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The AirPods Pro 3 flight problem

• yokoprime 11mo ago
  I experienced the same thing first time I took them onboard a plane. The APP has so far been a disappointment for me. They do have much better NC, but at the cost of issues like this and worse sound quality
• lastdong 11mo ago
  I completely gave up on APP; previous generation had crackling issues that (eventually) led to a recall. I’ve settled on Sony, which offers great sound quality and effective noise cancellation.
• maplant 11mo ago
  I get this in every day life, but it comes whenever I have to adjust the pods in my ears. But frankly I kinda expected these to pretty much suck until someone comes out with fully foam tips, at which point my problem will be completely solved as I no longer will have a need to adjust them
• lucasban 11mo ago
  For what it’s worth I did not experience this issue on my most recent overseas flights, but I also only wore them at full altitude
• buildbot 11mo ago
  I have this issue intermittently just when walking around, at sea level! I can make them start screaming just by holding them even - The Airpods 2 do not have the same issue.
  • wahnfrieden 11mo ago
    AirPods Pro 1 had that issue
• jshchnz 11mo ago
  This high pitched noise issue happened to me last week using noise cancellation on a flight, but I was using Airpods 4 (not Pro). I think this problem isn't only limited to the Pro models
• lvl155 11mo ago
  OT but Apple is getting worse and worse in all aspects. I hate the fact that I am locked into their monopoly.
  • veidr 11mo ago
    I mean... I did too, but you do know it's actually optional, right?
    • lvl155 11mo ago
      Is it optional? When there is basically Apple and Android? If you add family to the mix then you’re basically stuck with Apple ecosystem. It’s actually nice until something goes wrong and you realize their customer service is awful. They’ve gotten too big. It’s basically a big black box and you’re trapped.
  • letmetweakit 11mo ago
    You are locked in your mind only ...
    • andy99 11mo ago
      Not sure what the OP meant but I too feel locked into them. I dislike both the company and in some cases the product, but they currently provide the least bad option - almost certainly for laptops and probably for phones.
      • cortesoft 11mo ago
        I feel like a provider having the 'lest bad option' is a LOT different than 'locked in'. Locked in means that you are forced to keep using an inferior product even if a better option exists because you can't move your data; not having a better option is something else.
        • herval 11mo ago
          Locked in doesn't imply "inferior", nor it has anything to do with an option being better or worse.
• JKCalhoun 11mo ago
  "The issue would go away for me as soon as I yawn…" So perhaps sealing your ears does not allow your ears to "pop" from the cabin pressure changes?
• tmyrden 11mo ago
  Glad to hear it's not just me. Happened repeatedly on my flights I took last week. I have had all 3 generations of the Pros, this is the first time experiencing this. Also left AirPod only.
• torarnv 11mo ago
  I've flown twice with my new AirPods Pro 3, and both times I had this exact experience; high pitched and loud feedback. They were properly cleaned, and had a "good seal" according to the settings wizard. Glad to see I'm not the only one at least, and hopefully this will be possible to fix as a software update, rather than having to replace the AirPods.
  • jonny_eh 11mo ago
    In which ear(s)?
    • jim180 11mo ago
      Personally, the left ear.
      • jonny_eh 11mo ago
        Seems pretty odd that all the reports are about the left ear.
        • stronglikedan 11mo ago
          with buds, whichever connects first (usually right) is the master, and the other bud connects to that one as the slave, instead of connecting directly to the source device. probably has something to do with that
          • jonny_eh 11mo ago
            Which would hint at a software issue. When it comes to ANC, both should behave identically
      • pugworthy 11mo ago
        Does it matter which side of the plane you are on or how close to the wing (engines) you are? I could imagine an audio difference between left and right if you were sitting at a window near an engine.
• aeternum 11mo ago
  I'm going back to the Airpods Pro 2. Pro 3 is a step backwards, there are these ANC noise issues not only on flights but also during heal-strikes when running down a hill, a staticky thump rather than high-pitched. I've also had other more rare feedback issues. The Pro2s basically never had feedback issues unless you actually rubbed the outside of them.
• alexjplant 11mo ago
  I've not noticed them feeding back while listening but it happens whenever I put them in the case together for a split second. I also get a drop-out every time I walk past certain spots in my apartment building hallway because of what I'm guessing are ultrasonic sensors on fragrance dispensers or light fixtures. Definitely buggier than the previous version but the improvements in sonic accuracy and noise cancellation are well worth the inconvenience IMO.
• crims0n 11mo ago
  Interesting, by description seems fixable in software. I wonder if Apple will disclose the root cause, would be awesome to see a proper writeup.
  • amelius 11mo ago
    LOL, if they share any insight in this problem it will be along the lines of "you're wearing them wrong".
    • zamalek 11mo ago
      There's already [edit: multiple] comments here that are blaming human anatomy, despite the competition not having this issue. No need for Apple to claim it. It amazes me what people are willing to suffer merely because Apple makes it. Flights are one of the core ANC competencies, it boggles the mind that this wasn't found during testing.
    • apetrovic 11mo ago
      I had a buzzing problem with AirPods Pro 1. Apple replaced it (both headphones) after year and a half of use, for free.
• moogly 11mo ago
  Other brands let you recalibrate the ANC on an airplane. It's a thing. Do Apple not let you do this? https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wh1000xm4/v1/en/contents/TP0002752831.html https://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/wh1000xm4/v1/en/contents/TP00...
  • wahnfrieden 11mo ago
    Ya
  • Kirby64 11mo ago
    Other other brands dynamically do this, so you don't need to do any recalibration manually. Bose Ultra headphones, for instance, seem to do this dynamically all the time. You can tell this happens since the ANC slowly ramps up as you get a better seal on your ears.
