Apple says it studied more than 10,000 ear scans to redesign the AirPods Pro 3 for a better seal and more stable fit. — Apple
I know the new iPhones get most of the attention each fall, but I think I can make a case that AirPods Pro 3 might be Apple’s best new product in years. I don’t say that lightly, especially since the previous version was pretty close to perfect. And yet, somehow Apple made them better in basically every way. The new models get a built-in heart-rate monitor, improved noise cancellation, and better transparency mode.
After using them for a month, they are easily my favourite pair of earbuds. The active noise cancellation is objectively impressive. I thought the feature was already very good on AirPods Pro 2, but somehow they managed to block out even more sound. And I prefer the overall sound of version 3, finding it more balanced and natural-sounding.
That doesn’t mean they aren’t without controversy. In fact, there are plenty of people who aren’t thrilled by some of the changes Apple made in its effort to improve what it says are the world’s most popular headphones. It’s not because of a missing feature or a software bug, but because Apple changed how they feel and sound. It turns out, the way things feel and sound is surprisingly personal, and people don’t like it when you mess with them.
The fit problem
Apple says it studied more than 10,000 ear scans to redesign the AirPods Pro 3 for a better seal and more stable fit. It even created new foam-infused silicone tips and added an extra-small option for people who’ve struggled with previous versions.
That’s all technically true – and yet, depending on whom you ask, they either fit better than ever or worse than before. Some users say the foam tips finally solve the problem of feeling like your AirPods are always a turn of your head away from falling out. Others complain the new tips feel tight or uncomfortable.
Of course, that’s the paradox of fit: It’s both objective and deeply personal. The human ear is not a standardised shape, and comfort depends on the smallest of details. For Apple, redesigning something that sits inside your body is a high-stakes risk.
Designing for what you hear
Then there’s Transparency Mode. Apple calls it “next-level Transparency,” using microphones and computational audio to mix the outside world with your music. The goal is to make it sound like you’re not wearing earbuds at all.
Except, for some people, it does the opposite. Early reviewers and Reddit threads describe the new transparency as tinny or less natural than before. That’s the hardest kind of feedback to design around because it’s not something measurable – it’s a feeling.
The new version, tuned through algorithms and adaptive processing, feels more artificial to some ears. That doesn’t make it inherently bad, just different. The problem is that “different” is a dangerous word for a product this beloved.
A deeply personal product
Like a lot of people, I have my AirPods with me every day. I carry them in my pocket around the house, I use them for Zoom meetings, I listen to podcasts while walking the dog, and I listen to music while I work. They aren’t just gadgets, they’re personal.
That’s why the debate over the AirPods Pro 3’s fit, transparency, and sound matters. Apple made technical decisions that deeply affect something people care deeply about.
The controversy, then, isn’t really about whether the new model is “good.” It’s about whether it still feels like what you’re familiar with. That’s the risk of designing technology that lives this close to human experience.
But it’s also what makes this release important. Apple’s trying to build the next era of audio – one that doesn’t just play music, but senses, adapts, and responds. That kind of ambition always comes with growing pains.
So yes, Apple’s best new product in years is unexpectedly controversial. But it’s also proof that the company still knows how to make bold bets – even when it means changing something people already love. And in the long run, that sounds a lot like progress. – Inc./Tribune News Service
