Apple announces new third-generation AirPods featuring Spatial Audio

Airpods (Image credit: Apple)

What you need to know

Apple has just announced its new third-generation AirPods.
They include a new design and spatial audio.

Apple has just announced its stunning new AirPods 3 featuring spatial audio and an all-new design.

The new AirPods feature a new Force sensor for improved touch controls, as well as a new low distortion driver for improved sound quality. They're sweat and water-resistant and have a new contoured design.

They also feature adaptive EQ, which first debuted in the AirPods Pro. They feature six hours of battery life and 5 minutes of charge will get you an hour's use. The case also provides four full charges for 30 hours of total listening time. They also support MagSafe and wireless charging.

In a press release Apple stated:

Apple today announced the third generation of AirPods featuring spatial audio, delivering advanced features and a magical experience in a new contoured design. By combining the power of the H1 chip with an Apple-designed acoustic system, the new AirPods use computational audio to deliver breakthrough sound with Adaptive EQ. Users can enjoy spatial audio featuring Dolby Atmos in Apple Music, movies, and tv shows, along with dynamic head tracking, across Apple devices. The new AirPods are resistant to sweat and water, and feature a force sensor for easy and intuitive control of music and phone calls. The extended battery life enables up to six hours of listening time1 and up to 30 hours of total listening time with the convenient charging case. AirPods (3rd generation) join the world's most popular family of headphones and are available to order starting today, and in stores beginning Tuesday, October 26.

The new AirPods cost $179 and pre-orders begin today, with a full release next week.

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design.

Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple.