Quick take
The AirPods Pro complaint that shows up most often is not about how they sound on day one — it is about how they age. Three separate owners describe noise cancelling that was excellent at purchase and measurably weaker later, in one case across two different sets. Calls are the other soft spot, with three owners reporting mic problems ranging from Teams meetings to Siri not hearing them. The upside is real too: owners three and four years in still call them comfortable for all-day wear.
Comfort over long sessions and multi-year battery life are the two strengths owners return to, each backed by two independent long-term users.
Comfort-first ANC for commuting and calls, but comfort will not suit everyone
Comfortable, well-integrated in-ears that owners keep for years, undercut by noise cancelling and microphone performance that several owners say degrade with age and dirt. Best suited to buyers who value fit and ecosystem over having the strongest ANC two years from now.
Evidence confidence: Medium.
These signals summarize buyer interest, feedback direction, discussion volume, and whether attention around Apple AirPods Pro appears to be rising, stable, or cooling. Based on 106 public discussions.
Comfort over long sessions and multi-year battery life are the two strengths owners return to, each backed by two independent long-term users.
Noise cancelling that weakens with age and dirt, and microphone performance on calls, are the two problems raised by three owners each. • Total evidence snippets: 23 • Updated Sep 4, 2026
Strengths
Common Complaints
Best for buyers who want premium earbuds that feel effortless for everyday use — calls, commuting, and quick switching between devices who care about battery still strong after 3+ years. Compare alternatives if aNC degrades over time (two sets) would affect your daily use.
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Check local offer Affiliate link — supports the site at no extra cost.These examples show the repeated buying signals behind Apple AirPods Pro. Use them to check strengths, complaints, and buyer fit before treating isolated comments as full reviews. • Updated Sep 4, 2026
Apple AirPods Pro gets its strongest positive signal from battery still strong after 3+ years. The points below summarize why buyers keep it on their shortlist.
Seems like it lasts comfortably for 2–3 years? I bought mine right when the AirPods Pro 2 launched, and I can still get about 3 hours of use.
I’m on Airpods Pro 2 that I bought before the pandemic. Zero complaints, battery still seems like magic (because it’s so good). If anything, I’ll replace the silicone ear tips before I buy another pair. I don’t understand people who claim they only last a few years, I think these people don’t take care of their things. Edit: Correcting myself, I purchased them in 2022, not *before* the pandemic. I think this was around the time that we were finally able to take flights again because I specifically purchased them b
Context Title: holy shit are airpods pro 3 good | Content: Best ear phones I’ve ever had and I hate AirPods
Bose for over-ears, apple for in-ears basically. AirPods Pro 2 were sublime, 3 are still pretty good, not my cup of tea sound wise but very comfy and great ANC. Bose’s earbuds are kind of universally crap, they’re buggy and their sound tuning is preposterous. Conversely, for over-ears, the AirPods Max are heavy and absolutely unwearable if you have thick glasses (too much clamp force) and their tuning is mediocre. But the QC ultra gen 2 on my desk with a -5 bass -5 treble EQ (thanks Resolve!) is amazing, super
Context Title: just picked up the new sennheiser cx 80u usbc | Content: Thanks for your impressions! I haven't listened to them myself yet, so I'm totally open to hearing other people's perspectives. Make sure to get the best possible seal for each ear, though, as that ensures you get the best bass performance out of them (and every IEM, really). That said, they are a budget option, so comparing them with AirPods Pro — which sound great but cost much more — might be a bit of a stretch maybe.
>This is probably old news, but I'm coming from AirPods Pro 1 that would die in a few hours Bro I had a JBL quantum TWS that, after religiously using it for the better part of 3 to 4 months, would literally die 5 secs upon taking them out of their case.
Same for me. Music sounds better on MBA M3 compared to 16 Pro (Airpods Pro 3).
