The first bluetooth headset was officially launched in 2000. Due to technical limitations, it can only meet single-channel voice calls. It was not until the appearance of stereo bluetooth headsets in 2010 that head-mounted bluetooth headsets gradually entered the general consumer group. Earbud bluetooth headsets did not become mainstream due to problems such as large size, uncomfortable wearing, and short battery life.
This situation was officially changed in 2016 with the release of Apple AirPods. The solution using dual-channel transmission technology with charging case quickly led the development of the industry and led the bluetooth headset into the era of TWS headsets. By 2019, Apple has successively released AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro. TWS headset functions have been further enriched and the user experience has been greatly improved.
Now that the three-year period has come, Apple AirPods 3 has been officially released, which has been upgraded in an all-round way compared to AirPods 2. Apple customized high-amplitude drive unit, high dynamic range amplifier, H1 chip and multi-sensor support, so that AirPods 3 supports adaptive EQ, dynamic head tracking spatial audio, pressure-sensitive control, clearer voice calls and voice wake-up And other functions. It is also equipped with MagSafe charging case, which supports wireless charging and provides longer battery life.
We got this product as soon as we opened the sale. We have already shared AirPods 3 unboxing with you. Today’s detailed evaluation of the experience is also here.
|1. New contour design, fit and comfortable to wear
First of all, let’s review the appearance of Apple AirPods 3 to see where it has been optimized and upgraded compared to AirPods 2. For detailed design, friends can click on the link to view AirPods 3 unboxing.
Apple AirPods 3 is equipped with a MagSafe charging case this time, and the fuselage is still treated with piano paint. The overall texture is similar to the previous generations, with a smooth and round touch, but it is prone to fingerprints and scratches. The charging case presents a rounded square appearance. It can be opened vertically and can be opened with one hand. The earphone placement in the charging case is more protruding, which is easier to take out.
Apple AirPods 3 earphones use a handle-like semi-in-ear design with a new upgrade in appearance. Using a short headphone handle design, the headphone head is larger, and at the same time more plump and rounded, and can fit the auricle more completely when worn. The headphone output mouth adopts a slanted design, facing the ear canal, which can better receive the audio output from the headphone.
Compared with Apple’s other two TWS headset products, AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro, Apple AirPods 3 currently on sale, the overall design is more biased towards AirPods Pro.
In terms of the appearance of the charging case, the AirPods 3 is somewhere between the two. The two MagSafe charging cases only have a significant difference in width. The AirPods 3 has a relatively narrow width and therefore a relatively smaller volume.
In the earphone part, the overall look and feel of Apple AirPods 3 is similar to that of AirPods Pro without eartips, but the in-ear curve is different. The headphone head is not as full as AirPods Pro and is relatively thinner. In terms of the wearing effect, the inner side of the AirPods 3 earphones fits the auricle more closely, and there is no earphone suspension feeling when the AirPods Pro is worn with the earplugs removed.
Compared with AirPods 2, the two products have a different wearing experience. Because AirPods 2 is smaller in the ear, it is hung on the auricle through a three-point support, and you can feel the slight force of the support position when you wear it. Wearing AirPods 3 will feel that the earphone is full of the auricle, the contact area is increased, the force feeling of the supporting position is dispersed, and the wearing is more senseless.
But on the other hand, due to the difference in the structure of each person’s auricle, the smaller AirPods 2 can adapt to more people. The AirPods 3 full of auricles is relatively less friendly to people with small ears, and wearing it for a long time may cause the auricle to feel swollen.
|2. All-round experience upgrade, longer battery life
Apple’s AirPods 3 true wireless headphones have been fully upgraded in terms of functions this time, and the audio experience supports dynamic head tracking spatial audio, adaptive equalization, and audio sharing. In terms of interaction, it supports pressure sensing, skin recognition in-ear detection and “Hei, Siri” voice control; it also supports seamless switching of multiple device connections, search, magnetic wireless charging, etc.
