Recently, I bought the Apple AirPods Pro 3. Before this, I had never used any Apple AirPods. After watching Apple’s Keynote event and checking out a few trusted YouTube reviewers (the ones I personally follow), I decided to give them a try. My girlfriend also recommended them since she’s been using AirPods for quite a long time.
The price was around $249 / RM999 here in Malaysia.
Before switching to the AirPods, I was using Sony headphones and earphones. I really liked their sound profile it was clean and balanced. When I switched to the AirPods, I didn’t notice a major difference in sound quality. Yes, there are some differences, but not a huge one. (To be fair, my Sony product wasn’t a premium model — it was just a regular one.)
The main reason I bought the AirPods Pro 3 was for the noise-cancellation feature, since I take a lot of online meetings. I thought it would be a great fit for that. Another reason was the Google translation feature, but unfortunately, it wasn’t as useful as I hoped because the specific language I needed — Malay — wasn’t supported.
That said, for meetings and general conversations, the AirPods Pro 3 perform amazingly well.
At first, they were quite uncomfortable to wear. Later, I realized the problem was with the ear tips. After switching to the smaller-sized ear tips, they became much more comfortable. I know many people find the AirPods extremely comfortable, but personally, I still prefer the fit and design of Sony’s earphones. Still, it’s acceptable — just make sure you choose the right ear tip size that fits your ear snugly and seals properly. If the fit is too loose, the noise cancellation won’t work effectively.
Another thing I love is how seamlessly they switch between my MacBook and iPhone. Since I use both for work every day, this feature makes life so much easier.
One more thing worth mentioning is the Conversation Mode — when you start talking to someone, the AirPods automatically switch from Noise Cancellation to Transparency Mode. It’s actually a very thoughtful and useful feature.
Overall, the AirPods Pro 3 come with a lot of smart, well-designed features. I wouldn’t call them the pioneer of wireless earbuds, but they are definitely among the best. However, I’m still a bit skeptical about the price-to-value ratio. At nearly RM1,000, not everyone may feel they’re getting enough value for the cost.
Lastly, I’d say if you’re using a Windows PC and an Android phone, these might not be the best choice — the experience just won’t be as smooth or integrated as it is within Apple’s ecosystem.
