This morning, I woke up searching for my AirPods Pro 3. My dad, in a surprise move, decided to charge them for me and also make my luggage for the beach trip. However, I noticed a dark patch on the case and asked him about it. He said he had no idea what the cause is. It won’t wipe off.
Hi everyone,
I’m having a strange issue with my AirPods Pro 3 and wanted to see if anyone else is experiencing something similar.
• Device: AirPods Pro 3
• Firmware: 9A314b (still on a beta firmware, have never left beta)
• iPhone: 16 pro iOS 27.0
• Issue started: suddenly, about 1 week ago, with no changes to settings on my side
Problem:
The sound quality suddenly became “off” in a way that’s hard to describe. It’s not simply muffled or quiet; it’s more like the overall tonal balance is wrong. Everything sounds a bit strange and unnatural compared to how they sounded before.
• It happens on all audio (music, YouTube, podcasts), not just calls.
• It’s the same with ANC off, Transparency off, and all listening modes.
• I did not change any EQ, Headphone Accommodations, or spatial audio settings; they were working fine before with the same config.
• I’m still on the same beta firmware track as before; the problem just appeared out of nowhere about a week ago.
What I’ve tried so far:
• Turned ANC / Transparency off and on
• Disabled Headphone Accommodations and custom audio setup
• Turned off EQ and spatial audio / head tracking
• Forgotten and re‑paired the AirPods
• Full factory reset (amber → white) and re‑paired
• Checked firmware: currently on 9A314b
The sound is still noticeably “wrong” compared to before, but I can’t pinpoint it as just bass/treble/EQ; it’s more like the whole presentation is off.
Has anyone else on 9A314b (or other recent beta firmwares) noticed this? Is this a known firmware issue, or is it more likely a hardware defect that Apple would replace? Any suggested next steps before going to an Apple Store?
I already own a pair of AirPods Pro 2, and I like it - although I’ve owned it for 2+ years and feel like some of the brightness it had went away with time. I use it basically everyday at home for video calls, watching videos at bed time and music on my way to and back from work, also ofc for travelling, etc. I love the NC and I’m also a music enthusiast, so good audio quality is also a big plus for me.
I’ve always wanted to own a pair of AirPods Max because it sounds and looks good, but I could never justify paying over 500 euros on it.
So recently I started to think of upgrading my AirPods and was between the AirPods Pro 3 or the Max. The price difference is brutal so I spent a few weeks trying to decide between them.
So today I found an offer on the Max 2024 version (1st gen, usb-c) for 400€, brand new, and pulled the trigger. Bought it, to arrive tomorrow.
On one hand, I feel happy for finally buying a pair of Max that I’ve wanted for long. On the other one, I feel like have I made it right choosing the Max 2024 over the Pro 3? Considering that I already have Pro 2, I thought the Pro 3 wouldn’t be a massive upgrade or it’d be just a replacement, and with the Max I kinda have two different sets of AirPods now?
What would your choice be?
I found a pair of AirPods pro 3’s yesterday, but without a case. Is there any cheaper alternative case I can use to pair with my phone in case they don’t work, so I don’t waste my money?
I currently have Bose QC II. I have it for 6years and I’m happy with them.
What would I win or loose if I move to AirPods Pro 3?
I’m interested in quality and cancellation. I never tried the “voice assist” features so I don’t know what to expect.