One AirPods Pro 3 Feature Upgrade Comes With a Catch

Apple's caller AirPods Pro 3 boast a scope of caller features and improvements that marque them a tempting upgrade implicit erstwhile models, but there's 1 enhancement that lone lives up to its committedness if you brace the earbuds with a caller iPhone 17.


The third-generation AirPods Pro Charging Case is equipped with a U2 spot – a second-generation Ultra Wideband spot that enables Precision Finding. This diagnostic helps you find the lawsuit utilizing the Find My app astatine longer distances, successful the unfortunate lawsuit that you suffer oregon misplace your AirPods Pro 3 determination astir you. The AirPods Pro 3 Charging Case comes with a built-in speaker, truthful you tin besides marque it play a dependable utilizing ‌Find My‌ to much easy find it.

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

However, Apple's assertion of a 1.5x summation successful the region of Precision Finding lone applies erstwhile the AirPods Pro 3 are paired with an iPhone 17 – a item buried successful its selling footnotes.

Apple doesn't explicate wherefore the betterment doesn't use erstwhile the earbuds are paired with older devices that besides person the U2 chip. Presumably the caller iPhone Air besides gets the 1.5x betterment erstwhile paired with AirPods Pro 3, but Apple doesn't explicitly accidental so. This whitethorn item a tiny drawback of Apple's refreshed lineup: the caller iPhone Air whitethorn beryllium grouped with iPhone 17 models successful presumption of diagnostic support, yet it doesn't transportation the "17" name. How Apple clarifies it remains to beryllium seen.

• How to Use Precision Finding to Locate AirPods Pro

Note that Ultra Wideband isn't universally supported worldwide, truthful Precision Finding won't enactment successful immoderate countries. AirPods Pro 3 are disposable to pre-order now, with wide availability starting connected Friday, September 19, erstwhile the iPhone 17 lineup besides launches.

(Thanks, Mostafa!)
This article, "One AirPods Pro 3 Feature Upgrade Comes With a Catch" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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