AirPods Pro 3 Unboxing: Apple Squeezes Even More into a Very Small Case

I ordered the AirPods Pro 3 from Apple.com ($249). The packaging has Apple's familiar profile — a small white box with minimal printing, the product name in grey at the front. The box is noticeably smaller than the Pro 2's — thinner by about 8mm in the height dimension.

Everything in the Box

• AirPods Pro 3 (earbuds in the case) — the case's lid lifts away from the body; the earbuds are seated inside in their orientation guides
• Ear tips in three sizes — XS, S, M, and L. The earbuds ship with M pre-installed. The XS size is new in this generation (the Pro 2 included S/M/L); Apple added the smaller size for users who found S too large
• USB-C charging cable (1 meter) — the same shorter rubber-sleeved cable as the iPhone 17 Pro. It works, but it's not braided and won't win any durability awards
• Documentation card

No adapter for Lightning charging (as expected, the Pro 3 is USB-C only). No power adapter. Same as every AirPods generation since they moved away from Lightning.

The New Case

The Pro 3 case has the same aluminum lanyard loop as the Pro 2, but the case body has been revised. The dimensions are approximately 45.2mm × 60.6mm × 21.7mm vs. the Pro 2's 45.2mm × 60.6mm × 24.9mm — the width and height are identical, but the depth is reduced by 3.2mm. That's not large, but it means the case sits flatter in a pocket and doesn't tent a jacket pocket to the same degree.

The hinge mechanism has been improved. The Pro 2's hinge had a slight resistance to opening from a closed position; the Pro 3's opens more smoothly. There's still a satisfying click when it snaps shut — magnetic and secure, no rattling.

The case supports USB-C charging, MagSafe wireless charging, and Apple Watch charger compatibility (same as Pro 2). The charging port is USB-C on the bottom.

Earbuds: What Changed From Pro 2

Visually, the earbuds are nearly identical — same short stem, same oval driver housing, same swipe control area on the stem. The differences are internal. The Pro 3 runs on the H3 chip vs. the Pro 2's H2. Apple claims 40% improvement in noise cancellation processing and the headline new feature: lossless audio support via Apple Lossless (ALAC) over Bluetooth when paired with an iPhone 17 or later via Ultra Wideband audio routing.

The lossless audio feature requires an iPhone 17 or later running iOS 20+ and doesn't currently work with non-Apple devices. It's a meaningful improvement for Apple ecosystem users who listen to Apple Music at lossless quality; for Spotify or non-Apple users, it doesn't apply.

Transparency mode: noticeably improved on first use. The Pro 2's transparency mode was already good, but the Pro 3's doesn't have the slight latency issue that made phone calls through transparency mode feel slightly off when someone in the same room was speaking. Audio is more immediate and natural.

Fit and First Wear

The ear tip seal has been redesigned slightly — the Pro 3's tips have a slightly smaller inner opening, which means more consistent seating in more ear shapes. I have a small ear canal and the Pro 2 occasionally unseated during exercise; the Pro 3 has been more secure in initial testing. The Fit Test (hold still, play a tone, app confirms seal quality) passed on the first attempt with M tips, which has been inconsistent for me with the Pro 2.

Weight per earbud: 5.3g, same as Pro 2. You don't notice them in the ear during use unless you're concentrating on noticing them.

ANC First Impressions

I tested on a subway commute immediately after unboxing. The Pro 3's ANC at maximum was notably more effective than the Pro 2 in handling the low-frequency rumble of the train — the Pro 2 passed some bass frequencies through that the Pro 3 manages more effectively. Whether this is the H3 chip's improvement or the slightly revised seal geometry, I can't separate from this early testing. Full ANC comparison with measurements in the complete review.