Free Vendor Airpods 1/2/3 Anc If Your Still Looking for A Free Vendor these are great ordered tons in the past and they have the new airpod pro 3 with anc https://share.dhgate.com/RzAju2aaaa airpod pro 3 airpod pro 3
Hey y’all, I am looking for a pair of headphones that I can use for 8+ hours a day. I plow snow in a tractor(kubota L4760 if you’re wondering) for a campus, I find my AirPod pros doing a great job with the noise cancellation but 4-5 hour battery life isn’t ideal because I often have to talk on the phone while I’m running the tractor. So I am looking for something that has a long battery life, noise cancellation while using voice isolation so there’s minimal background noise for iPhone 14/iphone 17 pro max. I don
As the title says, I cannot decide between those two earbuds. I need them for workouts, the train, just everyday life and want very good audio as well as a strong anc. I also want them to last long of course.Technics have better sound, while AirPods better anc and a higher dust and water resistance. So if I want the better sound I am afraid, that there gonna break if I use them in rain or outdoors running in the summer dust. I use an iPhone, if that makes a difference. What is your experience with either one, may
I am in Canada, I need your advice on finding my next headphone or earphone please. I prefer wired ones but wireless would do. Must be compatible to iPhone (usb c). Budget up to $500 Usage: Only for taking calls , literally. I don’t really listen to music on phone. I am in calls all day, one after another. Currently using the same AirPod pro for the last 4 years. I fine it really comfortable for long wears, doesn’t hurt my ears. Problem 1 ( minor inconvenience): Battery life is not very good, embarrassingly di
Check aNC degrades over time (two sets) before buying Apple AirPods Pro, especially if it affects your daily use case.
airpod microphones i've had my airpods pro 3's since launch, and i can't help but notice the mics get very dirty very quickly. i work in landscaping and often times grease and dirt get CAKED into the microphone meshes. this causes my transparency mode to hardly work at all, siri can't understand me unless i yell, and my noise cancellation is weaker from when they were new i was wondering if there was any tips on cleaning out the meshes? i've tried using brushes but nothing works, and i don't want to buy new ones
AirPods Pro charging difficulty I'm experiencing ongoing issues where the AirPods Pro are not charging. Case is fully charged while the AirPods show like 10%. It's either that or one side is fully charged and the other is not. I had the AirPods replaced under warranty and still continue to experience the same issue. I feel like when I take the AirPods out the I have to deliberately force them into the case to make sure they charge. Should I just at this point get a newer model of AirPods? For reference, I had an
How better is the ANC of the Pro 3 is compared to the Pro 1? So, I have been using my Airpods pro 1 for about 6 years or so and Im thinking of upgrading to the 3rd generation. Is it worth the upgrade? My main concerns are battery life and ANC. I feel the anc inside the 1st gen isnt enough to hit the gym. Thank you. Airpods pro 1 Pro 3 Pro 1 Pro 3
Static shock (ESD) completely killed my right AirPod Pro 2 audio. Is this a common winter issue? Hey guys, looking for some insight before I consider upgrading to the next generation. I was riding a bus during winter in South Korea (very dry, low-humidity air). When I touched my right AirPod Pro 2, I got a sharp static shock. Immediately after, the audio in that earbud went completely dead. The weird part? It still charges, and the stem force sensor still clicks and pauses music..just zero sound coming out. It s
AirPods Pro Noise Cancellation Degrading Over Time - Happened on Two Different Sets I've been noticing a frustrating issue with my AirPods Pro, and I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing. When I first got my AirPods Pro, the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) was excellent. It blocked out background noise really well, especially in places like the gym, on public transit, or in busy environments. However, after several months of use, the noise cancellation seems to get noticeably worse. The stra
Airpods pro case not charging Have been using these for 5 years. Randomly last week the case did not want to charge. Cleaned the port, tried different cables, still not charging. Any of you have an idea of what could be the problem? Airpods pro case Airpods pro case
Calls are my top priority for next buds. Airpods Pro SUCK! And I'm a deep apple user… Im fine w my Airpods pro and Max for music. Max are even ok for calls at home but I aint wearing those outside of the house. Im a business developer and need the best earbuds for work CALLS while outside and on the move. Soundcore? TIA for any feedback. Airpods Pro Max Calls are my top priority for next buds. Airpods Pro SUCK! And I'm a deep apple user… Im fine w my Airpods pro and Max for music. Max are even ok for calls at
(Airpods pro) Audio quality suddenly tanked on Windows 11 I have these old Airpods pro from years back. Planning on replacing them soon, but until then their quality suddenly dropped when connected to my laptop. I dont know what to do. It still sounds good when connected to my iphone. But not on my Lenovo Legion. It was working fine just a few hours ago. Fixes I've tried: \- disabled hands free \- disabled airpods microphone \- disabled Bluetooth Audio Gateway under Services Even with gateway disabled on sta
Soundcore A30 vs Apple AirPods Pro for sleeping: Which wins? So, I've been using the Soundcore A30 vs Apple AirPods Pro for sleeping for a while, and I recently picked up a pair of Apple AirPods Pro to compare, mainly for sleeping purposes. I thought I'd share my findings because honestly, I've heard so many mixed opinions about both. Comfort - Soundcore A30 wins hands down. They're lighter, smaller, and I don't even notice them when I'm side sleeping. AirPods Pro are comfy, but they're a bit bulkier, and they te
