3pm
Same-day dispatch
Order by 3pm, Monday to Friday, and it leaves Manchester the same day. Free UK delivery over £50.
Why buy from The Tech Gadgets
12-Month Warranty
Our own warranty for twelve months. You deal with us directly.
What's in the box
- Your Apple AirPods 3 (2021) with Charging Case – Pristine Condition (Pre-owned)
- Charging cable Free
- SIM ejector pin Free
- Protective packaging
Overview
Apple AirPods 3 (2021) with Charging Case – Pristine Condition (Pre-owned)
These are Apple AirPods 3 (2021) with charging case, sold in the UK in Pristine Condition. They're pre-owned, not new: tested and cleaned before dispatch. They offer Spatial Audio, IPX4 sweat resistance and an open fit, with a 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets and same-day dispatch from Manchester by 3pm weekdays.
Apple H1
ChipBluetooth 5.0Up to 6 hours
Battery (Apple rating when new)(5 with Spatial Audio); up to 30 hours with the case.None
Noise control(no active noise cancellation)Charges by Lightnin...
Case(Apple sold Lightning and MagSafe versions)Specifications
Key facts
- Condition
- Pristine Condition (pre-owned) – used, tested and cleaned; fully working, with little or no visible wear.
- Model
- AirPods (3rd generation), released 2021
- Colour
- White
- Chip
- Apple H1, Bluetooth 5.0
- Noise control
- None (no active noise cancellation)
- Battery (Apple rating when new)
- Up to 6 hours (5 with Spatial Audio); up to 30 hours with the case.
- Case
- Charges by Lightning cable (Apple sold Lightning and MagSafe versions)
- Water resistance
- IPX4 (earbuds and case)
- Fit
- Open fit, no ear tips
- Warranty
- 12 months, provided by The Tech Gadgets
- Dispatch
- Same day Mon–Fri when ordered by 3pm, from Manchester
- Returns
- 30 days on unused items; 14-day right to cancel online orders
- Specs checked
- 27 Sep 2026, Apple UK support tech specs
Features
Every detail, verified.
01Connectivity and compatibility
Apple's H1 chip gives quick pairing and automatic switching between Apple devices on the same account, plus hands-free Siri. Spatial Audio head tracking needs an Apple device. They connect to Android phones and Windows laptops as standard Bluetooth earbuds; controls work, but switching and Spatial Audio don't. Newer features such as Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness aren't available on this model on any phone.
02Sound and design
Apple fitted AirPods 3 with Adaptive EQ, which tunes the sound to the fit in your ear, and Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. The stem is shorter than AirPods 2 and uses a force sensor you squeeze for play, pause and calls. There's no noise cancellation.
03Battery and charging
Apple rates up to 6 hours per charge and up to 30 hours with the case. After several years of use, a pre-owned battery will usually give noticeably less than that; our 12-month warranty covers faults. Apple sold AirPods 3 with either a Lightning-only case or a MagSafe case that also charges on Qi pads. Both charge by Lightning cable; message us before ordering if you need to confirm which case you'll receive.
Condition
What Pristine Condition means here
Pristine Condition is our top cosmetic label for pre-owned stock. These AirPods are second hand, and at up to five years old they're the oldest-design AirPods we sell after AirPods 2, so battery is the main thing to understand. Pristine Condition means pre-owned and fully working, with little or no visible wear. Earbud batteries age with use, and our 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets covers faults.
Compare
How it compares
Compared with AirPods 2, Apple adds Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ, IPX4 and a longer 6-hour rating. Compared with AirPods 4, it keeps Lightning charging and the older H1 chip. Compared with Galaxy Buds2, it lacks noise cancellation but is designed around the iPhone. Read our guide to every AirPods generation.
Our view
Is it worth buying pre-owned in 2026?
It can be, if you want Spatial Audio and sweat resistance in an open fit and are happy with the H1 chip's feature set. Be realistic about battery at this age. If you want USB-C and the H2 chip, AirPods 4 is the newer choice.
Who it's for
iPhone users who want more than AirPods 2 without ear tips or noise cancellation. For the newer open-fit model, see AirPods 4. For an Android phone, look at our headphones and earbuds, including Galaxy Buds.
Delivery, warranty and returns
Handled start to finish by our team in Manchester.
12 months
Warranty with us
Our own warranty, handled directly by us. Your Consumer Rights Act protection still applies.
30 days
Easy returns
Send back any unused item within 30 days. We refund you within 14 days of it reaching us.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Talk to a person in ManchesterQuestions about grades, stock or delivery? We reply fast on WhatsApp.
Chat on WhatsApp
Are these AirPods 3 new?
No. They're pre-owned and sold in Pristine Condition after testing and cleaning. They aren't sealed or refurbished by Apple.
Is this the MagSafe case or the Lightning case?
Apple made both. Both charge by Lightning cable, and the MagSafe version also charges on MagSafe or Qi pads. Message us before ordering if you need to confirm which case you'll receive.
How good is the battery?
Apple rated 6 hours per charge when new. These are several years old and earbud batteries age with use, so expect less. Our 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets covers faults.
Do they have noise cancellation?
No. AirPods 3 has no active noise cancellation. For that, look at AirPods 4 with ANC or AirPods Pro.
Will they work with Android?
Yes, for music and calls over Bluetooth. Automatic switching, Siri and Spatial Audio head tracking need Apple devices.
What's in the box?
Your Apple AirPods 3 (2021) with Charging Case – Pristine Condition (Pre-owned), a charging cable and a SIM ejector pin, all in protective packaging. The cable and SIM pin are included free.
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