• iwontberude 11mo ago
  It’s been doing this since AirPods Pro 1, surprised it took author this long to realize it.
  • mcphage 11mo ago
    > surprised it took author this long to realize it I don't think "realize" is the right word here. "Realize" would require them to have been affected by this issue but unaware. Instead, they were not affected with their previous models, only with the new ones.
• behnamoh 11mo ago
  If it ain't broke, don't fix it. AirPods Pro 2 was already perfect. I don't know why Apple chose to "upgrade" it whereas AirPods Max, AirTags, and the Studio Display are all over due for an upgrade.
  • dylan604 11mo ago
    > I don't know why Apple chose to "upgrade" it Of course you do. If they do not constantly upgrade, there are no new sales. Charts must go up, not stay flat. As an example, the venerable Technics 1200 turntable only had a few version releases for fairly minor cosmetic usability items. The core functionality did not change since it was designed. Those versions came with years in between. You buy a pair of those, and you only replaced them when they were stolen. If something broke, you repaired it. Apple's share holders will not be happy with buy once keep forever items.
    • cortesoft 11mo ago
      I don't think it is as simple as saying the demand for constant growth is the reason for this. Even if a manufacturer was a non-profit, if they make a product that never upgrades and can be repaired indefinitely, eventually the demand for new products will drop enough that they simply can't afford to keep making new ones. You can't maintain a manufacturing pipeline for small amounts of product, because there are fixed costs that can't be reduced with reduced production.
  • rangestransform 11mo ago
    I could always have more ANC, I want feedforward ANC so strong that I don’t have to listen to showtimers on the subway (still not there yet)
• mvkel 11mo ago
  I suspect this is fixable in firmware. What I heard on a long haul flight was the faint sound of the plane's engines traveling back and forth down a paper towel tube; a hollow, cavernous sound. It must be so tricky to nail these algorithms, but with the data of millions, it should be easier to triangulate and address.
  • garyfirestorm 11mo ago
    i disagree here - having a feedback loop that makes loud noise instead of cancelling is fundamental failure of their ANC algorithm. There's basically no protection mechanism incase of divergence.
    • mvkel 11mo ago
      If it's an algorithmic issue, can that not be changed?
      • garyfirestorm 11mo ago
        my response was to the 'it should be an easy fix' sentiment. trying to address feedback loop without negatively affecting cancellation performance is extremely challenging, because for a mic/algorithm there's generally no way to determine if the error microphone is picking up a loud event in the environment or if the cancellation soundwave is incorrectly phased and instead of canceling its just adding more noise.
        • mvkel 11mo ago
          By "easier" I meant: "easier than having to recall everyone's AirPods and give them redesigned ones." I guess it's all relative :)
• vessenes 11mo ago
  Interesting. I have roughly 50,000 flight miles on the new AirPods Pro 3, and while I do prefer them to the 2s, I too have some annoyances with the left AirPod. In my case it never feels like it fits my ear canal quite right, to the point that I thought I might want different size tips - after trying all the tips, that's not it. The seal is in fact good, but the different feel is noticeable. The noise cancellation also feels a bit more variable - when it's good it's significantly better, but sometimes I get cycles or loops where the algo doesn't seem to be working right. I was mulling over getting custom tips, but it's a good reminder it might just be easier to downgrade.
  • drcongo 11mo ago
    None of the Apple tips work for me, they all leak outside noise and slip out of my ears. I've tried nearly every 3rd party tip on the market, the AZLA ones are the best but with caveats. The Xelastic tips [0] provide the best comfort, noise cancellation and stay in your ears perfectly, but they wear out and become too soft quickly - like every two to three months. The Max tips [1] are durable, stay in properly, and are so comfortable it's easy to forget you have ear buds in. They're not so great at the noise cancellation though so I tend to use these as my every day tips and swap them for the Xelastics when I'm going on a flight or somewhere where the ANC is more important. I haven't tried the Crystal ones yet. [0] https://store.azla.co.kr/collections/sednaearfit-series/products/xelastec-for-apple https://store.azla.co.kr/collections/sednaearfit-series/prod... [1] https://store.azla.co.kr/collections/airpod-pro-ear-tips/products/max-for-apple https://store.azla.co.kr/collections/airpod-pro-ear-tips/pro... Edit: I didn't know the Crystal ones existed until posting this, so ordering some now to see if they're the best of both worlds. If I remember, I'll report back.
    • js2 11mo ago
      The only thing that works for me is DIY tips. I buy Comply 600 Core Series (size medium), tear the comply foam off the plastic tube, then place the foam around the Apple silicone tips (size large). None of the Apple tips on their own seal correctly, nor do any of the numerous third-party tips that I've tried, including hybrid silicone/foam tips. I get about 6 months out of the foam and they fit in the charging case modified like this.
• enlyth 11mo ago
  I'm also very disappointed with the Airpods Pro 3 I use them mainly for running, and after I accidentally put my Pro 2s through a washer/dryer cycle, I ordered the Pro 3s, but I've noticed they feel heavier in the ears and make this annoying loud thumping sound every time my foot hits the ground, making them almost unusable for my primary purpose Also sometimes I fall asleep in bed with them while listening to a podcast, and have experienced the same painfully loud screeching as described by the article when the microphones brush against the pillow
• bluSCALE4 11mo ago
  Use foam, problem solved.
  • bigstrat2003 11mo ago
    Use normal ass headphones that cost $5, problem solved even better. I think wireless earbuds are the dumbest product ever made. They are worse than normal headphones in every way.
    • sceptic123 11mo ago
      Not every way. For one thing, I've never had a pair of wireless headphones get ripped out of my ears because the cord got snagged.
• hooo 11mo ago
  I tried AP Pro 3 but decided to return them in favor of my v2. The v2 felt more comfortable in my ear and were good enough. I was also disappointed the heartbeat monitor only works while exercising.
