Apple announces the third generation of AirPods

Apple has announced the third generation of its wireless AirPods, the latest generation of true wireless earbuds from the hugely popular company.

Priced at $179, the third-generation AirPods are available for pre-order today and go on sale next week.

And with a new design that blends aspects of previous AirPods and AirPods Pro, third-generation AirPods retain tough plastic with a one-size-fits-most ear.

But the look is undergoing a major change for the first time since 2016, with the new earbuds having much shorter stems than before. The headphones are also now water and sweat resistant.

And the battery life has been extended to 6 hours of continuous listening. And with the case, you get a total of 30 hours.

The new 3rd generation AirPods have a redesigned custom driver and adaptive equalizer that automatically adjusts and optimizes the audio output.

The company is focusing heavily on spatial audio and blends Dolby Atmos music with its new AirPods. It supports the same head tracking capabilities as AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.

The original AirPods were released in 2016 followed by the second generation that added wireless charging and other modest improvements. AirPods Pro arrived in 2019 with a traditional in-ear fit with silicone ear tips.

And last year, Apple expanded its AirPods line to cover over-ear headphones for the first time with the launch of AirPods Max at $549.

And there was a lot of pressure for the latest AirPods to maintain the massive popularity of previous generations. The earbuds are popular due to their ease of use and seamless integration with the company’s system of devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV.

But Apple faces stiff competition, especially at lower price points. Aside from the latest alternatives from Samsung, Sony, Amazon, Jabra, and others, newcomers like Nothing have sought to differentiate themselves in terms of design and value with prices starting at around $99.