4 ms·

I have this happen outside of flights. Cupping your finger over the ANC mic is enough to trigger it. The new tips (that’s my guess, at least) also transmit vib

I have this happen outside of flights. Cupping your finger over the ANC mic is enough to trigger it. The new tips (that’s my guess, at least) also transmit vibrations into your ears much more than the old tips or third party memory foam tips. This results in a popping noise when walking or moving around, and a horrible thumping sound when running with them in. I think the latter is partially caused by the “reduce loud noises” feature incorrectly identifying vibrations from heel strikes as loud noise. I’m glad I’m apparently not the only one experiencing these issues. I hope they’re software fixable. I filed a bug report, but radio silence on that, of course. I would sing the praises of the second gen AirPods Pro to anyone who would listen, but the 3rd gen have been a huge disappointment. I had to buy a different set of headphones for running, whereas the second gen were my daily drivers. And I’ve been through three pair of the third gen, so it’s not a one-off issue.

snug 1y ago
I've been able to get this same issue when I am laying in bed and lay on my side where my APP rub against the pillow. I've been able to reliably make the screeching sound by putting one airpod in my hand and tumbling it around or opening and closing my hands. I still love my APP3, and still have my APP2, but have not made a change back to them. I think they feel so much better in my hear with the new tips, and sound way better.
SoftTalker 1y ago
You’re holding them wrong.
- blitzar 1y ago
  You’re poking your ear wrong.
coldtea 1y ago
>I have this happen outside of flights. Cupping your finger over the ANC mic is enough to trigger it. It's some kind of feedback. For some reason though I don't remember the first model having the issue.
hopelite 1y ago
I find it interesting you describe the issue like that. I had my airpod pro 1st gens go out on me in a way that was very similar to that, with the popping noises as you walk and move around. I figured out that when I put them in “normal mode” i.e., totally disabling the noise cancellation microphone, it mostly went away. I just figured something had happened to/with the external microphones and/or the noise cancellation processing was not happening correctly. It was basically impossible to test this theory I had, but I wondered if it was an update that introduced a bug. I can’t recall now at this point, but I do recall the feeling that the different ways I played with and tested to understand the cause and symptoms of the noise, left me with a feeling that it was not a physical/hardware issue. I suspect Apple even knows, with as many problems they’ve had with the AirPod pros; but that’s another story… when they had to replace mine one bud at a time, about 6 complete sets, i.e., over about 10 replacements or so… during the pandemic nonsense.
RataNova 1y ago
The consistency of the complaints across different units really suggests it's not a manufacturing defect, but something fundamental
Fwirt 1y ago
I have been able to trigger it when fumbling around with adjusting the fit. If I run my finger over the top of the body I can get a brief squeal out of them. Happened just a few seconds ago. I also have noticed on multiple occasions that if I take them both out of my ears and cup them in the same hand, they squeal audibly enough to hear faintly from a couple feet away. The skin contact sensor is very sensitive. However, unlike a lot of other commenters in this thread, I feel like the APP3 are a huge leap forward from the APP2 and have had zero regrets with the upgrade (other than the forced iOS 26 upgrade, but I feel like that's inevitable anyway.) They stay in much better, the fit is more comfortable, the battery life is better, the ANC probably drops background noise another 10db subjectively, and most of all, the sound quality is absolutely stellar. I have owned several midrange headphones and a portable DAC and I find myself preferring the AirPods over them. I haven't worn my Sennheisers since I got the APP3.
- philistine 1y ago
  > (other than the forced iOS 26 upgrade, but I feel like that's inevitable anyway.) I'm using my Airpods Pro 3 with iOS 26 yes, but I stayed on macOS 15 (THANK GOD!) and I saw nothing unusual about using the new Airpods there except for the missing artwork.
  - msephton 1y ago
    On macOS there were some issues but I can't say exactly because I returned my AirPods Pro 3. Other than the missing artwork and label, with AirPods Pro 3 on iOS 18 you also can't see the battery level, you can't take a Hearing Test, and more. After iOS 18.7.1 was released and didn't address any of these issues I reached out to Apple who said they wouldn't be adding any further support to iOS 18. So I returned my AirPods Pro 3, an easy decision. Just not worth the hassle for me.
    - easygenes 1y ago
      What about iOS 26 kept you away? I was hesitant when I got APP3, but was pleasantly surprised by how many longstanding issues with responsiveness and functionality it fixed for me (iPhone 15 Pro Max user).
laborcontract 1y ago
The horrible thumping is purely a fit issue. The solution to the thumping when running is to either size down the tips or to slightly dislodge the tips from your ear. It’s not ideal, I’ll grant you that. While we may have some overlap in issues, I would say that the Airpods Pro 3 are incredible. I’ve ditched my Airpods Max entirely. The noise cancellation works too well, the sleep detection is a godsend, and the battery life is so good. I use my airpods to sleep. before, i’d always wake up to dead airpods. now, they have like 70% batteries when i wake up, because the sleep detection kicks in.
- bobbylarrybobby 1y ago
  Seems odd to call it a fit issue when the solution is to make the fit worse by dislodging them from your ear. If it's a fit issue then improving the fit should make it go away!
- el_benhameen 1y ago
  I’ve tried with every set of tips except for the xs, same thumping with all of them. Zero issues running almost daily with the second gens for several years. I think it’s more than fit—either oversensitive ANC or something with the composition of the tips themselves. Oddly enough, it’s not present in both ears every time. Sometimes both, sometimes just one, rarely neither. I’ve stopped gathering data because I switched to a different set of headphones. I’ll grant you that the ANC in the third gen is fantastic. I just felt like the second gen fit themselves into my routine, whereas I have to fiddle and futz with the third gen to get them just-so so that they don’t inhibit my routine.
  - djtango 1y ago
    Personal preference ofc but I'll never understand how people run with in-ear buds...
    - larusso 1y ago
      What you mean? How people are manage to run with noise cancelation? Or how it works that they don’t loose them? I run with my AirPods Pro 2 and have no issues. I have some other in-ear buds where fit is also no issue but thumping sounds while running make them unusable.
millzlane 1y ago
I have the high pitched noise with the 2nd gen pros when I sleep on my side. It's not just an issue with the 3's.
marricks 1y ago
> incorrectly identifying vibrations from heel strikes as loud noise You should be thankful you get a free reminder to stop heel striking /uj figured a little running BS hear could be fun
- xsmasher 1y ago
  YOU WERE A HEEL STRIKER TOO BEFORE I FOUND YOU! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNZ_6rQvaq0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNZ_6rQvaq0
- el_benhameen 1y ago
  Ha, I figured someone would give me shit for that. I blame my comically oversized feet and comically undersized hamstrings.
  - marricks 1y ago
    Heel striking is fine, most pros do it, I do too. It is great joke fodder, though!