• roycomputer 11mo ago
  I along with many others, have been facing a low frequency noise leak when ANC is fully on and music is playing. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/256148548?sortBy=rank https://discussions.apple.com/thread/256148548?sortBy=rank Without playing any music the ANC is stellar, but this bug means the buds are basically unusable as they require reseating in the ear, or toggling to transparency and back to ANC, after a few seconds of listening (if in an environment which has any sort of constant low freq noise)
• numpy-thagoras 11mo ago
  Is it the noise cancellation making a feedback sound, or is it the pressure differential in the ear canal pulling the ear drum back to produce a white noise? He said that it goes away when he yawns, so I'm thinking it might be the pressure differential.
  • keepamovin 11mo ago
    Yawning alters the conformation of the external auditory canal by displacing the mandible, which articulates with the tympanic plate of the temporal bone adjacent to the canal. The seal might be so good that a small pressure differential happens as cabin pressure drops, which causes some issue with the microphone or speaker. Yawning might break that seal, or otherwise cause pressure equalization. Why only the left one? Apple might put some kind of special signal diagnostics or sensors in that side that bugs out under those conditions, or maybe human anatomy on the left side is consistently subtley different in a set of people. Because this doesn't happen to everybody it could be some kind of "instrument effect" where the particular shape of someone's ear canal, and the interaction with their ear drum and the speakers and sensors in the app creates this tone, likely assisted by the constant driving signal of air cabin white noise.
    • giraffe_lady 11mo ago
      > The seal might be so good that a small pressure differential happens as cabin pressure drops That's my guess. I'm very sensitive to pressure changes and I know that cabin pressure on most planes is not constant even when cruising. It's in a range that most people won't notice but it definitely fluctuates near constantly within that band.
• dzink 11mo ago
  The Airpods 2 have a whistle problem for me. Any time someone whistles or anything makes a loud noise I would feel a pressure on my ear that was quite unpleasant and stemming from the airpod. Haven’t tried the 3 but I wonder if it is related.
• spot5010 11mo ago
  A wild guess as to what is happening. I haven’t actually tested this hypothesis so I could be completely wrong. In feedback systems, the gain is a function of frequency, and typically decreases when going from low frequency to high frequency. This is often accompanied by a phase delay. So if the overall gain of the system is high enough, there will be some high frequency where the gain is 1, and the phase is 180 degrees. This would result in positive feedback, amplifying noise at that frequency. Maybe that’s what’s happening in the latest AirPods? If Apple is aggressive cranking up the gain of the noise cancellation system, there’s some high frequency where the noise gets amplified rather than suppressed. The solution would be to either reduce the gain (which reduces the noise cancellation), or to add some differential gain in the system which pushes out the unity gain frequency to higher frequencies.
  • em3rgent0rdr 11mo ago
    Sounds like you are stating https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkhausen_stability_criterion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkhausen_stability_criterion (1921): "if A is the gain of the amplifying element in the circuit and β(jω) is the transfer function of the feedback path, so βA is the loop gain around the feedback loop of the circuit, the circuit will sustain steady-state oscillations only at frequencies for which: 1: The loop gain is equal to unity in absolute magnitude, that is, |βA|=1, and 2: the phase shift around the loop is zero or an integer multiple of 2π: ∠βA=2πn,n∈{0,1,2,…}"
    • em3rgent0rdr 11mo ago
      But you said "phase is 180 degrees" which is 1π, while Barkhausen instead says integer multiple of 2π.
      • spot5010 11mo ago
        Found an article which talks about the phase margin, referencing 80 degrees (pi). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_margin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_margin
  • 11mo ago
• herval 11mo ago
  I bought the airpod pro 3 and returned it after a couple of days. It would make a loud crunching sound every time I move my mouth, probably due to the memory foam moving inside my ear canal. Never experienced anything similar on pro 1 or pro 2. This entire cycle of Apple releases is riddled with puzzling defects - the super scratchable iPhone Pros, the condensation issues on the Air lenses, the Airpod fit and weird noise cancelling issues. I don't recall this level of weird basic defects since the first unibody macs or the butterfly keyboard debacle. Wonder what caused it...
  • a5c11 11mo ago
    Pushing to release something every year. That's a really dumb strategy. Managers forgot about the golden triangle of: "good, cheap, fast", out of which you can pick only two, but they have decided to pick only "fast". I'm using some Apple products, and I'm concerned about the drop in quality. Soon they won't differ much from yet another, Chinese company.
• xeromal 11mo ago
  I have the samsung buds pros and I've noticed a high pitched screech when I put the buds in and I figured it's related to how noise cancelling works. I bet basicappleguy wouldn't hear the noise if the ANC is turned off as a test.
• MrDrone 11mo ago
  I've been on ~4-5 flights since upgrading to the Airpods Pro 3 from the 2 and haven't experienced this, though I had occasionally experienced a similar whine on my Pro 2 that seemed to have been resolved in a software update sometime back. I am surprised by the general negative sentiment for the 3s in this thread. They've felt like a straight and clear upgrade to me. Better fit, better ANC, and much improved battery life. I typically wear mine almost all day so comfort is hugely important to me.
  • EA-3167 11mo ago
    Same here, and I wonder if this is down to shifting pressure in the ear-nose-throat axis. The fact that yawning seems to remediate the issue, and also is a way to equalize pressure, makes me suspicious.
  • acomjean 11mo ago
    I think the general neagtivity might be from a $250 set of headphones that aren’t great in all situations. It’s not just an apple problem, but expensive tech just doesn’t seem to work well. generally apple were kinda the gold standard, now they’re having issues like a lot of tech.
