Looking for a great holiday gift for your favorite Apple user? As an iPhone owner, I like my AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3.
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Why do I have both? One pair I typically use at home, while the other I take to the gym and other spots. Though I also have an old pair of regular AirPods, the Pro models offer several advantages, so they’re my go-to earbuds for any situation.
Here are my five favorite AirPods Pro features and how I use them.
Before Apple unveiled the first AirPods Pro model, I originally used the regular AirPods. But I never liked their design. I found the hard plastic tip uncomfortable. Plus, the one-size-fits-all tips never fit my ears properly, causing them to gradually slip out, especially during exercise and other activities.
That’s why I love the flexible in-ear approach of the AirPods Pro. With the right tips for my ears, the AirPods fit comfortably and snugly. That means I can rely on them at the gym, around the house, and while I’m out and about.
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The AirPods Pro include different size tips so you can find the ones with the best fit. The number of tips varies based on the model. The AirPods Pro 1 come with three tips, the Pro 2 with four tips, and the Pro 3 with five tips, all ranging from smallest to largest.
If you ever lose your tips, you can always buy a set from Apple for the Pro 2 or Pro 3. And if you don’t like Apple’s tips, a variety of third-party ones are available.
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To help you choose the right tips, Apple offers an ear tip fit test that analyzes the acoustic seal of the tips and gauges which ones provide the best audio performance. To try this out, remove the current tips of your AirPods Pro by gently pulling them off. Attach different size tips by pushing them in. Place the AirPods in your ears.
On your iPhone, head to Settings, select Bluetooth, and then tap the Info icon for your AirPods. Swipe down the screen to the section for Fit & Comfort. Depending on your model AirPods Pro, tap either “Test Acoustic Seal” or “Ear Tip Fit Test.” The next screen explains how the test works. Tap Continue and then tap the Play button to listen to the sample audio.
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After the test is finished, you’ll be told whether the tips provide a good fit. If you get the green Good Seal mark, you should be set. If not, you’ll be told to adjust the AirPods or try a different tip. Keep at it until you find ones that pass the test. I ultimately went with the larger tips as they provided the best fit for me.
Beyond taking the tip test, make sure the tips you choose feel right. You want the tips to have a comfortable but snug fit so they won’t slip out during physical activities. When I first got my AirPods Pro 3, I took them to the gym, where I tried different tips to see which ones held up best.
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You’re able to adjust the volume on the AirPods Pro through your iPhone or iPad. But if your mobile device isn’t handy, you can more easily do this directly on the AirPods. With your AirPods Pro in your ears, fire up your favorite music. To change the volume, move your fingers up and down on the stem of either AirPod. Moving up increases the volume; moving down decreases it.
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And here’s one trick. Moving both your thumb and forefinger up and down the stem can joggle your AirPods. Instead, I hold the stem with my thumb and use just my forefinger to move up and down.
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The AirPods Pro 3 can sense and display your heart rate during a workout. To enable this, place your AirPods in your ears or just open the lid of the case. Go to Settings, select Bluetooth, and choose the Info icon for your AirPods. Swipe down the screen and turn on the switch for “Heart Rate.”
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The next time you’re working out and want to know your heart rate, open the Workout app on an Apple Watch or the Fitness app on an iPhone and then tap the Workout icon. As you work out, your heart rate will appear in the app. You can also simply ask Siri by saying: “Siri, what’s my heart rate?”
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With an eye toward your health, the AirPods Pro 2 and 3 offer three different options devoted to your hearing. You can take a test to measure your hearing, use your AirPods as a hearing aid, and enable hearing protection.
For the hearing test, tap the Info icon for your AirPods at the Bluetooth settings screen and tap the link for “Take a Hearing Test.” After you get through the setup screens, the test will play a series of three beeps of different frequencies, first in your left ear and then in your right. When done, the results will appear on the screen.
Also: AirPods Pro 3 vs. Powerbeats Pro 2: I tested both heart rate-tracking earbuds, and the winner is not so obvious
With hearing loss an issue as I get older, I periodically run the test to make sure my hearing is on track.
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To use your AirPods as a hearing aid, select the option for “Hearing Assistance.” For this, you can use the results from your prior hearing test or take a new test. Go through the setup screens and then tap the button for “Turn On Hearing Aid.”
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To use the hearing assistance with your AirPods in your ears, open Control Center and tap the ear icon. Choose among Background Sounds, Hearing Assistance, and Live Listen. Try each mode to hear which one best enhances nearby sounds for you. Though I don’t need a hearing aid, I will sometimes use this mode to better hear softer sounds.
To protect your ears from loud sounds, tap the option for “Hearing Protection.” Loud Sound Reduction should automatically be turned on. To enhance this, select the link for “Set Up EN 352 Protection.” Tap the button to turn it on. Though this option is designed for workplaces with loud noises, you can use it to protect your hearing from any consistent sounds that could eventually lead to hearing loss.
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Beyond these five features, there are other things I like about the AirPods Pro. These include Automatic Noise Cancellation, Live Translation, and Adaptive and Transparent audio modes. But these are also available with the AirPods Pro 4 with ANC. For the in-ear design alone, I always turn to my trusty AirPods Pro and then enjoy the other features as icing on the cake.