70 MACWORLD JANUARY 2022
FEATURE REVIEW: AIRPODS (3RD GENERATION)mmmmh
AirPods (3rd
Generation)
PROS- Shorter stems.
- Water and sweat resistant.
- Greatly improved sound
quality.
CONS - Fit is highly dependent on
your personal ear shape. - A bit pricey.
PRICE
$179
COMPANY
Apple
technically more expensive than the
second gen’s starting price ($159), but
the wireless charging case used to set
you back a cool $199, so
they’re also technically
cheaper.
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
$249, are still my personal
choice. Active noise
cancellation simply 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 that
price-conscious buyers should
get the third-generation
AirPods (fave.co/3lHpcfk) and
skip the second-generation
model, and those who can
afford to go for the Pro model
should 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. ■You may not ever have a real need for MagSafe on your
AirPods case, but it’s there!