Apple, at its October media event on Monday, unveiled an updated version of the AirPods earbuds, which will offer many of the same features as the AirPods Pro line—at a notably lower cost.
AirPods 3, which will cost $179, are available for preorders starting Monday and shipping next week. Equipped with Dolby Atmos sound, they will use a technology called spatial audio that is meant to further immerse listeners in their music, movies, or whatever audio they’re listening to.
The new AirPods will be sweat and water resistant, Apple said, but it did not give any precise specs on the resistance levels. The battery will also be stronger, with a full charge supporting six hours of listening time. And a five-minute charge will give users another hour of listening time, the company said.
Additionally, the AirPods case will store four full charges, bringing the possible listening time to 30 hours. The case also supports wireless charging.
“It’s a whole new way to experience your favorite music,” said Susmita Dutta, audio engineering program manager at Apple.
The case for the new AirPods will also automatically pair with the user’s Apple device when opened, letting owners begin listening sooner—and without the hassle of going through the pairing process.
While Apple is updating its entry-level AirPods, the previous generation isn’t going away. Second-gen AirPods will continue to be available, for $129. There were no price changes to the AirPods Pro line ($249) or AirPods Max ($549).
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