Key Takeaways
- The third-generation AirPods are a solid upgrade, bringing you the design, water resistance, and spatial audio of the AirPods Pro at a lower price.
- Changes in the fourth-generation AirPods will likely include an upgraded chip, improved battery life, a touch screen on the charging case, and USB-C charging.
- It’s best to wait for the release of the fourth-generation AirPods to get the latest features or save money by purchasing the third generation at a cheaper price.
The third-generation AirPods are more similar to the AirPods Pro than the first or second generations. The change to a smaller, more compact form factor was welcomed by most, but some were a bit put off by it. Still, the most significant difference, the lack of silicone ear tips, remained unique to the AirPods Pro. Unlike the introduction of the second-generation AirPods Pro with its XS ear tips, I was an AirPods-only user, and the silicone ear tips on the AirPods Pro felt stuffy in my ears, making for an uncomfortable experience, and I ended up owning all three versions of the AirPods.
AirPods are one of Apple’s best-selling product lines and a Fortune 500 company in its own right. Despite their success, are the third-generation AirPods still worth buying in 2024, or should you wait for the fourth-generation refresh?
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AirPods (3rd generation)
A solid update
Apple / Pocket-lint
AirPods (3rd generation)
- Battery life
- 6 hours, 30 hours with case
- wireless?
- yes
- brand
- apple
- Noise Cancellation
- yes
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.0
- IP Rating
- IPX4
- Charging Type
- Lightning, MagSafe
- Tips
- H1
The third-generation AirPods are a big improvement over the previous generation. They retain the look of the AirPods Pro, as well as introducing waterproofing and spatial audio at a more affordable price. These little earbuds feature touch-capacitive stems for playback controls and up to 6 hours of listening time with just the earbuds, and up to 30 hours with the charging case. The third-generation AirPods were initially launched with just the Lite, but were later refreshed with a charging case that supports MagSafe, but still lacks USB-C. The AirPods (3rd generation) retail for $179 with MagSage and $169 without MagSage.
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AirPods (4th generation) rumors
Nothing very revolutionary
The third generation of AirPods will be released in 2021, and as they celebrate their third anniversary in October, they are definitely in need of an update. AirPods (4th generation) are expected to be released this fall, likely alongside new iPhones, making for an exciting buying season. Interestingly, there may be two new versions of AirPods on the way: a revised version of the current third generation and a new AirPods SE-type product offered at a lower price point.
With any luck, the AirPods will integrate similar features as the AirPods Pro at a more affordable price.
The new AirPods will likely have an upgraded processor, from the H1 chip to the H2 chip found in the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The upgraded chip could improve battery life, audio quality, and new features. With any luck, the AirPods will integrate many features similar to the AirPods Pro, such as 5.3 Bluetooth connectivity, improved Find My with an integrated U1 or U2 chip, and touch-controlled volume controls, and they’ll be more affordable.
The AirPods (4th generation) may receive minor changes such as a shorter stem, which is an interesting idea to physically differentiate the AirPods from the AirPods Pro. The most significant change to the AirPods will likely be the addition of a touchscreen, which has been rumored to be added to the charging case. While the touchscreen is iffy to say the least, we can be sure the charging case will switch to USB-C.
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Buy now or wait?
Ideally, wait if possible.
If you need replacement earbuds right away, the third-generation AirPods are your best bet. You definitely won’t regret buying them. But if you can wait, a refresh will probably come in the next few months. It’s unclear how big a refresh it will be, though.
Either way, waiting for the refresh gives you the chance to buy the latest and greatest, or save a little by buying the 3rd generation AirPods at a great price. I would recommend waiting until the fall if you can, but if there aren’t any, I would recommend buying the 3rd generation or continuing to wait for the ever-overdue refresh.