Repair OG AirPod Pros or upgrade to AirPod Pro 3? I have had my trusty AirPod Pros since late 2020/early 2021 I think… awhile. I have already had to replace one of the buds and now the left one is having issues. It will occasionally burst out with a loud static noise, especially if I am moving quickly. I have to put it back in the case for about a minute to get it to reset itself… it's a pain. I am wondering if it is worth it to upgrade to the APP 3 vs repairing/getting a new left pod. Any thoughts? Is the upgrad
Poor Audio/Mic Quality with AirPods in Native MS Teams App (macOS) - Any real fixes? Hi everyone, I'm a heavy user of the Apple ecosystem and work as an ERP Consultant, so I'm relying on a professional setup for my daily meetings. However, I've been struggling with a persistent issue regarding my **AirPods Pro 3** when using the **native Microsoft Teams app on macOS**. **The Problem:** As soon as I join a call in the native Teams app using both the AirPods for audio output and the internal AirPods microphone, th
I’m looking for new earbuds. I have AirPod pros but I’ve had them for quite some time and they’re starting to go bad. I’m also don’t like spending a ton of money on them like I did with these. I’m looking for the best sound quality I can get for preferably under $150. I use them primarily when I’m running, doing stuff in the yard, or at the gym. Any recommendations would be appreciated. airpod pros under $150 best sound quality earbuds under $150
airpod microphones i've had my airpods pro 3's since launch, and i can't help but notice the mics get very dirty very quickly. i work in landscaping and often times grease and dirt get CAKED into the microphone meshes. this causes my transparency mode to hardly work at all, siri can't understand me unless i yell, and my noise cancellation is weaker from when they were new i was wondering if there was any tips on cleaning out the meshes? i've tried using brushes but nothing works, and i don't want to buy new ones
AirPods Pro charging difficulty I'm experiencing ongoing issues where the AirPods Pro are not charging. Case is fully charged while the AirPods show like 10%. It's either that or one side is fully charged and the other is not. I had the AirPods replaced under warranty and still continue to experience the same issue. I feel like when I take the AirPods out the I have to deliberately force them into the case to make sure they charge. Should I just at this point get a newer model of AirPods? For reference, I had an
Seems like it lasts comfortably for 2–3 years? I bought mine right when the AirPods Pro 2 launched, and I can still get about 3 hours of use.
I’m on Airpods Pro 2 that I bought before the pandemic. Zero complaints, battery still seems like magic (because it’s so good). If anything, I’ll replace the silicone ear tips before I buy another pair. I don’t understand people who claim they only last a few years, I think these people don’t take care of their things. Edit: Correcting myself, I purchased them in 2022, not *before* the pandemic. I think this was around the time that we were finally able to take flights again because I specifically purchased them b
How better is the ANC of the Pro 3 is compared to the Pro 1? So, I have been using my Airpods pro 1 for about 6 years or so and Im thinking of upgrading to the 3rd generation. Is it worth the upgrade? My main concerns are battery life and ANC. I feel the anc inside the 1st gen isnt enough to hit the gym. Thank you. Airpods pro 1 Pro 3 Pro 1 Pro 3
Context Title: holy shit are airpods pro 3 good | Content: Best ear phones I’ve ever had and I hate AirPods
Bose for over-ears, apple for in-ears basically. AirPods Pro 2 were sublime, 3 are still pretty good, not my cup of tea sound wise but very comfy and great ANC. Bose’s earbuds are kind of universally crap, they’re buggy and their sound tuning is preposterous. Conversely, for over-ears, the AirPods Max are heavy and absolutely unwearable if you have thick glasses (too much clamp force) and their tuning is mediocre. But the QC ultra gen 2 on my desk with a -5 bass -5 treble EQ (thanks Resolve!) is amazing, super
Static shock (ESD) completely killed my right AirPod Pro 2 audio. Is this a common winter issue? Hey guys, looking for some insight before I consider upgrading to the next generation. I was riding a bus during winter in South Korea (very dry, low-humidity air). When I touched my right AirPod Pro 2, I got a sharp static shock. Immediately after, the audio in that earbud went completely dead. The weird part? It still charges, and the stem force sensor still clicks and pauses music..just zero sound coming out. It s
AirPods Pro Noise Cancellation Degrading Over Time - Happened on Two Different Sets I've been noticing a frustrating issue with my AirPods Pro, and I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing. When I first got my AirPods Pro, the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) was excellent. It blocked out background noise really well, especially in places like the gym, on public transit, or in busy environments. However, after several months of use, the noise cancellation seems to get noticeably worse. The stra
Airpods pro case not charging Have been using these for 5 years. Randomly last week the case did not want to charge. Cleaned the port, tried different cables, still not charging. Any of you have an idea of what could be the problem? Airpods pro case Airpods pro case
Calls are my top priority for next buds. Airpods Pro SUCK! And I'm a deep apple user… Im fine w my Airpods pro and Max for music. Max are even ok for calls at home but I aint wearing those outside of the house. Im a business developer and need the best earbuds for work CALLS while outside and on the move. Soundcore? TIA for any feedback. Airpods Pro Max Calls are my top priority for next buds. Airpods Pro SUCK! And I'm a deep apple user… Im fine w my Airpods pro and Max for music. Max are even ok for calls at
Context Title: just picked up the new sennheiser cx 80u usbc | Content: Thanks for your impressions! I haven't listened to them myself yet, so I'm totally open to hearing other people's perspectives. Make sure to get the best possible seal for each ear, though, as that ensures you get the best bass performance out of them (and every IEM, really). That said, they are a budget option, so comparing them with AirPods Pro — which sound great but cost much more — might be a bit of a stretch maybe.