    • jerlam 11mo ago
      I'm surprised of the general positivity of the previous version, also $250. When the Airpods Pro 2 had been out, it seemed like there was non-stop complaining about how every firmware update made the ANC worse, the sound quality was worse than Sony, continual clicks and rattles, and how they were designed for battery failure. Just goes to show how negative opinions travel fast.
    • Liftyee 11mo ago
      Not every expensive device works well, but the tech products that typically work best tend to not be the cheapest ones. There is plenty of subpar expensive tech, but much less top-tier inexpensive stuff. Of course, that doesn't mean it can't suffice for the average user.
  • 11mo ago
• seemaze 11mo ago
  I frequently use my AirPods Pro when working in my shop. Previously the APP2 did a great job of reducing loud tool noise and I could mostly still listen to music or podcasts at reasonable levels. With the APP3, they are largely the same except with the louder tools (circular saw, cordless grinder) they produce a horrific feedback instead of canceling the noise. So much so that I switched back to my APP2 (which do not have this issue in back-to-back testing). This REALLY irks me, as the APP3 are what forced the upgrade to iOS 26 (which is terribly misguided and under-baked), so I'm stuck with all of Apple's foibles and none of their wins. Feel like I got punched in the gut and my lunch money stolen. Not a good feeling Apple.
  • aunty_helen 11mo ago
    I feel a bit the same. I rushed out to upgrade for the better noise cancelling, apparently better mic quality and live translation feature. All three have been a miss. Noise cancelling is much the same and seems to leak higher pitch noises more. Mic is more or less still bad and the live translation only works in doors in a quiet room. And I resent the upgrade to 26 and all of the bugs like phantom notifications. They’re still good ear buds and the noise cancelling is valuable but I shouldn’t have made the upgrade from the 2 pros. Ahh lastly, it seems the case battery depletes much faster now too.
    • bobbylarrybobby 11mo ago
      Apple has done some really shady marketing about live translation because it's also supported on the AirPods Pro 2. It's clear they don't want people to know that to drive the upgrade to the 3s.
      • Bud 11mo ago
        Which shady marketing? Because I found out about the APPro 2 support from Apple.
    • laborcontract 11mo ago
      Seems like you should try and get a replacement
• fionic7 11mo ago
  I have had this happen while on the ground before in a room with a specific frequency of noise
• _sgianelli 11mo ago
  I've had this exact same issue as described but only on longer runs where I've had them in my ears for longer than 3 or 4 hours. When I figured out I could just turn off the pass through or noise cancellations and it'd go away I was relieved but it doesn't seem reserved for pressurized plane cabins. Never had this issue on previous generations.
• dharma1 11mo ago
  put the APP3 through a washing machine recently by accident and they had the high pitched feedback if NC was used until they were fully dry after a couple of days. Have also put APP2 through washing machine before but never had this
• remix2000 11mo ago
  > stupidity-shaped left ears Now I wonder, what could "cleverness-shaped ears" possibly look like? Also funny: my ears can't hold earphones, they just eject them every time I change my facial expression or talk or what-not.
  • lamontcg 11mo ago
    I replaced the silicone tips with memory foam, which fixed this problem for me.
• delBarrio 11mo ago
  Same exact experience here and also with the left AirPod. Everything goes well until the AirPods get just a little bit wet or greasy (say, in the rain, after a run, or a few hours into wearing them) — then the seal loosens and I get a painful high-pitched hum when trying to put it back in it is place. I wonder how safe that sound is bc its pretty uncomfortable. The seal also changes with any significant jaw movement (which I also do a lot in-flight normally) — noticeable degradation of noise cancellation, which then goes away (not sure if its the foam or anc adjusting). Tried to use my AirPods Pro 2 earhooks, which partially solved it - although at the cost of that crispy sound. Found best to just wipe the AirPods dry/gently blow around the grills before adjusting (which makes them unusable for running unless you’re willing to stop all the time). Such a shame every APP iteration has some noticeable flaw. And especially when they solved a similar problem between the first and the second gen.
• Der_Einzige 11mo ago
  These problems don't happen to the chads who don't even bother trying Apple's stupid ear-tip stuff and just use Airpods 4 with noise canceling. You screwed up by trying so hard to make fundamentally anti-ear designs with the pros.
• el_benhameen 11mo ago
  I have this happen outside of flights. Cupping your finger over the ANC mic is enough to trigger it. The new tips (that’s my guess, at least) also transmit vibrations into your ears much more than the old tips or third party memory foam tips. This results in a popping noise when walking or moving around, and a horrible thumping sound when running with them in. I think the latter is partially caused by the “reduce loud noises” feature incorrectly identifying vibrations from heel strikes as loud noise. I’m glad I’m apparently not the only one experiencing these issues. I hope they’re software fixable. I filed a bug report, but radio silence on that, of course. I would sing the praises of the second gen AirPods Pro to anyone who would listen, but the 3rd gen have been a huge disappointment. I had to buy a different set of headphones for running, whereas the second gen were my daily drivers. And I’ve been through three pair of the third gen, so it’s not a one-off issue.
  • Fwirt 11mo ago
    I have been able to trigger it when fumbling around with adjusting the fit. If I run my finger over the top of the body I can get a brief squeal out of them. Happened just a few seconds ago. I also have noticed on multiple occasions that if I take them both out of my ears and cup them in the same hand, they squeal audibly enough to hear faintly from a couple feet away. The skin contact sensor is very sensitive. However, unlike a lot of other commenters in this thread, I feel like the APP3 are a huge leap forward from the APP2 and have had zero regrets with the upgrade (other than the forced iOS 26 upgrade, but I feel like that's inevitable anyway.) They stay in much better, the fit is more comfortable, the battery life is better, the ANC probably drops background noise another 10db subjectively, and most of all, the sound quality is absolutely stellar. I have owned several midrange headphones and a portable DAC and I find myself preferring the AirPods over them. I haven't worn my Sennheisers since I got the APP3.
