Are you looking for a great holiday gift for your favorite Apple user? As an iPhone owner, I love my AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3.
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Why do I have both? One pair I usually use at home, while the other I take to the gym and other places. Although I also have an older pair of regular AirPods, the Pro models offer several advantages, so they’re my favorite earbuds for any situation.
Here are my five favorite AirPods Pro features and how I use them.
Before Apple introduced the first AirPods Pro models, I originally used 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 fall out, especially during exercise and other activities.
That’s why I like the flexible in-ear approach of the AirPods Pro. With the right tips for my ears, the AirPods fit snugly and comfortably. This means I can rely on them in the gym, around the house, and when out and about.
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AirPods Pro include different sized tips so you can find the tips that fit best. The number of tips varies depending 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 for the Pro 2 or Pro 3 from Apple. And if you don’t like Apple’s tips, there are a variety of third-party ones 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 finds which tips provide the best audio performance. To try this, remove the current tips of your AirPods Pro by gently pulling on them. Connect the tips of different sizes by pushing them in. Place the AirPods in your ears.
On your iPhone, go to Settings, select Bluetooth, and then tap the information icon for your AirPods. Swipe the screen down for fit and 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 will be told if the tips provide a good fit. If you get the green Good Seal symbol, you should be set. If not, you’ll be asked to adjust the AirPods or try a different tip. Continue this until you find someone who passes the test. I ultimately went with the bigger suggestions because they made the most sense for me.
In addition to taking a tip test, make sure the tips you choose feel right. You want the tips to be comfortable but snug so they don’t slip off during physical activities. When I first got my AirPods Pro 3, I took them to the gym, where I tried different tricks to see which one worked best.
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You are able to adjust the volume on AirPods Pro through your iPhone or iPad. But if your mobile device isn’t useful, you can do it more easily directly on the AirPods. With your AirPods Pro in your ears, play your favorite music. To change the volume, slide your fingers up and down on the stem of either AirPod. Going up increases the volume; Going down it reduces.
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And here’s a trick. Moving both your thumb and forefinger up and down the stem may cause your AirPods to wiggle. Instead, I hold the stem with my thumb and just use my index finger to move up and down.
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AirPods Pro 3 can sense and display your heart rate during a workout. To enable it, place your AirPods in your ears or simply open the case lid. Go to Settings, select Bluetooth, and select 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 Apple Watch or the Fitness app on iPhone, and then tap the Workout icon. As you work out, your heart rate will appear in the app. You can also ask Siri by saying: “Siri, what’s my heart rate?”
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With your health in mind, AirPods Pro 2 and 3 offer three different options dedicated to your hearing. You can take a test to measure your hearing, use your AirPods as a hearing aid, and enable hearing protection.
For a hearing test, tap the information icon for your AirPods on the Bluetooth settings screen and tap the “Test hearing” link. After going through the setup screen, the test will play a series of three beeps of different frequencies, first in your left ear and then in your right ear. On completion, the results will appear on the screen.
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As I get older and my hearing starts to decline, I get tested from time to time to make sure my hearing is fine.
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To use your AirPods as a hearing aid, select the “Hearing Assistance” option. For this, you can use the results of your previous hearing test or take a new test. Go to the setup screen and then tap the “Turn on hearing aid” button.
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To use your in-ear hearing aids with your AirPods, open Control Center and tap the ears icon. Choose between background sound, hearing assistance and live listening. Try each mode to hear which one best enhances surrounding sounds for you. Although I don’t need hearing aids, I will sometimes use this mode to hear quieter sounds better.
To protect your ears from loud noises, tap the “Hearing Protection” option. Loud sound reduction should automatically turn on. To increase this, select the link to “Set up EN 352 protection”. Tap the button to turn it on. Although this option is designed for loud workplaces, you can use it to protect your hearing from any persistent sounds that may eventually lead to hearing loss.
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Besides these five features, there are other things about the AirPods Pro that I like. 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 in-ear design alone, I always turn to my trusty AirPods Pro and then enjoy the other features as icing on the cake.
