AirPods Pro 3 - static / white noise / hissing

SOLVED

I had an unbearable high pitched squeal in the right side when I used ANC or transparency. I tried:

• Changing tip size
• Software updates
• Changing in ear detection settings
• Resetting them and repairing them
• Cleaning them. They were new anyway.
• If I turned off ANC or transparency then it was fine but I wanted that feature of course.

In the end I got them replaced within the 14 day period and lo and behold… the replacement had the exact same issue. ****.

Why? It must be me then. I actually discovered I had a lot of ear wax build up within my ears affecting the AirPods ANC performance. It didn’t affect AirPods Pro 2 for me but the new design of the AirPods Pro 3 must be such that it is affected with the ear wax build up in my ears.

I got my ears cleared out and SOLVED! Fixed! No software or firmware issue needed. Just needed to clean out my ears. Give it a try yourself.

SOLVED

I had an unbearable high pitched squeal in the right side when I used ANC or transparency. I tried:

• Changing tip size
• Software updates
• Changing in ear detection settings
• Resetting them and repairing them
• Cleaning them. They were new anyway.
• If I turned off ANC or transparency then it was fine but I wanted that feature of course.

In the end I got them replaced within the 14 day period and lo and behold… the replacement had the exact same issue. ****.

Why? It must be me then. I actually discovered I had a lot of ear wax build up within my ears affecting the AirPods ANC performance. It didn’t affect AirPods Pro 2 for me but the new design of the AirPods Pro 3 must be such that it is affected with the ear wax build up in my ears.

I got my ears cleared out and SOLVED! Fixed! No software or firmware issue needed. Just needed to clean out my ears. Give it a try yourself.

This has been documented by a multitude of users.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirpodsPro/comments/1nqf02b/new_airpod_pros_3_have_static_sound_in_left_side/

https://www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/1nr9bux/my_opinion_on_airpods_pro_3_from_an_airpods_pro_2/

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirpodsPro/comments/1nl2fem/ocean_static_noise_with_airpods_pro_3_anyone_else/

Apple has not responded to any of this in the public domain other than giving folks replacements; for every user on these forums a replacement has NOT resolved the issue (because it's likely a design failure or a firmware issue across the board for people with specific ear shapes and/or hearing sensitivities). I have inquired whether people with units manufactured in Vietnam vs. India vs. China can confirm whether the issue persists, and there is no clear pattern, meaning that it's likely universal (if we assume the same microphones are being sourced to each unit).

My working theory is that the anti-wave pattern being generated in the AAP3 is overly aggressive changing the noise floor envelope which is very audible to a large subset of customers -- this is how they are able to achieve their purported 2x ANC of APP2 over APP3 claim. If we assume this is not a sourcing / manufacturer defect in the microphones (which we cannot rule out), we need confirmation from Apple that the ANC anti-wave pattern is in fact generating an audible white noise / hiss / low-fan air wooshing that users are experienceing. At this point, Apple not even acknowlding this in the open (but in their Genius Bars repeatedly) is gas-lighting consumers.

The clear way to replicate the audible noise is to enable off-mode and toggle between that and noise-cancellination; as soon as you toggle on noise cancellation mode, you will hear an air-wooshing sound (to different degrees deppending on your ear shape and/or sensitivity); prior APP2s DO NOT yeild this audible noise when in noise cancelling mode because the ANC anti-wave pattern and/or microphones employed are dialed in appopriately for all.

People should continue to add comments to this thread.

I posted this to another tread but I don't know how to link here to that tread so here it is again:

I had this problem too and it was especially bad on a flight I took the day I bought my AirPods 3. I contacted Apple Support through Chat and was told after they did a diagnostic analysis of them to reset my AirPods. I went through that process and I have noticed 2 things. First, the sound seems better but I have not and will not be on an airplane any time soon so I cannot say that they work as they should in that situation. Second is the removal of the ability to turn off the ANC. There were originally 4 choices "Off", "Transparency", "Adaptive", and "Noise Cancellation". After the reset "Off" was gone. My AirPods 3 now have Firmware 8A357 which the Apple site says is the latest.

