Gen 3 AirPods 'tap control' more of a 'pinch'?

[PaulAllen/]

Just picked up a pair of gen 3 AirPods after a few years of gen 2. Kind of surprised to find out that you have to pinch the stem as opposed to the tap on gen 2. Just want to make sure I don't have a dud I suppose.

Additionally; there's an audible clicking sound that is made on either airpod when I 'tap' to pause/play. Is there anyway to turn this off like you can mute the trackpad clicking sound?

Great sound, but the design seems to be largely inferior to gen 2. Debating returning.

 

[sahnert]

the gen 3 AirPods are the first I’ve owned, so I can’t compare it to earlier models, but “pinch” is exactly how I would describe the controls.

 

[Herrpod]

Yes, pinch. It’s inferior to the previous versions imo, because on the older ones I can just tap below my ear and it registered perfectly. No need to ever hit the AirPods.

 

[edfoo]

If you have read the product description on AirPods 3, you would have found out they are controlled by pinch, not tap like in Gen 1 and 2.