Apple Sunset

AirPods 3

Discontinued 9 Sept 2024

Latest release

7 Sept 2022

Launch price from

$179

Discontinued

9 Sept 2024

Lifespan

2 years, 10 months

Releases recorded

2

Category
AirPods
Status
Discontinued
Apple support status
Discontinued, not yet Vintage
Release type
Refresh of an existing model
Replaced by
AirPods 4
Official Apple page
No longer available on Apple’s website
Tech specs
Apple specs ↗
Press release
Apple Newsroom ↗
More information
AirPods on Wikipedia ↗

Notes

The AirPods (3rd generation) cost $179 and took their shape from the AirPods Pro without the silicone tip, with a shorter stem and a body contoured to angle the sound into the ear. The force sensor the Pro used for pinching the stem to control playback came across with it.

Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking was introduced on the standard AirPods with this model, having been a Pro feature until then. Adaptive EQ came with it, using a microphone pointed inwards to adjust the low and middle frequencies to the way the earbuds happen to sit in a particular ear.

Both the earbuds and the charging case were rated IPX4 for sweat and water. Battery life ran to six hours of listening, or five with spatial audio switched on, and thirty hours in total with the case.

Apple added a second version of the AirPods (3rd generation) in September 2022, ten dollars cheaper at $169, with a Lightning case in place of the MagSafe one. The earbuds inside were identical and both were sold alongside each other.

It was announced on 18 October 2021 at the ‘Unleashed’ event. Orders opened the same day, while it was released to shops on Tuesday 26 October, priced from $179.

More in AirPods

Release history

All AirPods →

AirPods release history

  1. 2026

  2. 18 Sept 2026

    AirPods 5 ReleasedCurrent

  3. 9 Sept 2026

    AirPods 4 Discontinued

  4. ↑ about 2 years later
  5. 2024

  6. 20 Sept 2024

    AirPods 4 Released

  7. 9 Sept 2024

    AirPods 2 Discontinued

    AirPods 3 Discontinued

  8. ↑ about 2 years later
  9. 2022

  10. 7 Sept 2022

    Lightning charging case added, $169 Released

  11. ↑ 10 months later
  12. 2021

  13. 26 Oct 2021

    MagSafe charging case Released

  14. ↑ 2 years, 7 months later
  15. 2019

  16. 26 Mar 2019

    AirPods 2 Released

  17. 20 Mar 2019

    AirPods Discontinued

  18. ↑ 2 years, 3 months later
  19. 2016

  20. 19 Dec 2016

    AirPods Launch

Generations

GenerationAnnouncedReleasedTime on market
Lightning charging case added, $169 – 7 Sept 2022 2 years
MagSafe charging case 18 Oct 2021 26 Oct 2021 10 months

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