What’s New in Apple’s AirPods 3rd Generation (2021)?

• The latest AirPods have a new design, longer battery life, and spatial audio. 
• They now come in a wireless charging case, providing up to 30 hours of use.
• Apple’s 3rd generation AirPods will be available next week - for $179.00.

Apple’s AirPods are the company’s most affordable wireless earbuds, known for their high sound quality and easy connectivity. However, the latest (3rd) generation AirPods comes with a new set of features, including spatial audio, longer battery life, and an all-new design. With that said, here’s more information on precisely what’s new in Apple’s 3rd-gen AirPods. 

Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ & More

Apple’s H1 chip brings computational audio to the new AirPods, enabling a whole set of new audio-related features. First, there’s spatial audio powered by Dolby Atmos in Apple Music, which works in conjunction with dynamic head tracking and 'Adaptive EQ.' In other words, the 3rd generation AirPods are now more intelligent in the sense of tuning their sound in real-time.

An inward-facing microphone monitors for sound, and since it now comes with 'Adaptive EQ' built-in, it’s capable of tuning the low and mid frequencies, making your voice come across distinctly on calls. On top of that, AirPods have support for AAC-ELD that enables 'Full HD' voice quality. 

All-New Design

Apple’s 3rd generation AirPods now come with a design similar to the company’s AirPods Pro. That means that you can expect shorter stems along with force sensors that unlock additional input methods. Apple also notes that the new AirPods come with a lightweight and contoured design, "sitting at just the right angle for comfort."

Let’s also not forget to mention that the 3rd generation AirPods are resistant to sweat and water, making them suitable for fitness activities. More precisely, the new earbuds come with an IPX4 rating that applies to both the earbuds and their charging case. 

Longer Battery Life

The new AirPods bring an additional hour of battery life compared to the previous generation, up to 6 hours of listening time and up to 4 hours of talk time in total. However, what’s interesting is that you also get a wireless charging case that’s compatible with MagSafe. 

Since the case has a built-in battery as well, you get 4 additional charges that way. Differently said, you get up to 30 hours of total listening time (once you charge the new AirPods' charging case fully). And lastly, a quick five-minute charge gets you an hour of battery life, which means that fast charging is involved. 

The third-generation AirPods are already available for pre-order, and they’ll be available for purchase starting October 26 - for $179.00. However, the second-generation AirPods are also available, now priced at $129.00.