
generation will set you back £169.
The seal you get from the
rubberized tips on the Pro improves
bass response and helps reduce
outside noise, while active noise-
cancellation makes listening in all
but the quietest environments a lot
more pleasant. For those reasons,
those looking for the best sound
quality should still choose
AirPods Pro.
I feel the longer battery
life and vastly improved
sound of the third-generation,
along with Spatial Audio
support, make them worth
the upgrade price. If you have
a choice, get these over the
second-gen model, even if
you pay more.
But the AirPods Pro, at
£239, are still my personal
choice. Active noise
cancellation makes a huge difference
in providing a comfortable listening
environment, and the rubberized
tips go a long way to making them
stay put in my ears better.
AirPods are often found on sale if
you shop around. My recommendation
would be price-conscious buyers get
the third-generation AirPods and skip
the second-gen model, and those who
can afford to go for the Pro model do
so without hesitation. No matter what
you buy, look for a sale. After they
have been on the market for a few
months, AirPods are often available
for £20 to £40 off. Jason Cross