Reports have emerged of static noises affecting some AirPods Pro 3 users.
According to one Reddit user, “an ocean or static noise” could be heard when no music was playing. Another user also shared a similar experience, describing it as “a soft static/white noise”.
Several users claim hearing similar noises while using Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Adaptive or Transparency modes. In some cases, the static noise is more noticeable in one earbud than the other.
As an AirPods Pro 3 user, I had a similar experience – moments after ending a call, my left earbud began emitting static sounds.
Some affected users reportedly received replacement units from Apple Stores, though the issue persisted for several of them. One MacRumor reader says Apple Specialists had been instructed to exchange AirPods Pro 3 for users who reported the issue.
It remains unclear whether the problem is related to hardware or software. For now, the recommended workaround for those who encounter this issue is to disable ANC and Transparency modes.
The static noise reported by AirPods Pro 3 users appears similar to the issue that affected the first-generation AirPods Pro. Apple previously launched a service program after determining that a small percentage of units manufactured before October 2020 had audio problems. Affected units were replaced or serviced free of charge.