>This is probably old news, but I'm coming from AirPods Pro 1 that would die in a few hours Bro I had a JBL quantum TWS that, after religiously using it for the better part of 3 to 4 months, would literally die 5 secs upon taking them out of their case.
(Airpods pro) Audio quality suddenly tanked on Windows 11 I have these old Airpods pro from years back. Planning on replacing them soon, but until then their quality suddenly dropped when connected to my laptop. I dont know what to do. It still sounds good when connected to my iphone. But not on my Lenovo Legion. It was working fine just a few hours ago. Fixes I've tried: \- disabled hands free \- disabled airpods microphone \- disabled Bluetooth Audio Gateway under Services Even with gateway disabled on sta
Soundcore A30 vs Apple AirPods Pro for sleeping: Which wins? So, I've been using the Soundcore A30 vs Apple AirPods Pro for sleeping for a while, and I recently picked up a pair of Apple AirPods Pro to compare, mainly for sleeping purposes. I thought I'd share my findings because honestly, I've heard so many mixed opinions about both. Comfort - Soundcore A30 wins hands down. They're lighter, smaller, and I don't even notice them when I'm side sleeping. AirPods Pro are comfy, but they're a bit bulkier, and they te
Repair OG AirPod Pros or upgrade to AirPod Pro 3? I have had my trusty AirPod Pros since late 2020/early 2021 I think… awhile. I have already had to replace one of the buds and now the left one is having issues. It will occasionally burst out with a loud static noise, especially if I am moving quickly. I have to put it back in the case for about a minute to get it to reset itself… it's a pain. I am wondering if it is worth it to upgrade to the APP 3 vs repairing/getting a new left pod. Any thoughts? Is the upgrad
Poor Audio/Mic Quality with AirPods in Native MS Teams App (macOS) - Any real fixes? Hi everyone, I'm a heavy user of the Apple ecosystem and work as an ERP Consultant, so I'm relying on a professional setup for my daily meetings. However, I've been struggling with a persistent issue regarding my **AirPods Pro 3** when using the **native Microsoft Teams app on macOS**. **The Problem:** As soon as I join a call in the native Teams app using both the AirPods for audio output and the internal AirPods microphone, th
Same for me. Music sounds better on MBA M3 compared to 16 Pro (Airpods Pro 3).