snug 1y ago

I've been able to get this same issue when I am laying in bed and lay on my side where my APP rub against the pillow. I've been able to reliably make the screeching sound by putting one airpod in my hand and tumbling it around or opening and closing my hands. I still love my APP3, and still have my APP2, but have not made a change back to them. I think they feel so much better in my hear with the new tips, and sound way better.

SoftTalker 1y ago

You’re holding them wrong.

blitzar 1y ago
You’re poking your ear wrong.

coldtea 1y ago

>I have this happen outside of flights. Cupping your finger over the ANC mic is enough to trigger it. It's some kind of feedback. For some reason though I don't remember the first model having the issue.

hopelite 1y ago

I find it interesting you describe the issue like that. I had my airpod pro 1st gens go out on me in a way that was very similar to that, with the popping noises as you walk and move around. I figured out that when I put them in “normal mode” i.e., totally disabling the noise cancellation microphone, it mostly went away. I just figured something had happened to/with the external microphones and/or the noise cancellation processing was not happening correctly. It was basically impossible to test this theory I had, but I wondered if it was an update that introduced a bug. I can’t recall now at this point, but I do recall the feeling that the different ways I played with and tested to understand the cause and symptoms of the noise, left me with a feeling that it was not a physical/hardware issue. I suspect Apple even knows, with as many problems they’ve had with the AirPod pros; but that’s another story… when they had to replace mine one bud at a time, about 6 complete sets, i.e., over about 10 replacements or so… during the pandemic nonsense.

