AirPods Pro 3 upgrades impress but comfort takes a big hit

I like so many things about Apple’s newly launched AirPods Pro 3. The battery life feels lifetimes better compared with last year’s Pro 2 version. The adaptive noise cancellation is genius for blocking out plane engines, barking dogs and people who chew too loudly. There’s even a live-translation feature that can turn conversations in another language into instant subtitles on your iPhone.

All that stuff is great as far as upgrades go. My ears, however, want to lodge a formal complaint.

The new AirPods Pro 3 just don’t fit my wee little ear-holes as well as the last ones did. The small tips fall out, the mediums feel too firm, and the whole “perfect seal” thing is suddenly a lot less comfortable.

The fit problem

They come out of the box with the medium size tips in place and I tried those first. I noticed the difference in the fit immediately. I quickly switched over to the larger size, then the smaller ones. The larger ones sat outside my ear canal and promptly fell out onto the floor. The smaller ones felt like I jabbed a Q-Tip in my ear. None of them strike that “just right” balance that I want and need — and that last year’s generation provided.

It’s not just me either. Since the earbuds hit stores in late September 2025, Reddit threads and Apple forums alike are chock full of people reporting sore ears, irritation and even small scratches. Also, just like me, people complain of not finding the right size and the new tips falling out much more easily. Apple hasn’t publicly commented on the reports.

What changed?

Apple actually made the new tips firmer — less squishy — on purpose. According to MacRumors, the new design uses a patented process that embeds a thin layer of foam inside the silicone. That’s supposed to give the buds a tighter seal, richer sound and stronger noise cancellation. Great in theory. Less great if, like me, you have smaller, more sensitive ears.

Déjà vu for longtime owners?

These complaints may feel familiar. Apple’s first-generation AirPods Pro, released in 2019, suffered from crackling or static sounds and a loss of active noise cancellation. That led to an official service program for units made before October 2020, which remains active on Apple’s support site. No similar repair or replacement plan exists yet for the Pro 3.

What you can do

If you experience pain, audiologists recommend taking the earbuds out immediately and checking for redness or small abrasions. Try different tip sizes and run the Acoustic Seal Test for AirPods Pro 3.

Apple support walks through the best way to do this:

• With your AirPods Pro in your ears and connected to your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
• Tap the More Info button next to your AirPods in the list of devices.
• If you have AirPods Pro 1 or AirPods Pro 2, tap Ear Tip Fit Test. If you have AirPods Pro 3 and iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, tap Acoustic Seal Test.
• If you don't see the Ear Tip Fit Test or the Acoustic Seal Test, make sure that you have iOS or iPadOS 13.2 or later.
• Tap Continue, then tap the Play button.

Apple says that if the test suggests adjusting or trying a different ear tip, try adjusting your AirPods Pro and testing again. Then try a different size. They een suggest that you might need different sizes for your left and right ears.

Third-party tip upgrades

Still no luck getting a comfortable fit? You’re not alone. Fortunately, a few aftermarket accessories can make all the difference.

• Comply Foam Tips ($25): memory-foam tips that mold to your ear canal for comfort and better isolation.
• Dekoni Bulletz Tips ($30): denser foam for maximum noise blocking.
• CharJenPro AirFoams ($20): a hybrid silicone-foam blend that balances softness and stability.
• Ear Hooks (from Spigen or Elago): silicone loops that secure the buds without extra ear-canal pressure.

The bottom line

The AirPods Pro 3 sound fantastic, last longer and show off some serious AI smarts. But the firmer ear-tips they won’t feel perfect for everyone. Until Apple introduces alternative tips or another service update, comfort may come down to trial, error and a few aftermarket tweaks.

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air contributor for The Today Show. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her via Techish.com or @JennJolly on Instagram.