The problem with reviewing as many earbuds as I do is that you get very fussy about what you're prepared to stick in your ears.

In this department, Apple got off to a pretty slow start with me.

In its original, one-size-fits-all approach, the first AirPods were pretty much the opposite  of what I was looking for; yes, the open fit was comfortable and the sound quality was good, but there wasn't really anything going on it terms of noise cancellation and that's just one feature I'm not prepared to compromise on.

Those first couple of generations were also anything but a snug fit and while many Apple fans convinced themselves they preferred that to having their ear canals hermetically sealed off with silicone ear-tips, I preferred not to have one of my buds bobble out when I least expected it, only to be run over by the very bus I was waiting for.

That actually happened, by the way. It wasn't an Apple AirPod that got flattened, but a similarly loose-fitting example.

Then the first AirPods Pro came along and things started getting interesting. Having realised it's very tricky to cancel noise electronically if some is leaking in around the AirPod itself, Apple pivoted and stuck on a couple of in-ear silicone buds to block out as much as they could.

Okay, Apple. You've got my attention.

Now, two generations later, I'm experiencing the best ANC I've never heard.

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 don't look wildly different to their predecessors but a close inspection reveals a slightly more elongated design that twists the ear-tip a little further into your ear canal. That may sound a little intrusive to you in-ear skeptics out there but trust me, these may actually be the most comfortable AirPods yet.

That's not just because of the new shape. There's also an extra size of ear-tip included in the box, so now there are five sizes to choose from; XXS, XS, S, M and L. In even better news, instead of including a set of foam tips, as some other manufacturers do, Apple has opted to incorporate foam into the silicone tips themselves.

The advantage of foam is it can squash right into your ear then expand into every tiny nook and cranny, creating a secure fit and blocking outside noise like you wouldn't believe. The disadvantage is foam tips don't last long and are very hard to keep clean. By infusing silicone tips with foam, Apple has ingeniously found a way to give you the best of both worlds; a tight yet comfortable, soundproof fit that's still durable and easy-clean.

Surprisingly, there's been no chip upgrade for the AirPods Pro 3 - in fact several models now use the H2 chip. However, there's obviously been plenty of tweaking going on - not just with the physical design but also an update to new "ultra-low-noise" microphones resulting in twice the noise cancellation of the AirPods Pro 2. I have no idea how you objectively measure how much noise is being cancelled but in all honesty, I think Apple are underselling how good the ANC now is.

In the video below, I talk about how little wind noise I was hearing on one of Auckland's gustiest days of the year. You kind of get the idea by how difficult it was to hear what I was saying. I certainly couldn't hear what I was saying, I had the ANC turned on.

You can opt for a more transparent, adaptive audio soundscape if you want to let in a certain amount of the outside world and AirPods Pro 3 also has Conversation Awareness mode that lowers the volume of what you're listening to, and everything in the background, when it detects you're trying to talk to someone close to you.

As for how these things sound...

"Never Had the Balls" by Rex Orange County is an appropriately bouncy wee track, packed with quirky electronic beats and multi-tracked falsetto backing vocals. This is the kind of song that can sound muddy, toppy and low-fi (in a bad way) on the wrong set of ear speakers. But the Airpods Pro 3's new design allows enough actual, physical space for big bass tones to pound away while the more delicate, upper frequencies ping around your head, just as the producer intended.

This effect is even more apparent on P!nk's "Hurts 2B Human" featuring Khalid. There are several big bass drops that make surprise appearances on such a tender duet. That ability to create space for every instrument and vocal track, combined with Apple's latest adaptive EQ efforts mean that deep, deep bass is huge - but it in no way overwhelms the rest of the elements.

You want Lossless Dolby Atmos? Have a listen to "Hammer" off Lorde's latest album. The rotating, sweeping, 3D effects are difficult to describe but easy to appreciate with the AirPods Pro 3.

I've been using AirPods when watching content on my Apple TV for a while now, and the listening experience with these latest ones is a whole level up again. On a program like the Morning Show, the sound mixing is key - there's a lot going on, especially in the scenes when they're broadcasting live and the action switches from on-camera to control room to behind the scenes and to other locations where the show is being watched. The AirPods Pro 3 do a sensational job of placing the dialogue, sound effects and music tracks in all the right places so you don't miss a word.

In fact, as we've discussed before, the latest few editions of AirPods can now literally test your hearing and then be used as hearing aids, so you don't miss any words in the real world either.

Another interesting addition in the AirPods Pro 3 is the heart-rate sensor - which is great news for Apple exercisers who don't currently wear a Watch. I've read some very positive reports about the accuracy of having a sensor in each ear - enhanced even further if you do have an Apple Watch. AirPods Pro 3 are now rated IP57 for sweat and water resistance, making them the most durable AirPods to date. Add that secure, snug fit to the equation and they're pretty much the perfect workout option.

By now you've probably heard about the live translation thing. This feature is still in beta and right now, there are only a few languages supported but yes, technically you can fire up the Live Translation app and hear Siri interpret for you. I've tested this a little and at the moment it's a bit frustrating. The app only seems to record for short periods if the speaker pauses for any time at all, which doesn't work very well if you're listening to a long speech, or perhaps a detailed description of the famous landmark or work of art you've travelled to see. Also, there's quite a delay. For some reason, you get the text translation on-screen before Siri starts reading it to you. So we're not quite at natural conversation level yet.

But that's the only feature I've found that doesn't (yet) deliver on its promise.

Take battery life, for example. Although the charging case actually provides less total listening time than AirPods Pro 2, the AirPods Pro 3 themselves last longer on a full charge - up to 8 hours with ANC enabled, that's two hours more than before.

The sound quality was already great. Now it's nearing perfection. The heart sensors are useful and the new physical design and foam-infused ear-tips provide one of the most secure, comfortable fits I've ever encountered.

As for the ANC? I hope I've made it clear how good I think it is. How times have changed.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple AirPods Pro 3.