Do AirPods 3 Have Noise-Canceling? Read This Before Buying

Apple AirPods 3 are the best generation of AirPods to date, but does the extensive feature list include active noise-canceling? For anyone invested in the Apple ecosystem, AirPods stand out as the go-to earbud choice. They work beautifully with all Apple gadgets, most models support hands-free Siri commands, and they’re the only way to experience Apple’s spatial audio to the fullest.

On October 18, 2021, Apple unveiled AirPods 3 as its latest entry in the series. While they have the same general appeal as the previous model, AirPods 3 deliver a laundry list of upgrades. The design is more compact, battery life is longer, and the charging case now works with MagSafe just like the latest iPhones. It’s a pretty compelling package for $179, but there is one missing feature that some shoppers may be disappointed by.

Despite all of the improvements offered by AirPods 3, the earbuds do not support active noise-canceling. Whether someone’s in a loud coffee shop or on an airplane, there’s no way to block these background sounds with AirPods 3. That also means there isn’t a transparency mode to more easily hear the world around you. AirPods 3 do improve the listening experience with spatial audio and Adaptive EQ, but there’s nothing here as far as ANC goes.

AirPods That Do Have Active Noise Cancellation

For someone in the market for new AirPods who needs to have noise cancellation, the only two options are currently AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Despite being released in late 2019, AirPods Pro still have a lot to offer. They have comparable sound quality to AirPods 3, a more customizable fit thanks to silicon ear tips, and there’s a special vent system to help reduce pressure during listening sessions. They’re a bit more expensive at $249, though retailers often have them discounted closer to the $200 mark.

Another option is AirPods Max. These $549 headphones certainly aren’t for everyone, but if the price tag doesn’t scare you away, there’s a lot to like. For starters, noise cancellation on AirPods Max is among the best in the entire industry. High, mid, and low-frequency sounds are blocked to an extremely impressive degree. The effect can also be reversed for one of the best transparency modes ever on a pair of headphones. Combine that with excellent audio quality, an impeccable design, and reliable battery life, and AirPods Max are at least worth a look.

On the one hand, it is annoying that AirPods 3 don’t have any type of noise cancellation feature. ANC is a pretty common component for wireless earbuds these days — especially ones that cost as much as AirPods 3 do. At the same time, it makes sense that Apple wants to use that as a differentiator between its baseline AirPods and the Pro/Max models. There may be a future where AirPods 4 or AirPods 5 have noise-canceling, but for now, AirPods 3 aren’t a part of that equation.

Source: Apple

About The Author

Joe Maring
(1516 Articles Published)

Joe has been actively writing and talking about consumer tech since 2012. His biggest passion lies with smartphones, but he’s happy to talk your ear off about just about anything with a CPU. He lives in Kalamazoo, MI with his wife, two cats, and pit bull/boxer mix.

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