Improved sound quality, full-featured spatial audio application
The first thing to talk about is of course the major upgrade in the audio experience. Apple AirPods 3 true wireless headphones use a combination of Apple’s customized high-amplitude drive unit and high dynamic range amplifier in the acoustic configuration, and support the adaptive equalization function. This adjusts the low and mid frequency ranges.
In terms of the sense of hearing, apart from the different audio effects brought by spatial audio, the experience of listening to music has greatly improved the “plain” evaluated by users of the first two generations of products. The most obvious change is the increase in low-frequency volume. When listening to rock music, the drum beats are extended in place, and you have the sense of hearing that makes you want to shake with the beat. In the middle and high frequency performance, the high dynamic range provides rich detailed performance, which can clearly obtain the human voice characteristics.
Spatial audio is a unique audio function of Apple’s AirPods series products. It is divided into two types: Dolby panoramic sound effects and spatial audio that supports dynamic head tracking, providing a brand-new audio experience.
Apple AirPods 3 supports dynamic head tracking spatial audio, and supports three modes: off, fixed and head tracking. After the spatial audio is turned on, the loudness of the sound is significantly reduced, and the sound of the music that can be felt transfers from the inside of the head to the surroundings of the head, presenting surround-style audio, the music is more spatial and has a more immersive audio experience. At the same time, surround sound can also effectively reduce the fatigue of listening to songs for a long time.
The head tracking mode provides richer sound spatial orientation details on the basis of audio surround, which is equivalent to being in a concert hall. Since the position of the instrument is fixed, no matter how your head rotates, the sound you hear comes from In the same direction. The best application scenario of the head tracking mode is in the video experience, which can be conveyed by sound in different directions, which can present an on-site audio effect.
Compared with the dynamic head space audio experience of AirPods Pro, because AirPods 3 lacks eartips and active noise reduction, the experience is more susceptible to the influence of the external environment, which requires more focused listening to feel the sound field information presented by spatial audio , Which also limits its use in public scenarios.
Audio sharing is also a very useful function of the AirPods series products. It has changed the embarrassment of only turning on the external speaker when sharing audio with friends, or wearing a headset for one person. Apple AirPods 3 true wireless earphones can be connected to the same terminal device at the same time with other Apple earphone devices such as AirPods and Beats, and listen to the same music or watch the same movie at the same time.
Apple audio sharing is also very convenient in connection and use. After one pair of headphones is connected to the phone, the other pair will pop up when the phone is opened, and it will be paired with one-key “Temporary Audio Sharing”. After the pairing is successful, it also supports independent adjustment of the volume level, and the joint use experience is better.
Multi-function interaction, pressure sensitive, convenient voice control
The Apple AirPods series of TWS headsets are based on a powerful ecosystem in terms of interactive experience and have a very convenient experience. Compared with AirPods 2 this time, AirPods 3 also brings many upgrades, including the use of pressure-sensitive buttons, skin recognition in-ear detection sensors, and optimized “find” functions.
AirPods 3 is used with Apple’s eco-devices. A pop-up window will pop up when the lid is opened and close to the device. The pairing connection is performed through the iCloud account, and all the devices logged in with the iCloud account are paired at the same time. When using other devices, there is no need to re-pair. Automatically connect, and display the charging case and the remaining battery information of the headset through the pop-up window.
The application of pressure-sensitive buttons greatly improves the control experience of AirPods 3. It supports pinch, pinch twice, pinch three times, and long press control, corresponding to pause/play, switch to previous song, and switch to next, respectively. One song and wake up the “Siri” voice assistant. Compared with the previous generation of touch buttons, the accuracy is higher, and the discomfort caused by the stethoscope effect when accidentally touched and tapped is avoided.
AirPods 3 also supports “Hei, Siri” to wake up the mobile phone voice assistant, coupled with a built-in voice acceleration sensor, the user experience only needs a small sound to wake up the “Siri” voice assistant, so that multiple functions can be operated by voice.
