Apple AirPods Pro 3 · problems & reliability report

Apple AirPods Pro 3 problems: what real owners report

27% of 343 verified Apple AirPods Pro 3owners don't recommend it — based on real owner comments from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.

For balance: 51% recommend it. This page collects the complaints so you know what you're signing up for — read the full owner report for both sides. How we score

In owners' own words

They hurt one of my ears no matter what.
JohnnyNorCal on Reddit
I hate them and will be returning them.
CaptainRaxeo on Reddit
I hate the way they sound vs my APP2.
Proreqviem on Reddit
it's objectively worse than the 2
Glum-Art-2203 on Reddit
The fit is awful for me.
SheepSoliciter on Reddit
They’re still worse.
P_Devil on Reddit
iFixit rated them a Zero on repairability and gave them a 2-3 year lifespan....
PSVic on Reddit
turning it on without music and i can hear literaly everything, like its bad AF
almoghasson on Reddit
The 3 make my ears hurt, even with third party softer tips. Can’t stand them.
qalpi on Reddit
I have issues with phone calls they can’t hear me at all until I reset them.
Huge___Milkers on Reddit
Even old wh1000xm4s would be better than airpods pro 3s while being cheaper
_szonator_ on Reddit
They hurt my ear holes. I can’t wear them
djbdb on Reddit

Setup quirks & things to watch for

Not complaints — practical notes from owners that didn't affect the score.

Try doing a hearing test and then setting that up in “hearing aid” mode. While I don’t really have any hearing loss - but it did seem to make a bit of a different to transparency mode
WhoIsJohnSalt on Reddit
Does Apple do returns of worn airpods? I've been uhming and ahhing because I'm worried they won't fit me and I assumed Apple (like most retailers) won't accept returns of used airpods.
WavryWimos on Reddit
My issue with comply is that I had to squish them before I put them in each time. I can’t do that because I take them out and put the in a dozen plus times a day. Do you have to do that?
Rollin60sCrip on Reddit
Also an Android user and been wanting to get a pair. How are the mics for calls in noisy environments? I've heard the call quality is not as good when used on Android phones
keelo1984 on Reddit
Might not be a big deal to some people, but if you’re the type to hang back a bit for major OS upgrades until bugs are ironed out, this is a detail you should be aware of. It’s a papercut.
gplusplus314 on Reddit
Android user here - I have the option for spatial audio and hi-res lossless (24bit/192khz) is there an even higher tier of music quality I'm missing out on in Apple Music?
pwnage2demax on Reddit
You can use the touch controls on the buds to change listening modes and can download apps from play store/APKs that show you the battery in your status bar and some let you change settings
Unfair_Response_2810 on Reddit
They are mimicking foam ear tips I think, that they expand within your ear for maximum seal, which might make some people's ears uncomfortable, either due to pressure or skin contact.
wahahah629 on Reddit
Weighing it up? The full report has the other side — what 51% of owners like about it, who it's for, and every sourced quote. Full Apple AirPods Pro 3 owner report →