Name: Apple AirPods 3
Brand: Apple
SKU: 0e4712a7-5ab6-4dca-b90c-3622ceb9b209
Price: 159.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 9.1 (38303 reviews)

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$159.99

The Apple AirPods 3 have received mixed reviews from experts. In terms of sound quality, the AirPods 3 offer a well-balanced and pleasing sound signat... more

$92

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Experts recommend OnePlus Buds 3 more than Apple AirPods 3

As of 15 Jan 2025, experts prefer OnePlus Buds 3 over Apple AirPods 3, but both Earbuds have solid expert endorsements.

As per this month's meta ranking, OnePlus Buds 3 received 3 recommendations: from Forbes (19 Dec 2024), Android Central (4 Jan 2025) and Tom's Guide (9 Jan 2025). By contrast, Apple AirPods 3 received only 1 recommendation from Laptop Mag (17 Mar 2023).

Rank	Change	Price	Earbuds	Forbes	Rtings.com	Laptop Mag	What Hi-Fi	Wirecutter	Android Central	The Verge	Tom's Guide	SoundGuys	TechRadar
6	+1	$92	OnePlus Buds 3	2	-	-	-	-	9	-	3	-	-
40	N/A	$160	Apple AirPods 3 The Apple AirPods 3 offer a well-balanced sound signature, mixed noise cancellation performance, mixed comfort reviews, decent battery life, and convenient connectivity features, making them suitable for audiobooks, podcasts, and non-bass-heavy music genres, but not ideal for active noise cancellation or intense workouts.	-	-	9	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Curious to see this month's entire Wireless Earbuds ranking? It's here

About our ranking methodology

Endorsement summary:

On 17 Mar 2023 Laptop Mag ranked Apple AirPods 3 as #9

Rank Earbuds Comment

... ... ...

#9 out of 13 Apple AirPods 3
The best non-ANC premium wireless earbuds

... ... ...

Source: www.laptopmag.com
On 19 Dec 2024 Forbes ranked OnePlus Buds 3 as #2

Rank Earbuds Comment

... ... ...

#2 out of 6 OnePlus Buds 3
Best Budget Wireless Earbuds

... ... ...

Source: www.forbes.com
On 4 Jan 2025 Android Central ranked OnePlus Buds 3 as #9

Rank Earbuds Comment

... ... ...

#9 out of 9 OnePlus Buds 3
Best value

Source: www.androidcentral.com
On 9 Jan 2025 Tom's Guide ranked OnePlus Buds 3 as #3

Rank Earbuds Comment

... ... ...

#3 out of 9 OnePlus Buds 3
$99 noise-cancellers with excellent Android integration

... ... ...

Source: www.tomsguide.com

After counting and adding up the 82 expert endorsements of the January rankings, OnePlus Buds 3 outranks Apple AirPods 3. This is not to say that Apple AirPods 3 is a bad option. Like OnePlus Buds 3, it is recommended by experts, but less.

MetaRanking Common points from expert reviews summarized.

As can be seen below, OnePlus Buds 3 is mentioned by key experts in Jan 2025, while Apple AirPods 3 is not.

Rank	Change	Price	Earbuds	Forbes	Rtings.com	Laptop Mag	What Hi-Fi	Wirecutter	Android Central	The Verge	Tom's Guide	SoundGuys	TechRadar
1	-	$298	Sony WF-1000XM5 The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds have received highly positive expert reviews for their sound quality, noise cancellation capabilities, comfort, battery life, connectivity features, and additional features, making them a top choice for premium true wireless earbuds.	-	1	-	1	-	2	1	1	1	-
2	-	$279	Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are highly praised for their sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, battery life, connectivity, and durability, making them a recommended choice for music enthusiasts who value strong bass and treble, effective noise cancellation, comfort for extended use, and durability for various activities.	1	-	-	5	-	4	3	5	-	4
3	-	$225	Apple AirPods Pro 2 The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are highly praised for their exceptional sound quality, advanced noise cancellation, comfortable design, and convenient features, making them a top choice for everyday use.	-	7	2	7	-	-	5	-	2	6
4	-	$149	Nothing Ear A	-	3	-	-	-	-	2	-	5	2
5	-	Check price	Jabra Elite 10	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	7	3	-
6	+1	$92	OnePlus Buds 3	2	-	-	-	-	9	-	3	-	-
7	+2	$167	Technics EAH-AZ80	-	-	-	-	-	8	-	-	-	1
8	+2	Check price	Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro	3	-	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	7
9	+2	$230	Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are wireless earbuds that offer excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit, making them a great choice for music lovers who want high-quality audio and effective noise cancellation.	-	-	7	-	-	5	-	8	-	-
10	+2	$117	Apple AirPods 4	4	-	-	-	-	-	10	9	-	-
11	+2	Check price	Sony WF-C700N The Sony WF-C700N wireless earbuds offer good sound quality, effective noise cancellation, comfort and stability, and a range of additional features for a personalized and immersive listening experience.	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	2	-	-
12	+2	Check price	Sony WF-C510	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	3
15	+1	$60	EarFun Air Pro 4	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	7	-
16	-10	$59	Soundcore Space A40 The Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds offer advanced features such as hybrid adaptive noise cancellation, touch controls, and customizable EQ, making them a versatile option for high-quality audio in various environments.	-	4	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
17	-9	$169	Beats Fit Pro The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are a great choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who prioritize sound quality, comfort, and functionality during workouts, with a bass-heavy sound profile, effective noise cancellation, secure and comfortable fit, and long battery life.	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	6	-	-
18	-1	$240	Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	4	-	-
19	-1	$399	Bowers & Wilkins Pi8	-	-	-	6	-	-	-	-	-	8
20	-1	Check price	Google Pixel Buds Pro 2	-	-	-	-	-	7	7	-	-	-
Show all rows

Expert Reviews There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. Below are their opinions.

Expert reviews [16]

82

Total expert reviews: 16

with a score: 11
without a score: 5

Highest score by Tom's Guide	90
Average score based on 16 reviews	82
Lowest score by wired.co.uk	60

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20

Expert reviews [9]

80

Total expert reviews: 9

with a score: 2
without a score: 7

Highest score by PCMag	80
Average score based on 9 reviews	80
Lowest score by Trusted Reviews	80

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20

From Seller:

Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you.Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in your ears, you may not obtain the correct sound qualities or call performance. Change the earbud tips to ones that fit more snugly in your ear
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From Seller:

Dual Dynamic Drivers - Experience deep bass and crisp highs with 10.4mm woofers and 6mm tweeters, enhanced by BassWave️ technology.
Personalized Audio Experience - Tailor your audio experience with OnePlus Audio ID 2.0, which creates a custom sound profile based on your unique hearing.
Read more