# AirPods Pro 3 - An Apple Critic’s Perspective

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJIzIH_guPU
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/vJIzIH_guPU
Generated: 2025-11-29T18:33:13.653+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The AirPods Pro 3 are an incredible overall package, offering superior sound quality, better ANC, and significant battery life improvements over the Pro 2s, though the high price and lack of Android feature support remain major drawbacks for non-Apple users.

**Key Points:**
- The AirPods Pro 3 deliver substantially better sound quality than the Pro 2s, with frequency response charts showing improved performance across the spectrum, especially in the bass and treble regions when ANC is active.
- Battery life is significantly increased: ANC usage yields 8 hours (2 hours more than Pro 2), and Transparency mode offers 10 hours (4 hours more than Pro 2) on a single charge.
- The new AirPods Pro 3 are slightly larger than the Pro 2 case (43.99g vs 50.8g), and the ear tip attachment is overly tight, requiring tools or excessive force to remove, which is a design flaw.
- The reviewer, despite being an Apple critic, ultimately loves the Pro 3s for their performance, stating they are close to being 'too good' for their own good, especially regarding ANC effectiveness.
- Lack of Android feature support is a significant negative, as features like Automatic Ear Detection, Conversational Awareness, and Head Gestures require an Apple device; however, the third-party app LibrePods offers some functionality but requires root access.
- The price point of $249 USD (or $848 USD bundled with the cheapest iPhone 15e) is noted as expensive, especially considering Apple's perceived hostility toward Android users.
- The ANC is so effective that the reviewer found it jarring when turning it off in noisy environments like airplanes or gyms, indicating a very positive performance in noise cancellation.

![Screenshot at 00:14: The video title overlay appears: "Apple RUINED my favourite product - AirPods Pro 3", setting a critical tone for the review which focuses on the perceived negative changes despite technical improvements.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vJIzIH_guPU/00-00-14.png)

**Context:** This video provides a critical review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3, contrasting them directly with the previous generation, the AirPods Pro 2. The reviewer, Linus Sebastian, evaluates various aspects including sound quality (using frequency response charts comparing against target curves), active noise cancellation (ANC) effectiveness in real-world noisy scenarios (planes, gyms), battery life improvements, physical design changes (like the ear tip attachment), and cross-platform usability, particularly for Android users who rely on third-party apps like LibrePods for feature parity.

## Detailed Analysis

The reviewer initially expresses some negative sentiment, suggesting they may have overreacted regarding the bass boost on the Pro 3s (00:03). After extensive testing, including using them on a flight to Japan and during noisy activities, the reviewer concludes that the AirPods Pro 3s are an incredible overall package, despite Apple's perceived anti-Android stance (04:41). Key improvements include significantly better battery life: 8 hours with ANC enabled (2 hours more than Pro 2) and 10 hours with Transparency mode (4 hours more than Pro 2) (06:38). The frequency response charts show the Pro 3s (red line) outperform the Pro 2s (blue line) relative to the target curve, especially in bass and treble (10:33). However, the reviewer criticizes Apple's design choices, specifically the ear tips, which are attached so tightly that removing them without tools risks ripping the silicone (01:29, 08:36). Furthermore, the Android experience is limited; while basic audio works, advanced features like Conversation Awareness, Head Gestures, and full battery monitoring require an Apple device, though the LibrePods app offers some functionality but requires root access (04:08, 09:53). Ultimately, the reviewer admits they still prefer the Pro 3s for their exceptional ANC and overall user experience, even though they acknowledge the high price point of $249 USD (08:55, 09:33).

### Initial Impression & Comparison

- Reviewer initially felt they overreacted to minor changes like boosted bass, but after extended use, acknowledges the Pro 3s are vastly improved, especially in ANC and battery life (8 hours ANC, 10 hours Transparency) (00:04
- 06:38)

### Physical Design Flaws

- The ear tips are secured too tightly, requiring tools or force to remove without tearing the silicone, which is a major design flaw (01:29
- 08:36)

### Android/Cross-Platform Support

- Features like Head Gestures and Conversation Awareness are locked to Apple devices; third-party apps like LibrePods offer support but require root access, which is a major hurdle for most Android users (04:08
- 09:53)

### Sound Quality & ANC Performance

- Frequency response tests show the Pro 3s are sonically superior to the Pro 2s across the spectrum, and the ANC is so effective that environments like planes and gyms feel eerily silent (10:33
- 06:08)

### Pricing and Value

- The $249 USD price point is expensive, especially when bundled with a base iPhone 15e for $848, but the reviewer finds the overall package compelling enough to still recommend them highly (09:33
- 07:47)

### Sponsor Segment (SHARGE iCEMAG 3)

- SHARGE iCEMAG 3 power bank offers 25W wireless fast charging and active cooling for phones, promoting a Black Friday deal (02:05
- 02:14)

### Sponsor Segment (Vessi Footwear)

- Vessi is running a Black Friday sale with up to 55% off everything, offering 100% waterproof shoes with a one-year warranty (02:33
- 12:37)

![Screenshot at 00:05: Reviewer holding the AirPods Pro 3 case while discussing early impressions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vJIzIH_guPU/00-00-05.png)
![Screenshot at 00:33: Lumafield X-ray visualization showing the dense internal components of an AirPod, highlighting the packed engineering.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vJIzIH_guPU/00-00-33.png)
![Screenshot at 01:07: Text overlay detailing the limitations of the Hearing Protection feature against extremely loud impulse sounds.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vJIzIH_guPU/00-01-07.png)
![Screenshot at 02:36: Product shot of the Elgato Stream Deck Mark 2, part of a Black Friday bundle offer.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vJIzIH_guPU/00-02-36.png)
![Screenshot at 07:32: Frequency response graph comparing AirPods Pro 2 \(blue\) vs Pro 3 \(red\) with a 'Target' curve, showing the Pro 3s deviate more significantly from the target, indicating worse sound for the average listener according to this metric.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/vJIzIH_guPU/00-07-32.png)