Just upgraded from AirPods Pro 2 to Pro 3, and I’m honestly disappointed
I’ve been using the AirPods Pro 2 for a while, and I recently decided to upgrade to the new AirPods Pro 3. Honestly, I’m deeply disappointed. Here is my experience so far:
The Case feels cheaper Right out of the box, the case noticed me. It feels lighter and slightly larger, but to my absolute dismay, the lid wobbles left and right and rattles even when closed! The Pro 2 case feels significantly more solid, premium, and has absolutely no lid play. I guess I could live with the case since I always use a protective sleeve, but it’s still annoying.
Transparency Mode is a mess The moment I put the Pro 3 in, I immediately noticed how bad the Transparency mode is. To me, these don't feel like premium earbuds anymore—they feel like hearing aids that happen to play music. The sound is incredibly unnatural. It over-amplifies high-frequency household noises, my own voice sounds weird, and I can literally hear myself breathing. It makes me feel like a robot. In comparison, the AirPods Pro 2 are flawless in this regard—the Transparency mode is a 1:1 match with reality, to the point where you forget you're even wearing them.
ANC and Sound Quality Credit where credit is due: the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) is definitely improved compared to the Pro 2. No arguments there.
However, when I played my favorite song, I faced another HUGE disappointment. The bass is practically missing. The sound is hollow, cheap, and lacks any fullness or depth. Even the maximum volume feels lower than on the Pro 2. The Pro 2 are literally capable of blowing your mind with their power, incredible depth, and heavy bass. They sound miles better than the Pro 3.
Conclusion For me, the AirPods Pro 3 are a serious downgrade. Anyone else experiencing the same issues, or did I just get a bad unit?