    • can16358p 11mo ago
      Just curious, which Sennheisers did you give up on in favor of APP3? I have over-the-ear Momentum 3 and love it, but if APP3 provides better sound quality and better ANC I might consider switching as Momentum 3, while I love it, is bulky, heavy, and started to wear off and break down.
• fredoliveira 11mo ago
  Something happened today as I was closing my car door, where I had the Airpods (Pro 3 as well) make this low but extremely loud rumble-like sound. Something related to pressure and seal, perhaps? I could replicate it immediately at will. ANC on, nothing playing, sat on the driver seat and closed my door with a little bit of force.
  • n8cpdx 11mo ago
    I also have this. I haven’t tried with cars, but the ANC seems to really amplify some deep bass sounds from the environment. To the point I hear things I wouldn’t ever notice before (e.g. different states of my air conditioner). The problem is it comes through as an extremely loud rumble, usually in only one ear at a time. Not a high pitched squeal, but a low pitched rumble. Goes away if I remove and reinsert, but immediately comes back in short order. I can make it go away but only by using tips that don’t fit as well, and therefore don’t reduce noise as well (and also fall out of my ears while running).
• elAhmo 11mo ago
  Anecdotal, one of my colleagues was sounding surprisingly clear on one of the calls, and I had to ask him what is he using. Turns out whose were AirPods Pro 3, so my first impression with their microphone is quite amazing. Comparable to "studio mics from MBP" from a generation or two ago. He shared noise cancellation is also great.
  • cactusplant7374 11mo ago
    At first I liked the noise cancellation on the AirPods 4 but after a while I started feeling weird. A weird, fullness in my head. Not very enjoyable.
  • tecleandor 11mo ago
    It might also be because newer Bluetooth codecs being used. I think Apple doesn't publish a lot of documentation about it (or it isn't obvious, at least...)
    • elAhmo 11mo ago
      Could be the case, but it is very obvious if someone is using Pros 1 or 2, the audio is really bad. This was honestly such a jump that I somehow wish my Pros 1 to break so I can get new ones :D Can't upgrade from a perfectly working set of headphones, although they are more than four years old and probably my 2nd most used device after the phone.
  • Tepix 11mo ago
    Probably Airpods Pro 3 then and not Airpods 3. The latter have no noise cancellation.
    • elAhmo 11mo ago
      yup, edited my comment, it was Pros
• deleted 11mo ago
  [deleted]
• semiinfinitely 11mo ago
  I've had this issue with AirPods 2
• wil421 11mo ago
  The same issue happens to me at my house.
• cbeach 11mo ago
  Just one data point, but I was on a flight this weekend and AirPods Pro 3 worked fine for me with ANC. No feedback or other noises, just a slight bit of wind noise when the overhead air duct was directed straight at my head (so I angled the duct slightly away from me).
• hnlmorg 11mo ago
  Completely off topic, but when did people start calling earphones “headphones”? Headphones are the cans that cup your ears and strap around or over the head. Hence their name. Whereas earphones go inside your ear.
  • beala 11mo ago
    I use them interchangeably. Webster appears to back me up here. However, I only say earbud when referring to the type that's inserted into the ear.
  • slg 11mo ago
    I'm not sure if this is a "when did people start" situation. I have never heard a layman use "earphones" in casual conversation.
    • hnlmorg 11mo ago
      People definitely used to. Or at least in the UK they did.
      • wk_end 11mo ago
        Yeah, might be a UK thing. In Canada/the US I've only ever heard "headphones" and "earbuds" (a specific kind of headphone).
        • hnlmorg 11mo ago
          That would explain my surprise then. :)
      • slg 11mo ago
        Another example of us being separated by a common language. I don't think this has ever been common in the US.
        • simmons 11mo ago
• Fwirt 11mo ago
  Something interesting occurs to me. Many of the anecdotes about the squealing on flights says the noise goes away when yawning. Yawning lifts the soft palate and equalizes ambient pressure behind the eardrum in the sinuses. Air pressure is lower in a pressurized airplane cabin than on the ground and is usually more dynamic as well. I wonder if an air pressure gradient forms in the ear canal when in the air that exacerbates the ANC feedback issues that users (myself included) are experiencing on the ground. I feel like there must be some interaction between the multiple microphones due to vibration transmitted through the body of the Airpods. Since it seems to be an ANC issue it should be fixable in software.
  • ofcrpls 11mo ago
    I discovered another way to remove this problem - Initiate a screen recording and it's gone. I was doing this to report a TestFlight app bug on a flight I was experiencing and wow did the ANC improve so much.
    • OGWhales 11mo ago
      That's pretty peculiar... the ANC worked still it just got rid of this issue? I don't have any guesses why that would be.
  • cozzyd 11mo ago
    The acoustic importance mismatch may result in the wrong gain?
    • cozzyd 11mo ago
      And now realizing a day later impedance got autocorrected to importance somehow :(
• vcanales 11mo ago
  I use these at night, sleeping with them on. I experienced this screeching intermittently for like a week, and then it went away almost completely. Now, it only happens if I lay down in a very specific way. It's probably related to the strength of the seal in my case, and maybe at higher altitudes and different pressures the seal is affected in a similar way. The seal might have improved for me the more I used the same eartips
• jamies888888 11mo ago
  I had to return my AirPods Pro 3. I upgraded from AirPods 4 with ANC and they were worse in every department I could see. I assume battery life is better, but I've never ran out of battery anyway. I've never much got on with in-ear rubber tips, and these were no different to any I've tried, despite reviews stating they were super comfortable. My left ear is also worse to get it fitting right than my right ear. I have tried every size provided, none seem right. A grimace in the gym is enough to unseat even the most secure fit/seal, in either ear. My main gripes specifically with AirPods Pro 3, which I've not seen in any other review; - Because the rubber tips vary in size, the case has to accommodate the largest. This means if you're using small tips, there's a lot of spare room, which means the AirPods can easily be mis-seated, breaking the charge connection. - The case is substantially bigger than AirPods 4 with ANC. I would say ~40%. - The volume swipe on the stalk action is very tricky to trigger. - Any stalk action is a bad idea when it's so easy to unseat them. I skip songs with a double press regularly, and nearly every time I had to push in and rotate after.
