SOUNDPEATS Air3 Deluxe Wireless Earbuds
Ryan
Amazon.com
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I was a big fan of the SOUNDPEATS Air3 when they were first released, but now SOUNDPEATS has given them a slight upgrade. So what’s new?
SOUNDPEATS Air3 vs Air3 Deluxe
What’s the difference between the SOUNDPEATS Air3 and the Air3 Deluxe version? The difference is the charging case. The Air3 Deluxe has a larger charging case that can last up to 22 hours (3.5 charges), compared to 17.5 hours on the Air3 (2.5 charges). The actual earbuds themselves are the same: the earbuds on both models last 5 hours on a single charge and sport the same design and materials.
SOUNDPEATS Air3 vs TrueAir2
You might also be wondering what has changed from SOUNDPEATS TrueAir2 vs the Air3.
Probably the biggest improvement you’ll notice is the addition of the auto-pause function when you remove either earbud. They work similar to the Apple AirPods: when you remove one earbud, your music automatically pauses and then resumes when you return the earbud to your ear.
Another improvement is the addition of the aptX-Adaptive codec. If your phone supports aptX (which is currently limited to certain Android phones), you can take advantage of the high sound quality of the aptX protocol.
The Air 3 also sport a new design, with a slightly shorter stem and a new case that feels more like the AirPods case in that you “drop” the earbuds in stem-first. The charging contacts have been moved to the bottom of the stem.
Performance
Since the earbuds themselves are the same from the Air3, the Air3 Deluxe sounds great with a good bass response and clear mids. They are a strong competitor to the Apple AirPods for anyone who likes the form factor and is looking to save some cash.
The Bluetooth connection seems solid and I really haven’t noticed any drop-outs or other interruptions in the connection while using them as long as I have my phone nearby. If I walk to another area of the house and leave my phone behind, the connection starts to get garbled which is to be expected.
Features
- Longer battery life: The Air3 Deluxe version of these earbuds features a larger charging case that can last up to 22 hours (3.5 charges), compared to 17.5 hours on the non-Deluxe Air3 (2.5 charges).
- Auto-pause: If you remove either earbud, it will automatically pause the music on your phone, then resume it when you place the earbud back in your ear.
- aptX-Adaptive codec: As noted earlier, if your phone supports aptX, you can use this high quality protocol with the Air3.
- Touch controls: While you can’t customize the touch controls like you can on the Apple AirPods, I found most of the features I need are already programmed. For example, you can decrease the volume with a single tap of the left earbud (and increase it with a single tap of the right earbud). You can play and pause by double-tapping the left earbud, and summon Siri with a triple-tap of the right earbud.
- One earbud mode: You can use either earbud by itself while the other earbud is in the charging case.
- Game mode: The earbuds have a low latency “game mode” that can be accessed with a triple tap of the left earbud.
Should you upgrade from the Air3 to the Air3 Deluxe?
Unless you absolutely need the additional charge from the larger charging case on the Air3 Deluxe, you probably don’t need to upgrade. The sound quality and features are the same between the Air 3 and Air 3 Deluxe; only the charging case is different.
However, if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the Apple AirPods and you have a choice between the Air3 and the Air3 Deluxe, compare the prices and if it’s only a few bucks different, you may as well spring for the larger charging case.
