As I was watching Apple’s October event and saw the reveal of the latest AirPods I was excited. The new features, such as spatial audio, MagSafe charging, and improved battery life are welcomed editions to my very established Apple eco system of chargers and devices. I already have a magsafe charger on my bedside table for my iPhone 13 Pro, and while you can charge old AirPods cases that have Qi charging on it, it would be nice for the case to magnetically attach to the charger with a snap.
Once the event was over, I immediately went to the Apple Store app and ordered these new AirPods, believing Apple has consolidate the AirPods and AirPods Pro lines together, creating the best wireless in-ear headphones money can buy. After all, their design and case seemed identical to the those of the AirPods Pro I’ve owned for quite a while.
Moments after my order went through, however, I noticed that Apple was still selling AirPods Pro for $249. That’s when I realized these new AirPods, despite the upgrades, are not “pro” at all.
Apple's latest non-pro AirPods look almost identical to their Pro counterpart, but lack their noise-canceling feature.
The price for these new AirPods was only $179, which should have alerted me that the new 3rd generation AirPods will not have the noise canceling feature I have grown to love and use on a daily basis.
Should You Get The New AirPods?
I quickly canceled my order after learning the new AirPods don’t have noise canceling. I believe Apple’s next AirPods Pro will have all of the new features the 3rd generation AirPods have, but with the added noise-canceling feature and rubber tips that offer a better grip inside your ear.
Spot the differences. AirPods Pro on the left next to the 3rd generation AirPods.
If you already own a pair of AirPods Pro, or even if you own an older generation of the regular AirPods, my advice is to wait for the new AirPods Pro if you want to have all the best features in one device.
For a more detailed side-by-side comparison, check the below video from MacRumors.