  • HelloMcFly 11mo ago
    > This means if you're using small tips, there's a lot of spare room, which means the AirPods can easily be mis-seated, breaking the charge connection. I've used many headphones - probably upwards of 10 pairs cross 5 brands - in my day with rubber tips that can accommodate multiple sizes. This has never been a problem for me with any brand. I've switched to open ear headphones (over-ear for flights) since last year so my knowledge base is aging. Is the magnetic action in Apple's case not strong enough, maybe?
  • stronglikedan 11mo ago
    > I've never much got on with in-ear rubber tips, That's a shame since it's literally impossible to get that deep sub bass or punchy mid bass without a seal. But if you're not into genres that sound better with that, then you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
• joecool1029 11mo ago
  Wonder if it's humidity related. Besides the lower pressure, commercial aircraft are usually single digit % humidity due to use of dry bleed air to pressurize the cabin. Besides the effect on sealing, I wonder if there's an effect on acoustics that the ANC has to contend with. It would possibly explain some of the other people facing the same issues at home.
• temp0826 11mo ago
  I became fed up with my airpods (and bluetooth earbuds in general) and switched to some great (albeit definitely not new and definitely not high end) IEMs and couldn't be happier. I was worried about losing the noise canceling but it turns out to not matter in the slightest with IEMs with proper tips on them, the isolation is unbelievable. Not dealing with battery life and charging issues anymore is worth it alone. The absurd price difference is a great bonus too.
  • gwbas1c 11mo ago
    What's an IEM?
    • temp0826 11mo ago
      "In-ear monitor", fancy buzzword for earbud afaict (I am definitely not a part of the audiophile scene and am not sure if there is actually a difference there, except maybe they insert very deep in the ear canal and have excellent isolation).
      • redwall_hp 11mo ago
        They're musicians' tools. Playing live music is absolutely destructive to your hearing, and ear protection is required. IEMs are a combination of protective equipment (many are designed the same way as concert earplugs) and earphone, so you can hear a clear signal from the mixing board at a safe volume, while shutting out the house speakers' insane noise levels. Before IEMs were common, the norm was (hopefully) ear plugs and having monitoring speakers pointed at the musicians from the floor. IEMs can be made in the concert earplug style, which is usually a center pair with 3-4 layers of rubber domes like typical earbuds. Or you can pay more and have custom molds made of your ears, so ones can be made to perfectly fit. "Monitor" also has certain implications in audio. Usually something designed for monitoring will have a flat frequency response, while most consumer gear has aggressive EQ curves that do things like boosting bass. (Most people will think monitors "sound bad," while the lack of sound tampering is essential for performance and mixing.)
      • 11mo ago
• jherskovic 11mo ago
  Love my APP3, upgraded from APP2 and have only one regret... no Comply Foam tips available yet. Why does Apple not go all-in on memory foam, I dunno, but at least the APP2 version was so much better it's not even funny. With the Apple XS tips, which otherwise fit well for me, any yawn means the APP3 fall out.
• Liftyee 11mo ago
  Sidenote from an observer since I don't use AirPods (or any other Apple device, for that matter). I've been seeing more "Apple design problem" articles around the latest release cycle. It seems out of line for a company whose main advantage is attention to detail and UX (which you pay dearly for). I'm always reminded of dystopian stories by Doctorow et al. when the frequency of brand name usage exceeds a certain threshold, and this article certainly did that.
• thenobsta 11mo ago
  :( I recently lost my APP1 and was going to buy new airpods this week. I guess I'm going to look elsewhere until Apple improves their quality. I'm one of the few that are bothered by ANC, so I don't use it. But I also don't want to buy/support a subpar product release.
  • deleted 11mo ago
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  • falkensmaize 11mo ago
    This is not an ad, just personal experience, but I went through two pairs of AirPod Pro 2s in the last couple of years and both developed problems outside of warranty. I bought a pair of Earfuns from Amazon and they’re honestly pretty great. 95% of the sound quality and functionality of AirPod pros for about 25% of the price.
    • thenobsta 11mo ago
      Thanks for the report! This iteration of earphones will be the Honda civic of ears phones, not the BMW.
    • austhrow743 11mo ago
      >and functionality of AirPod pros Is the automatic connection and switching between devices equivalent?
      • falkensmaize 11mo ago
        Yes actually. That was one of my biggest annoyances with non-Apple earbuds in the past, but these actually do seamlessly connect to all my Apple devices and switch quickly and reliably to the active device.
        • austhrow743 11mo ago
          Thanks and same, the ones I'd tried previously were very annoying to get and stay connected when I wanted them to and not when I didn't want them to. I actually ordered the airpod pro 3s the day before seeing this thread. If they don't blow me away I'll be returning them and getting these. Although I don't know how I'm going to test the flight problem. I don't have any coming up in the next couple weeks. Might have to return even if they do blow me away :/
• gwbas1c 11mo ago
  This just sounds like the fallacy of ignoring corner / minority use cases. A minority of users might encounter a flaw in a corner case, but if that's an important corner case, it's a defect: IE, Airpods might only be used on flights 1% of the time, but for the people who use them on flights, it's a very important (and hyper-critical) use case.
