The charging case is squatter and wider to accommodate the new earbud design. It is shaped like an AirPods Pro case but isn’t as big. There are still no color options to speak of. Apple stuck with its signature white colors with black highlights for this model. However, there are many third-party cases and skins for those looking to customize their AirPods. The earbuds are now water and sweat-resistant for use during workouts. While older models didn’t break easily when splashed with water, these are the first pair with official water resistance of IPX4.

Adaptive EQ is a feature first introduced in the AirPods Pro that uses microphones to adjust audio based on the shape of your ear and the fit of the AirPod. It listens for abnormalities and adjusts audio on the fly to ensure users get the best possible audio even if the AirPods don’t fit quite right. The Spatial Audio mode is new to the standard AirPods lineup. Using gyroscopes, the AirPods 3 can track head movement and adjust the incoming audio in real-time to move with your head.

For movies and tv, this means audio sourced from an iPad will sound like it is coming from the iPad, even when you turn your head away. Dolby Atmos-produced content will surround you and let you face off-screen sounds. Apple Music also supports listening to audio tracks with Spatial Audio. Properly tuned music will have instruments surround the listener in 3D space, and the effect changes based on how the listener moves their head through the sound.

After a simple one-tap setup, AirPods are automatically on and always connected.1 Using them is just as easy. They sense when they’re in your ears and pause when you take them out. And the AirPods experience is just as amazing whether you’re using them with your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV.

Need a hand? Simply say “Hey Siri” for assistance without having to reach for your iPhone. And with Announce Notifications, Siri can automatically read important notifications from Messages, Phone, Calendar, Reminders, and more as they arrive. You can choose which contacts you hear notifications from, and Siri won’t interrupt you if you’re on a call or sharing a song

Powered by the Apple H1 headphone chip, AirPods deliver a faster and more stable wireless connection to your devices — up to 2x faster when switching between active devices,3 and a 1.5x faster connection time for phone calls.4 The H1 chip also drives voice-enabled Siri access and delivers up to 30 percent lower gaming latency.5 So whether you’re playing games, listening to music, or enjoying podcasts, you’ll experience higher-quality sound.