Free Vendor Airpods 1/2/3 Anc If Your Still Looking for A Free Vendor these are great ordered tons in the past and they have the new airpod pro 3 with anc https://share.dhgate.com/RzAju2aaaa airpod pro 3 airpod pro 3
I’m looking for new earbuds. I have AirPod pros but I’ve had them for quite some time and they’re starting to go bad. I’m also don’t like spending a ton of money on them like I did with these. I’m looking for the best sound quality I can get for preferably under $150. I use them primarily when I’m running, doing stuff in the yard, or at the gym. Any recommendations would be appreciated. airpod pros under $150 best sound quality earbuds under $150
Hey y’all, I am looking for a pair of headphones that I can use for 8+ hours a day. I plow snow in a tractor(kubota L4760 if you’re wondering) for a campus, I find my AirPod pros doing a great job with the noise cancellation but 4-5 hour battery life isn’t ideal because I often have to talk on the phone while I’m running the tractor. So I am looking for something that has a long battery life, noise cancellation while using voice isolation so there’s minimal background noise for iPhone 14/iphone 17 pro max. I don
As the title says, I cannot decide between those two earbuds. I need them for workouts, the train, just everyday life and want very good audio as well as a strong anc. I also want them to last long of course.Technics have better sound, while AirPods better anc and a higher dust and water resistance. So if I want the better sound I am afraid, that there gonna break if I use them in rain or outdoors running in the summer dust. I use an iPhone, if that makes a difference. What is your experience with either one, may
I am in Canada, I need your advice on finding my next headphone or earphone please. I prefer wired ones but wireless would do. Must be compatible to iPhone (usb c). Budget up to $500 Usage: Only for taking calls , literally. I don’t really listen to music on phone. I am in calls all day, one after another. Currently using the same AirPod pro for the last 4 years. I fine it really comfortable for long wears, doesn’t hurt my ears. Problem 1 ( minor inconvenience): Battery life is not very good, embarrassingly di
Products frequently compared alongside Apple AirPods Pro:
One buyer weighing both put Technics ahead on sound, AirPods ahead on ANC and water resistance
The upgrade path two owners were weighing once their older Pro units started failing
Same wireless ANC earbud tier, worth a look if fading noise cancelling concerns you
These charts show discussion volume, sentiment direction, momentum, and alternatives so you can judge whether interest in Apple AirPods Pro is rising, stable, or cooling.
What this shows How positive, neutral, and negative opinions about this product are distributed across public discussions.
How to read it Larger areas or segments indicate a bigger share of discussion; green is positive, yellow is mixed, red is negative.
What it suggests here Mostly mixed/neutral overall (Mixed −4%).
Sentiment counts
What this shows How often this product is discussed compared to other products in the same category.
How to read it Longer bars indicate more frequent mentions in public discussions.
What it suggests here One of the most discussed in this category (rank #2).
What this shows How quickly discussion interest is changing, and whether that change is accelerating or slowing down.
How to read it Points further to the right indicate faster velocity; higher points indicate accelerating interest.
What it suggests here Interest is steady, and momentum is cooling.
Quick answers to the main review, complaints, buyer-fit, and comparison questions shoppers ask before choosing Apple AirPods Pro.
Three owners say it does. One reported the same degradation on two different sets, describing ANC that initially blocked gym, transit and busy environments well before weakening. Another working in landscaping traced weaker cancelling and near-useless transparency to grease and dirt caked into the microphone meshes. A six-year first-generation owner also finds the ANC no longer enough for the gym. Keeping the mesh clean appears to matter more than buyers tend to expect.
Owner reports here cluster around two to four years. A 2022 Pro 2 buyer says the battery still seems like magic and estimates two to three comfortable years, still getting roughly three hours per charge, and expects to replace only the silicone tips. Another owner is four years into daily use for calls. On the other side, one owner's charging case failed after five years and another had buds start failing after about four.
This is a reported pattern rather than a one-off. One owner describes the case showing fully charged while the AirPods sit at around ten percent, or one side charging and the other not, and says they have to deliberately force the buds into the case. Notably, the problem continued even after the AirPods were replaced under warranty. A separate owner had the case itself stop charging entirely after five years, surviving a port clean and cable swaps.
This is one of the weakest areas in the evidence. A self-described deep Apple user, who is fine with them for music, says they are not good enough for business calls while outside and on the move. An ERP consultant reports poor audio and mic quality as soon as they join a meeting in the native Teams app on macOS. A third owner finds Siri cannot understand them without shouting once the mic mesh is dirty. If calls are your main use, weigh this carefully.
Comfort is one of the better-supported positives. One owner has used the same pair for four years while in calls all day and describes them as really comfortable for long wears. Another, who prefers Bose over-ears, calls the Pro 2 sublime and the Pro 3 very comfy. The exception is sleeping, where one owner found them bulkier than the Soundcore A30 and prone to pressing into the ears.
One owner hit exactly this after five years of use: the case randomly refused to charge, and cleaning the port and trying different cables made no difference. A separate owner has ongoing intermittent charging issues that survived a warranty replacement. Both point to charging hardware as a real failure mode rather than a rare fluke, though neither reports a fix.
These insights are generated from public Reddit posts and comments, then grouped into recurring praise, complaints, and buying patterns to make the page easier to scan.
Evidence snippets are selected from public discussions and grouped into themes. Counts represent how often a theme appears in the available evidence, not a survey or rating.