One AirPods Pro 3 Feature Upgrade Comes With a Catch [Updated] - MacRumors
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One AirPods Pro 3 Feature Upgrade Comes With a Catch [Updated]

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Apple's new AirPods Pro 3 boast a range of new features and improvements that make them a tempting upgrade over previous models, but there's one enhancement that only lives up to its promise if you pair the earbuds with a new iPhone 17.

airpods pro 3 blue
The third-generation AirPods Pro Charging Case is equipped with a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that enables Precision Finding. This feature helps you locate the case using the Find My app at longer distances, in the unfortunate event that you lose or misplace your AirPods Pro 3 somewhere around you. The AirPods Pro 3 Charging Case comes with a built-in speaker, so you can also make it play a sound using ‌Find My‌ to more easily locate it.

Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip actually debuted in the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but the chip's implementation in AirPods Pro 3 is more advanced. According to Apple, it enables a location-tracking range of up to 200 feet/60 meters, which is up to 3× longer range compared to Apple's first-generation U1 chip in the AirPods Pro 2 charging case, AirTag, and other devices.

However, Apple's claim of a 1.5× increase in the distance of Precision Finding only applies when the AirPods Pro 3 are paired with an iPhone 17 – a detail buried in its marketing footnotes. Apple doesn't explain why the improvement doesn't apply when the earbuds are paired with older devices that also have the second-generation chip.

Note that Ultra Wideband isn't universally supported worldwide, therefore Precision Finding won't work in some countries. AirPods Pro 3 are available to pre-order now, with general availability starting on Friday, September 19, when the iPhone 17 lineup also launches.

(Thanks, Mostafa!)

Update: An earlier version of this article queried whether iPhone Air also got the 1.5x improvement when paired with AirPods Pro 3, since Apple's website didn't specify. Apple has since updated its website to explicitly names iPhone Air as supporting the improvement.

Update September 26: Apple has updated its marketing footnote once again to note that the improved Precision Finding is available when used with an iPhone Air or any iPhone 15 or later, with the exception of the iPhone 16e.

Related Roundups: AirPods Pro 3, iPhone 17
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Neutral), iPhone 17 (Neutral)
Related Forums: AirPods, iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

M
MVMNT
12 months ago
The U2 chip only works if you have Songs of Innocence installed on your device
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cibonak Avatar
cibonak
12 months ago
Well well well....
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
t0rqx
12 months ago

Bluetooth 6.0 feature
BS. Its the same chip. Just firmware locked. Just like all the camera enhancements, Stagemanager and AI.

They did the same shizzle with APP2 where the USBC connector miraculously unlocks loss less audio and AVP capabilities.

Classic.

Can't wait for the last "catch" for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

At the moment:

All sleazy tricks have been uncovered for:

iPhone 17 range - battery improvement via Adaptive Power Mode

iPhone Air - Battery improvement adaptive power mode and A19 Pro chip that had been firmware degraded.

Apple Watch 11 - Battery Test manipulation and is an S10 in disguise (which actualy is an S9 and S9 is actually an S6.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Taq'aix Avatar
Taq'aix
12 months ago
No one is going to upgrade for this requirement, except for mansion owners. LOL.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
U
Unggoy Murderer
12 months ago
Wonder if Bluetooth 6 has an advantage that enables a longer range. The 16 Pro's don't have Bluetooth 6.

(AirPods Pro 3 are still 5.3 though.)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dave245 Avatar
Dave245
12 months ago

What's not cool? Apple adding features to new/updated products that weren't available before? This extra distance is likely limited to the iPhone 17 models because of some new hardware they have that older iPhones do not have. Apple adds features to older devices regularly when it can do so via software/firmware but some things require new hardware. In this case, what others speculated about (Bluetooth 6) is a strong candidate for the hardware that helps with the longer distance.
It doesn’t affect me, I’ve still got my AirPods Pro 3 on order, however i think this kind of thing should have been mentioned at the keynote.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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