AirPods · Standard

2021

AirPods (3rd generation)

Contoured ergonomic redesign, force sensor controls, Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, and Adaptive EQ bring Pro-tier acoustic capabilities to the open-ear standard branch.

Announced
2021-10-18
Family
AirPods
Branch
Standard
Historical weight
Major evolution

Key specifications

Apple verification ↗
Chip / CPU
Apple H1
Ports & charging
Lightning / MagSafe case
Weight
Varies by model
Dimensions
Contoured earbuds + charging case
Original OS
Driver/firmware support
Launch price
$179
Released
October 26, 2021
Discontinued
September 2024

Generation delta

What changed?

Introduced

8
  • Contoured open-ear industrial design

    Shorter stem and refined ergonomic contours direct sound into the ear canal while preserving an open, non-occluding fit without silicone ear tips.

    Silicon
  • Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking

    Gyroscope and accelerometer sensors track head movement to place Dolby Atmos and multichannel audio in fixed 3D space.

    Sensors
  • Adaptive EQ

    Inward-facing microphones measure what the user hears and adjust low- and mid-frequencies in real time to compensate for fit variations.

    Audio
  • Skin-detect sensor

    Advanced optical/capacitive skin-detect sensors accurately distinguish skin from other surfaces (such as pockets or tables), preventing accidental playback.

    Sensors
  • Force sensor stem control

    Squeeze-based force sensor on the stem replaces the tap interaction for music playback and call management.

    Sensors
  • MagSafe Charging Case

    Standard case features magnetic alignment with MagSafe chargers, Qi wireless charging, and Lightning wired charging.

    Connectivity
  • Sweat and water resistance (IPX4)

    Rated IPX4 water resistance for both the earbuds and the charging case.

    Power
  • AAC-ELD audio codec

    Full-HD speech quality for crystal-clear voice communication on FaceTime calls.

    Camera

Changed

2
  • Battery life

    Increased to up to 6 hours of listening time (up from 5 hours) and up to 30 hours total with the charging case.

    Power
  • Acoustic driver

    Custom low-distortion driver paired with a high dynamic range amplifier for cleaner bass and crisp high frequencies.

    Product

Retained

1
  • Apple H1 headphone chip

    Continues utilizing the H1 chip for hands-free "Hey Siri", fast device switching, and audio sharing.

    Silicon

Technology DNA

Ideas carried by this generation.

Canonical predecessor

AirPods (2nd generation) AirPods (3rd generation)

Other lineage references