I hope this helps but I am not sure if the issue is really fixed.

I noticed the same thing. I upgraded from the Pro 1 and never had this issue there.

i noticed that if you enable switch the mode to „off“ the white noise is gone. But in transparency and ANC it’s very present and very annoying when trying to listen music at a lower volume

It's amazing that after all the posts with complaints that no one has responded to whether or not they have tried a reset as I mention in my previous post. The firmware on my AirPods 3 was definitely updated/changed and I have no issue with screeching noise. In fact I have not heard it since. I haven't been back on an airplane where it was the worst but in general use it's not there. Getting a new pair with the same firmware as the first pair means your chances of the problem not being there is pretty low.

How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro - Apple Support

Try a reset and then post if it does not fix the issue or if it does. This way others will know what they should try.

Same for me. AirPods Pro 3 bought yesterday. Made in Vietnam. White noise in both the left and right earbuds. Clearly audible in a quiet room, clearly audible with quiet music or a podcast. The first time I noticed white noise was in the AirPods Pro 2, but it was much quieter compared to the third generation. The first-generation AirPods Pro were completely free of noise; when I bought the AirPods Pro 2, I noticed white noise for the first time. In the AirPods Pro 3, the noise is the loudest of all three generations. So loud that it’s disturbing when listening to podcasts in a quiet room. I am very dissatisfied with this!

+1 on this. Especially for the comparison with AirPods Pro 2.

AirPods Pro 2 have a white noise too, but it is barely noticeable.

AirPods Pro 3 have a very noticeable white noise in ANC/Transparency. You can clearly hear this noise appear and disappear when switching to "OFF" mode, back and forth.

I am having the static issue when on phone calls, but I don't hear it when using apps or music. VERY irritating to spend that kind of money for them to not be as good quality as my Pro 2. I hope Apple fixes this somehow. I also have the latest software update already. I had to do that just to get the noise cancelling feature to work.

Same here. I used to have the QC Bose, which sounded really good, but I switched because the new AirPods Pro 3 offer better sound quality and a much better microphone than the Bose (which they do). However, this white noise in both ears is extremely annoying. In my case, it only happens when I’m listening to music, not when paused. Mine are made in Vietnam. I hope this can be resolved through a software update soon.

Same issue. I’ve been using AirPods Pro since 1st gen and never had an issue with white noise. I just bought mine a few hours ago and I can hear the constant white noise on ANC, transparency and adaptive mode. Very irritating and there does not seem to be a solution. I’ve tried all the ear tips, adjusting accessibility settings and the sound is still there. Very noticeable when no audio is playing and slightly less (but still present) when music is playing. I’ll have to return them and hope they find a fix. Thankfully I still have my AirPods Pro 2.

I'm experiencing the same thing with my one week old APP3 that I bought to upgrade from APP2. I never experienced the same (or even a similar) problem with my APP1s or APP2s. When I first put the AirPods in my ears, the hissing noise is quite loud. It then levels off at a steady, low volume constant statistic. It is very annoying when there is nothing playing, and less noticeable when something is playing. But once you first become aware of the low-level background static / white noise / hissing, it becomes quite obtrusive to a good listener experience.

The situation has me disappointed in Apple (for the first time ever) for charging the same premium price I've become accustomed to paying for the superior customer experience & highest quality products. Here's to hoping that it's a software / firmware issue that can be corrected. If they don't acknowledge the issue soon, I'm unfortunately going to have to return the hardware.

I have purchased airpods pro 3 on 4th October. The sudden high pitch sound was less noticeable at the beginning but after yesterdays update its persistent and sometimes stays for few seconds which is unbearable.

Also if i try to adjust the left earbud the same high pitch noise occur.

Its the left bud only which has the issue.

I hope they fix it with an update. Till then going back to old one.

There’s dozens of forum posts floating around now citing the same issues — this is more than some fringe subset of people with odd sensitivities. We’re now a month out from release. Apple probably won’t respond or acknowledge this unless it gets picked up by a significant tech blog or the media.