68 MACWORLD JANUARY 2022
FEATURE REVIEW: AIRPODS (3RD GENERATION)the top of the stem make them look
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 on
your ear
shape. I
suggest trying
them on before you buy, if at all possible.
The shorter stems are nice, and they
help reduce incidents where they get
caught on a hat or strap or bumped free.
Apple has replaced “tap” controls with the
“squeeze the stem” force sensor found on
the AirPods Pro. It gives you a little more
control, but, as ever, I find it hard to use
without messing up the AirPods’ fit in my
ear. I generally control them either through
voice or the controls on my iPhone or Mac.
There’s certainly no way in which I feel
that the third-gen AirPods are a worse
design than the second-gen, and the
shorter stems and water and sweat
resistance are both improvements I canThe shorter stems are nice, but whether the new AirPods (center) fit in
your ears better than the old AirPods (left) comes down to your ear shape.
AirPods Pro rubberized tips (right) provide the best fit.