That’s annoying. Hopefully it remains a problem with very few.
My left AirPod was fine, but I’m going to talk to Apple today and organise a return of these AirPods. I’m hoping these new ones will be fine.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AirPods (3rd generation) / Order / Delivery Thread
- Thread starter G35flyer
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
My left AirPod was fine, but I’m going to talk to Apple today and organise a return of these AirPods. I’m hoping these new ones will be fine.
Got my engraved pair today.
Appears to be much lower base and volume than my launch Gen1 airpods.
Its a much larger ear bud shape to my small ears and I am wondering if it is the cause in sound difference.
I am not convinced its an improvement in terms of sound quality.
Also the top cover of my case is somewhat loose and can slide form side to side a little unlike my original gen1 launch case which is solid and tight.
Not sure if I am happy with AirPods 3.
Appears to be much lower base and volume than my launch Gen1 airpods.
Its a much larger ear bud shape to my small ears and I am wondering if it is the cause in sound difference.
I am not convinced its an improvement in terms of sound quality.
Also the top cover of my case is somewhat loose and can slide form side to side a little unlike my original gen1 launch case which is solid and tight.
Not sure if I am happy with AirPods 3.
Last edited:
It is weird, some tracks sound almost the same, and others, like All Apologies, sound really different... Odd...
Just got mine today. Returning them as a simple shake of the head or running makes them fly off my head. AirPods 2nd gen fit way better as it’s smaller
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-macbook.2319474/?post=30520963#post-30520963
There’s a FW update and I swear mine have been better the last few hours. Maybe check you are on the version this member upgraded to. I am.
Of course the aforementioned local delivery company barely picked up the package a few hours before the end of workday and they're about 4-5 hours away so guess what? I'll get them tomorrow!!! 
😡 Meanwhile, my son went to the Apple store about 25 miles from home to check on his iPhone 12 Pro Max's camera and I texted him to get the AP3 from there. Hopefully he was able to.
😡 Meanwhile, my son went to the Apple store about 25 miles from home to check on his iPhone 12 Pro Max's camera and I texted him to get the AP3 from there. Hopefully he was able to.
Disappointed in the fit. EarPods and AirPods(1 & 2) were the perfect fit for me. I sold my AirPods Pro as they kept falling out, especially when moving or eating. These seem to suffer from the same problem. Not quite falling out but feel like I have to push them back in constantly for a snug fit. I'll give them a week or so but might have to return these.
It really is the luck of the draw with fit. Ear topology varies. Wildly. I learned that the hard way!
I painfully remember how excited I was spending in excess of $250 on Shure wired IEMs back in the mid 2000's. They were the absolute "toast of the town" at the time. Everyone was raving about them. I bought them at my neighborhood Fry's and couldn't wait to get them home.
But to me they were weak and tinny. Pathetically weak and tinny. Utter crap. I was gutted!
My ears were just the wrong shape. That was all there was to it: Bad anatomy.
My son was able to grab a pair of AP 3 from the Apple store so we got to try them on today. Also today, BestBuy delivered the AirPods Pro and both are a big upgrade from the AP2, of course. We’ll give them a couple more weeks to try different things but the unanimous opinion is that APP have a higher quality sound on many levels. They also fit way better and do not slide off the ear. We might return the AirPods 3 bought from Apple store today (no preorder, just walk-in) and those that will probably arrive tomorrow, and order 2 more APP. Will need to try some more extreme workout and other activities and then decide.
Hope all of you got what they wanted and now are enjoying your new toys!
Hope all of you got what they wanted and now are enjoying your new toys!
I'm very satisfied with the new AirPods. Yes the fit could be better, I have a little feeling they want to fall out of my ears. But the sound quality is in my opinion very good if you compare it with AirPods 2. Nice sound signature, good bass and it has some kind of passive noise canceling.
I’m disappointed in the fit as well. I really want to keep them because I like the sound and the shorter stems, so I’m going to give it a week. But gravity seems to just pull them out of my ears randomly. I do have small ears, and it feels like the new ones just don’t sit as securely.😔
Last edited:
Mine arrived today. Unfortunately just minutes before I had to leave to work so didn’t have too much time to compare or test them. So these are my initial feelings and discoveries, will do a follow up post later when I’m more familiar with them.