• surfsvammel 11mo ago
  I have this exact problem, my colleague does not. I also noticed yawning helped. I gave my old AirPods to my ex :( I miss them.
• jsbisviewtiful 11mo ago
  Anecdotal, but recently gave up on AirPods and moved over to Beats Fit Pro to get similar feature parity with my iPhone. Thus far, the Beats fit way better than either my AirPod 2 or AirPod Pro 1's ever did. ANC and the lack of an extra mic are ever so slightly worse, but the battery life and fit are so much better. My $250 AirPod Pros had to be exchanged for a battery defect within 3 months and were regularly falling out during runs... I don't think I will be buying AirPods again, but anyone struggling with them should scope the Beats line.
• treetalker 11mo ago
  I am surprised that Apple did not test in a way that revealed these problems (testing around a variety of loud noises, and especially testing on airplanes, where the product is used a lot). And I am surprised that, if they did do the testing, they shipped anyway. But I am becoming less and less surprised via-à-vis Apple problems, because they seem to be occurring with increasing frequency. Apple, take note.
• jdelman 11mo ago
  I've noticed a big problem with AirPods Pro 3 on the NYC subway. Maybe my fit isn't right, but Adaptive/Transparent mode is a lot less "transparent" with really loud background noise - I can tell I'm listening to a processed signal rather than the natural muted sound of the AirPods Pro 2.
• nadis 11mo ago
  > This entry was written at 33,000 feet while flying over the Canadian Rockies. Respect the commitment to the craft! Also useful / timely knowledge for me, thank you. I have a big international trip with multiple longhaul flights coming up and was debating if I should upgrade my airpods or consider something else (e.g. overear headphones). Do folks have overear recommendations?
• brundolf 11mo ago
  I had something similar happen after sleeping a few times with my first-gen airpods pro. I think something must have gotten filled with earwax or something, because the noise cancelling got more and more broken and had more sudden sharp sounds until they were unusable But since then I've had two pairs of airpods pro 2 and bought the 3s on the first day, and I've had no such issues with any of them, including sleeping, and flying twice with the 3's so far. YMMV
• Traubenfuchs 11mo ago
  - I can't jog with the APP3: the new tips transmit too much of the impact vibration into my ear, creating a painful noise sensation that can not be healthy. Same for walking sometimes! It makes me walk carefully and weirdly. - Certain type of noise, like strongly vibrating idioit cars and idiot motorbikes also create some very painful feedback noise that makes me take them out when I need them most. - I too experienced this horrible screeching, but I wasn't doing anything specialy. Cupping them made it worse, taking the out and in again did not help. I put them back in the case and a few hours later this issue disappeared. To me, the APP3 feel half broken and dangerous, I regret buying them, I wish I would have bought just another set of APP2. It was one of the most anticipated Apple upgrades of all times and they dropped the ball.
• pugworthy 11mo ago
  Hearing Aid wearer here. Welcome to the occasional whine because something doesn't quite sit right.
• tomcam 11mo ago
  I get this same problem (whistling sound) coming from my AirPods Max headsets. I think it has something to do with partially obscuring the mic.
• suchar 11mo ago
  In my case (although I have not yet flown with APP3) the ANC works great, however, transparency mode (and adaptive mode) have issue with a noise. In a silent room I hear quiet noise in transparency mode (not present in ANC nor in "Off") which wasn't present in APP1. I tried different tips Also, transparency mode felt more "natural" in APP1 in comparison to APP3. Currently it feels like a downgrade from APP1 (unfortunately my pair of APP1 broke recently), because I used transparency a lot and it feels worse
• nick-sta 11mo ago
  I’ve also had this sound on my 3s, but only when handling them before putting them in my ears. I’d say it’s happened at least 10-15 times, and every time I’ve thought it’s so loud it’d do damage if it was in my ears. Anecdotally I’ve done four 11+ hour flights with them so far and they’ve been super solid on the plane - no issues there. Edit: here’s what I mean - https://youtube.com/shorts/VvEjetlYwa8 https://youtube.com/shorts/VvEjetlYwa8
• prmoustache 11mo ago
  ewaste
• eek2121 11mo ago
  Unrelated: Apple appears to be cursed with the left ear. 2nd gen has an issue as well. The left ear bud will stop charging randomly. There are a lot of really dumb suggestions for fixing this, however the real issue is a bent pin in the case. I had 2 v2 pros, and fixed another 5 on top of my second one (first one died in the washer) by taking a pair of tweezers and bending the pin in the case upwards. Every single website I read suggested dirty contacts, performing a factory reset, etc. NOPE! Unbend the pin. Gently, mind you. Since I did that, both of my pairs of pros (one belongs to my wife, however she doesn't like earbuds) have worked flawlessly.
• kevinherron 11mo ago
  I flew to NYC and back last week and never experienced anything like this with mine shrug The 3s have been an improvement on the 2s for me, especially in fit and feel in ear.
• plandis 11mo ago
  I can reproduce this by covering one of the exterior mics used for ANC when there is a decent amount of background noise in the environment. It results in feedback that causes a high pitch ringing. The AirPods Pro 2 don’t have this same issue. I can’t reproduce the same behavior regardless of how I cover the exterior on the pro 2s.
• Lucian6 11mo ago
  I've run into similar interference issues when building real-time audio processing systems. The AirPods Pro's use of Bluetooth 5.3 in the 2.4GHz band makes them particularly susceptible to Wi-Fi interference, especially on planes where you have dozens of devices competing in a metal tube. One mitigation strategy we found effective was implementing dynamic frequency hopping with adaptive channel selection. By monitoring RSSI levels and packet loss rates across different channels (typically seeing -85 to -95 dBm on crowded channels vs -65 to -75 dBm on clear ones), we could proactively switch to less congested frequencies. This reduced dropout rates by about 70% in high-interference environments. The real challenge is balancing frequency agility with audio latency - each hop adds ~2-3ms of overhead. Has anyone experimented with using the 5GHz band for wireless audio? The higher frequency would mean more attenuation but potentially much less interference.