RataNova 1y ago

The consistency of the complaints across different units really suggests it's not a manufacturing defect, but something fundamental

Fwirt 1y ago

I have been able to trigger it when fumbling around with adjusting the fit. If I run my finger over the top of the body I can get a brief squeal out of them. Happened just a few seconds ago. I also have noticed on multiple occasions that if I take them both out of my ears and cup them in the same hand, they squeal audibly enough to hear faintly from a couple feet away. The skin contact sensor is very sensitive. However, unlike a lot of other commenters in this thread, I feel like the APP3 are a huge leap forward from the APP2 and have had zero regrets with the upgrade (other than the forced iOS 26 upgrade, but I feel like that's inevitable anyway.) They stay in much better, the fit is more comfortable, the battery life is better, the ANC probably drops background noise another 10db subjectively, and most of all, the sound quality is absolutely stellar. I have owned several midrange headphones and a portable DAC and I find myself preferring the AirPods over them. I haven't worn my Sennheisers since I got the APP3.

philistine 1y ago
> (other than the forced iOS 26 upgrade, but I feel like that's inevitable anyway.) I'm using my Airpods Pro 3 with iOS 26 yes, but I stayed on macOS 15 (THANK GOD!) and I saw nothing unusual about using the new Airpods there except for the missing artwork.
- msephton 1y ago
  On macOS there were some issues but I can't say exactly because I returned my AirPods Pro 3. Other than the missing artwork and label, with AirPods Pro 3 on iOS 18 you also can't see the battery level, you can't take a Hearing Test, and more. After iOS 18.7.1 was released and didn't address any of these issues I reached out to Apple who said they wouldn't be adding any further support to iOS 18. So I returned my AirPods Pro 3, an easy decision. Just not worth the hassle for me.
  - easygenes 1y ago
    What about iOS 26 kept you away? I was hesitant when I got APP3, but was pleasantly surprised by how many longstanding issues with responsiveness and functionality it fixed for me (iPhone 15 Pro Max user).

laborcontract 1y ago

The horrible thumping is purely a fit issue. The solution to the thumping when running is to either size down the tips or to slightly dislodge the tips from your ear. It’s not ideal, I’ll grant you that. While we may have some overlap in issues, I would say that the Airpods Pro 3 are incredible. I’ve ditched my Airpods Max entirely. The noise cancellation works too well, the sleep detection is a godsend, and the battery life is so good. I use my airpods to sleep. before, i’d always wake up to dead airpods. now, they have like 70% batteries when i wake up, because the sleep detection kicks in.

bobbylarrybobby 1y ago
Seems odd to call it a fit issue when the solution is to make the fit worse by dislodging them from your ear. If it's a fit issue then improving the fit should make it go away!
el_benhameen 1y ago
I’ve tried with every set of tips except for the xs, same thumping with all of them. Zero issues running almost daily with the second gens for several years. I think it’s more than fit—either oversensitive ANC or something with the composition of the tips themselves. Oddly enough, it’s not present in both ears every time. Sometimes both, sometimes just one, rarely neither. I’ve stopped gathering data because I switched to a different set of headphones. I’ll grant you that the ANC in the third gen is fantastic. I just felt like the second gen fit themselves into my routine, whereas I have to fiddle and futz with the third gen to get them just-so so that they don’t inhibit my routine.
- djtango 1y ago
  Personal preference ofc but I'll never understand how people run with in-ear buds...
  - larusso 1y ago
    What you mean? How people are manage to run with noise cancelation? Or how it works that they don’t loose them? I run with my AirPods Pro 2 and have no issues. I have some other in-ear buds where fit is also no issue but thumping sounds while running make them unusable.

millzlane 1y ago

I have the high pitched noise with the 2nd gen pros when I sleep on my side. It's not just an issue with the 3's.

marricks 1y ago

> incorrectly identifying vibrations from heel strikes as loud noise You should be thankful you get a free reminder to stop heel striking /uj figured a little running BS hear could be fun

xsmasher 1y ago
YOU WERE A HEEL STRIKER TOO BEFORE I FOUND YOU! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNZ_6rQvaq0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNZ_6rQvaq0
el_benhameen 1y ago
Ha, I figured someone would give me shit for that. I blame my comically oversized feet and comically undersized hamstrings.
- marricks 1y ago
  Heel striking is fine, most pros do it, I do too. It is great joke fodder, though!