Apple launched the AirPods Pro 3 alongside the iPhone 17 series in the September event, promising to be a game-changer. The underlying tech in solid, with the earbuds now able to keep an eye on your health parameters while sounding nicer than ever. However, these new AirPods are now without the usual controversy you expect a new Apple product to accompany these days. Several AirPods Pro 3 users have reported hearing static or white noise sound when the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) mode is switched on. What’s even more concerning is that the sound is evident when there’s no media playing on these earbuds.
The AirPods Pro 3 have been considered to be a significant upgrade over the previous generation AirPods Pro 2. The 3rd generation model has been launched with the same H2 chip from its predecessor and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, but now the buds offer up to 8 hours of listening on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and up to 24 hours total, when you factor in the MagSafe USB-C charging case.
The earbuds support five sizes of foam-infused silicone ear tips (X, XS, M, L) for a better fit and improved acoustic seal. They also include an IP57 rating for dust and water resistance. The new heart-rate sensor for workout tracking is also a point of interest for new buyers. Live Translation is also a big feature that makes the AirPods Pro 3 unique.
AirPods Pro 3 creating noise post-launch
Coming back to the White Noise issue on the AirPods Pro 3, the issue is reportedly prevalent in the ANC, Adaptive and Transparency Modes. Several users have raised the issue on Apple’s Community and Reddit forums, with one user posting, “It’s very strange, I would think it’s defective, but it’s on both ears?? You can switch ANC from on to off, clearly, ANC is quieting down the lower frequencies, but the higher frequencies seem to actually get LOUDER in a quiet room when turning ANC on. It just sounds like I have a small fan on in the room all the time (I do not)”.
Meanwhile, another user posted, “Very pronounced in mine but only in Transparency/Adaptive mode. And only, or at least way more pronounced, in the right one. Had absolutely zero static noise with APP2. Will be returning since I also don’t quite like the new sound profile and they are less comfortable for me.”
While a third posted “I have the same problem. It’s not possible to hear music at a low level around 30 dB because the static is too much. It’s my first pair of AirPods so I can’t compare but only switching the microphones off makes the headphones silent”
Apple’s stance on the controversy
It is unclear at this point in time if all AirPods Pro 3 units are suffering from the same issue. Apple is yet to make any public comment on the issue, despite it being widely circulated on social media. Customers, however, have come up with temporary solutions to bypass the concerns.
– Some users have gone for a replacement, which is applicable within 14 days of purchase. However, most of the users have complained about the issue prevalent on the replaced units too, which is eventually leading people to return the AirPods Pro 3 and settle for the older Pro 2.
– A bunch of customers have advised cleaning the ear canal to solve the issue with white noise. It is suggested that earwax buildup is preventing the redesigned earbuds to struggle in getting a good fit, thereby leading to the hissing noise, or white noise. A good cleanup of the ears, along with the right-sized eartips, can help solve the issue to a larger extent.
– For those who are unable to solve the issue with a cleanup and a software reset, the general implied theory is a defective firmware leading to the static noise. Some users have observed the same even on AirPods Pro 2 after the last firmware update. Apple is yet to comment on this front.
