If one of your AirPods Pro 3 sounds louder than the other, you're not imagining it. This is a real issue with several possible causes—and most have straightforward fixes.

Most Common Causes and Solutions

1. Ear Tip Fit Difference

The most common culprit. If one earbud has a better seal, it sounds louder with more bass.

Fix: Try different tip sizes for each ear—your ears probably aren't identical. Run the Ear Tip Fit Test in Settings > AirPods to check seal quality.

2. Earwax or Debris Buildup

Even small amounts blocking the speaker mesh significantly reduce volume.

Fix: Clean both earbuds with a dry, soft brush. Use a clean, dry cotton swab on the speaker mesh. Never use liquids directly on speakers.

3. Audio Balance Setting

The slider may have been accidentally adjusted.

Fix: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Balance. Ensure the slider is centered.

4. Mono Audio Enabled

Fix: Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Mono Audio—ensure it's OFF.

5. ANC Performance Difference

Sometimes one earbud's noise cancellation performs differently.

Fix: Toggle ANC off and back on. If that doesn't help, reset your AirPods and re-pair.

6. Bluetooth Connection Issue

Fix: Forget AirPods from your device and re-pair. Reset by holding case button for 15 seconds until light flashes amber, then white.

When It Might Be Hardware

If you've tried everything and imbalance persists:

• Test with another device to rule out your iPhone
• Contact Apple Support for potential replacement
• If within warranty, Apple may replace the affected earbud

A Note on Ear Anatomy

Your ears may have different internal shapes affecting sound perception. This is normal and may not indicate any problem with your AirPods.

Some users report imbalance that varies with location or activity—this appears to be a quirk affecting certain AirPods Pro 3 units.

Yes, AirPods Pro 3 can track calories burned during workouts using their built-in heart rate sensor combined with your personal metrics.

How Calorie Tracking Works

AirPods Pro 3 use your heart rate data combined with your Health profile (age, weight, height, sex) to estimate calories burned. Higher heart rates indicate more intense exercise, which burns more calories.

Setting Up Calorie Tracking

1. Complete your Health profile: Settings > Health > Health Profile
2. Keep your weight updated—it's especially important for calorie calculations
3. Connect AirPods Pro 3 and start a workout in the Fitness app
4. Calories are calculated automatically

What You'll See

• Active calories: Energy burned from exercise
• Total calories: Active plus resting metabolism during workout
• Running totals during your workout
• Detailed breakdown in workout summary
• Progress toward your Move ring goals

Move Ring Progress

AirPods Pro 3 workouts contribute to your Apple Fitness Move ring—even without an Apple Watch. Your workouts help you hit daily activity goals tracked through the Fitness app.

Accuracy Expectations

Be realistic: wearable calorie estimates can be off by 15-30%. Accuracy depends on:

• Correct Health profile data
• Proper ear tip fit for heart rate readings
• Workout type

Treat numbers as useful guides rather than precise measurements.

Compared to Apple Watch

Apple Watch includes additional sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope) that improve calorie estimates for strength training, where heart rate alone doesn't capture full effort. For cardio workouts, AirPods Pro 3 and Apple Watch provide similar estimates.

Key Limitation

Unlike Apple Watch, AirPods Pro 3 cannot passively track calories throughout the day. Calorie tracking only works during active workouts started through the Fitness app.

Apple releases firmware updates for AirPods Pro 3 regularly. Here's what you need to know about how they work and what they fix.

How to Check Your Firmware Version

1. Connect AirPods Pro 3 to your iPhone
2. Go to Settings > AirPods > [Your AirPods]
3. Scroll to the About section
4. Look for Firmware Version

What Updates Typically Address

• Bug fixes and stability improvements
• Audio quality optimizations
• Bluetooth connection reliability
• Battery performance enhancements
• Active Noise Cancellation improvements

Note: Apple's release notes typically just say "bug fixes and other improvements" without specifics.

Known Issues Still Being Reported

Despite multiple updates, some users report these issues persist:

• Static/crackling noise with ANC in quiet environments
• Whistling during flights at altitude
• Inconsistent heart rate sensor readings

Whether these require firmware or hardware fixes remains unclear.

How Firmware Updates Work

• Updates install automatically—no user action required
• Requirements: Connected to iPhone (iOS 15.1+), in charging case, connected to power
• Updates happen in the background while you're not using them
• You cannot force, schedule, or roll back updates

How to Encourage an Update

If you suspect you're on old firmware:

1. Put AirPods in the case
2. Connect case to power
3. Place iPhone nearby
4. Leave overnight

Updates typically install within a few hours.

What to Do If Problems Persist

• Reset AirPods: Hold case button for 15 seconds until light flashes amber, then white
• Contact Apple Support: Some issues may require hardware replacement
• Check Apple Communities: Other users often share workarounds