• not4uffin 11mo ago
  And another headline making me not regret my purchase of the AirPods Pro 2 from a couple months ago.
• Ostrogoth 11mo ago
  I’ve experiencing this same issue on every flight now using APP3, and considering returning. Tried multiple different ear tip sizes. Reset and re-paired. It’s not just pressure changes, as it occurs at steady altitude in addition to ascending and descending. I’m very surprised Apple didn’t catch this issue by testing the ANC on aircraft more extensively during product testing, since that is an extremely common use case for ANC headphones. They also generate weird popping/thumping noises while running, or tinny echoes sometimes while scratching my head. Hopefully there is a software fix. AP1 ANC worked just fine (until case failed to charge left earbud).
• conductr 11mo ago
  I’ve never understood the hype around AirPods noise cancellation. It’s been noticeably worse than Bose from the beginning and I just keep going back to Bose. I don’t know how others may rank, but it’s just that I was using Bose noise cancellation headphones since before Apple got into headphones and as much as I like the form factor of AirPods every time I use them on a flight or something I feel like I’m punishing myself for not using the Bose ones. Have always been curious if I’m alone in this as so many people sing praises for AirPod Pros, anyone else relate?
  • locusofself 11mo ago
    are you comparing bose over-ear headphones to airpods or bose earbuds?
    • osamagirl69 11mo ago
      Not OP but I have had a set of the bose noise canceling earbuds that I have worn 5 days a a week for over 5 years now and absolutely love them. Noise canceling is excellent, comparable to the over-the-ear-style. My main complaint is the onboarding process really pushes you to install their app. It is entirely unnecessary (can configure them by various tap codes) but still annoying they don't tell you that until you install the app...
    • conductr 11mo ago
      I have both. Over the ear is better but the earbuds that are 10+ years old are also better than recent APP2. I’ve not tried 3 and probably won’t. The form factor is ridiculous by APP2 standards. There’s a corded stick that I assume has all the components in it as back then they wouldn’t fit in earbuds themselves. That’s apples main innovation. But, honestly, when I’m on a flight I will take a 10% performance boost over a slicker design or smaller form factor. My guess is they’re at least 50% better and only slightly inferior to over the ear ones. All said, I usually just take my over the ear bose on a flight. I got the APP2 specifically for that purpose but they are awful in my opinion. About once a year I make the mistake of trying them out again and immediately regret it before the plane even starts taxiing.
  • 11mo ago
• refurb 11mo ago
  Closed cell foam is used in the AirPods? At the higher cabin altitude, the foam is going to expand slightly, messing up the fit?
• ddlutz 11mo ago
  God I have a similar problem with APP3 on flights only. They seem to allow in this deep rumble vibration that my APP2 did not :( Otherwise the APP3 are much better in office, home, etc.
• larusso 11mo ago
  I was temped to upgrade from my 2nd gen AirPodPros which I use since they launched. Still use the same set. But I wanted to wait for some real world reviews. I also have the Max and love them. But sound quality and ANC is not as great as in the In-Ears which is rather funny. I have no real need to switch yet. But I actually thought to give them a try at around Christmas. But I planned to use mine for running and air travel as well…
• LetMeLogin 11mo ago
  I have experienced this as well. However, I wasn't sure where I should report it. Warranty? Bug? I'm fairly new to the Apple ecosystem, so it's quite confusing. I've tried raising an issue with warranty, but I could absolutely not find a place to do it(I had a few tries, installed some app, but I wasn't able to create anything that wouldn't be visited in the shop, just a support request)
• gkanai 11mo ago
  I used to be first to try out new Apple products. Now I wait for OS upgrades and will let others try new Apple products or major software updates. Too many times Cupertino has let users down with poorly tested software. This problem with the Airpods- it should have been caught if this many people are experiencing the same problem. Apple doesn't deserve the share price it enjoys.
• RamblingCTO 11mo ago
  I've had the squeal with the first and second gen as well. But only after they fell into water when washing hands.
• Bud 11mo ago
  Not sure what is up with this, but I just flew from Italy to the US with my AirPods Pro 3 and did not experience any issues. So it's apparently not present 100% of the time. Also: battery life is VASTLY improved on the APP 3. Rated time is 8 hrs and I'm getting closer to 9.
• RataNova 11mo ago
  The fact that it's mostly reported in the left AirPod is also oddly specific
• ubermonkey 11mo ago
  I'm a little bougie I guess b/c I never use my AirPods Pro on planes. I have Airpods Max for that. ;)
  • patokkuyak 11mo ago
    [dead]
• etothet 11mo ago
  I recently went into an Apple store to try the new 3’s with my 2’s ready for a side-by-side comparison. I had heard mixed reviews about sound quality, fit, and the ANC. I was prepared to hear at best an incremental improvement, but boy was I surprised. To my ears, the sound stage is so much wider and the ANC is noticeably better. The fit is definitely different though and it took a bit of trial and error to get the correct size tips.
• HumblyTossed 11mo ago
  You can't buy different tips?
• Bobaso 11mo ago
  I also have the high pitch noise issue on my Samsung galaxy buds 2 Pro
• qyckudnefDi5 11mo ago
  I'm curious for everyone who upgraded from a previous generation, what did you do with your old pair? AFAIK Apple doesn't do AirPods trade-in.
• saargrin 11mo ago
  didnt happen to me so far