Case lid has ample sideways movement as many have reported. AirPods itself don’t have any whine or buzz, or at least I couldn’t hear any in a quiet bedroom.
Fitment is pretty close to perfect for my ears. I previously had latest EarPods and I’d say they were almost sculpted for me, 99.8% perfect. Disappeared in my ears. AirPods 3 are noticeably more pump than EarPods, but they still fit excellent and don’t cause any pain or discomfort, at least during the 40 minutes I had then on. They sit more outwards of ears (the battery) so I feel like they could fall off but won’t even if I deliberately jump or shake my head.
Sound is very different to my EarPods (which most likely are full of ear wax). Clearer and sharper but noticeably less bass at medium volume. At higher volume the bass is massive though so shouldn’t be a defective pair.
Overall I’m happy with them, but will need time to get used to the sharper sound and lack of bass. But freedom from wires feels so good.
Case lid has ample sideways movement as many have reported. AirPods itself don’t have any whine or buzz, or at least I couldn’t hear any in a quiet bedroom.
Fitment is pretty close to perfect for my ears. I previously had latest EarPods and I’d say they were almost sculpted for me, 99.8% perfect. Disappeared in my ears. AirPods 3 are noticeably more pump than EarPods, but they still fit excellent and don’t cause any pain or discomfort, at least during the 40 minutes I had then on. They sit more outwards of ears (the battery) so I feel like they could fall off but won’t even if I deliberately jump or shake my head.
Sound is very different to my EarPods (which most likely are full of ear wax). Clearer and sharper but noticeably less bass at medium volume. At higher volume the bass is massive though so shouldn’t be a defective pair.
Overall I’m happy with them, but will need time to get used to the sharper sound and lack of bass. But freedom from wires feels so good.
Only thing I do not like about these new AirPods is the weird shape and there is nothing to really hold on to. I bumble with them. The 2nd gen had a long stick but these don't. I'm sure I'll get used to them.
Guttered that I've decided to return mine. Specs wise, these are great and they sound great too. But it's not often I don't notice them in my left ear. They fit nicely in my right ear but I think it's a bit too snug in the left ear, so it aches slightly and just becomes too noticeable. I've found a couple of times over the last few days while I'm listening to music, I'll start thinking about how noticeable it is in my ear, which then distracts me from the music which obviously you don't want.
I was really happy with the original AirPods so will likely go back to those and get myself a new Gen 2, but I really wish Apple just kept that design (or even offered both old/new) and then introduced the upgrades into that. But of course, the core experience is listening to music and if it's not comfortable doing that, then the rest kind of takes a backseat. Oh well. I'm happy for those it does fit though!
Oh yeah, the buzz too. Buzz didn't stop in my right AirPod.
There's no physical Apple Store in my country, so I've had to call them up and organise a courier pick-up, and while it will take a few days they've made the return process quite easy so props to them. It's why I buy direct from Apple
I was really happy with the original AirPods so will likely go back to those and get myself a new Gen 2, but I really wish Apple just kept that design (or even offered both old/new) and then introduced the upgrades into that. But of course, the core experience is listening to music and if it's not comfortable doing that, then the rest kind of takes a backseat. Oh well. I'm happy for those it does fit though!
Oh yeah, the buzz too. Buzz didn't stop in my right AirPod.
There's no physical Apple Store in my country, so I've had to call them up and organise a courier pick-up, and while it will take a few days they've made the return process quite easy so props to them. It's why I buy direct from Apple
Regarding fit, apparently my right side is just wonky. The right one wants to runaway. I've already had it pop out once. Not as bad as the APP's, but disappointed in my ears not fitting them.
Regarding returning things: I saw a few Mini 6's Open Box at Worst Try today. Hmm...
Regarding returning things: I saw a few Mini 6's Open Box at Worst Try today. Hmm...
So, I ordered a pair and they were "out for delivery" and being shipped by Deliver-It....never heard of them. Now, all of sudden, the status has changed to "1 business day." Should I be concerned and contact Apple about the latest status with my AirPods Gen 3?