In-ear detection is also a very practical function of TWS headsets, which can automatically pause when the headset is taken off, and automatically resume playback after re-wearing. The current TWS headset market mainly uses capacitive and optical solutions. The first three generations of AirPods all use light sensing solutions. The official introduction of AirPods 3 uses a skin recognition sensor. The detection principle of this sensor is currently unknown. Please also look forward to the follow-up disassembly report of my love audio network.
Compared with the light perception of AirPods 2, the application of the skin recognition sensor avoids the opening of the body and prevents the misjudgment of the light perception being blocked when it is put in a pocket. In terms of user experience, the sensitivity of AirPods 3 is not significantly different from the previous generation of light perception. The headset will automatically pause when it leaves the ear, and there will be a delay of about 1 second when the headset is worn to resume playback. In terms of false touch performance, it is through contact with objects of various materials such as paper, cloth, wood, and metal. Only the silicone sleeve triggers the in-ear detection function.
Optimize the “Find” function
The small body of the TWS headset is easy to lose, which is a problem for users. Apple AirPods 3 has been upgraded to optimize the “Find” function. You can locate your headset at all times through the Find APP. When it is lost, you can use the close-up view and playback sound to quickly find it. It also supports separation sensing, and automatically reminds when it exceeds the bluetooth range.
Apple AirPods 3 uses the strength of the bluetooth signal to determine the position of the headset. When the headset is lost, the mobile phone can be moved in different directions. When the signal is detected, the distance information will appear. When it reaches the vicinity of the headset, the sound of the headset can be played The specific location can easily help users find the forgotten earphones.
MagSafe charging case, multi-scenario wireless charging
Apple AirPods 3 true wireless headset is upgraded to MagSafe charging case, which brings a more convenient and multi-channel charging method. It can be used with all products such as MagSafe series chargers, external batteries, and protective cases. It also supports Qi-certified chargers for wireless charging. Magnetic charging also makes it easy to charge whether it is placed on a flat surface or suspended from the charger.
The charging case wired charging still uses the Lightning interface. The earphones are placed in the charging case to support the fast charging function. 5 minutes of charging can provide about 1 hour of music listening.
Under the fully charged state, the official data, when used with iPhone 13 Pro Max, a single battery life of 50% volume AAC decoding headset can reach 6 hours, and the overall battery life can reach up to 30 hours. In the call mode, due to the activation of the microphone, bone vibration sensor and other functions, the battery life has been reduced, but the single battery life can still reach 5 hours.
|3. Summary
Apple AirPods 3 true wireless earphones have an overall appearance design. The MagSafe charging case application brings a magnetic wireless charging function, making the charging experience more convenient. The earphone adopts a semi-in-ear design, and the earphone head is relatively thinner, which can better fit the inner auricle and have a very comfortable wearing experience. The headphone output mouth adopts an inclined design, facing the ear canal, to better receive the audio information output by the headphone.
In terms of functional experience, wireless audio has been greatly improved. Through the upgrade of acoustic configuration and the blessing of adaptive equalization function, the low frequency of the music hearing is extended in place, and the middle and high frequency vocals and instruments are clear and loud. Full-featured dynamic head tracking spatial audio provides an immersive surround audio experience and more realistic audio effects. The audio sharing function provides a more comfortable and convenient way to share audio.
In terms of interactive experience, the application of pressure-sensitive buttons avoids the stethoscope effect when touch operation is tapped. The voice control is supported by the voice acceleration sensor, and all functions can be controlled with only a small sound. The sensitivity of the skin recognition sensor used for the first time in the ear detection function is comparable to that of light. Optimized search function, very convenient to use at close range.
Compared with AirPods 2 in terms of overall functions, Apple AirPods 3 has been improved in an all-round way, almost the same as AirPods Pro. The difference is that the more comfortable open wear cancels the active noise reduction function, the in-ear detection is replaced with a new sensor, and the battery life has been improved.
The above is the detailed review report after using Apple AirPods 3. I wonder how my friends feel about this product?
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