British hi-fi brand Cambridge Audio has unveiled its latest true wireless earphone that could rival the AirPods 3. The Melomania 1 Plus is priced at $139, undercutting the AirPods' cheapest model while promising more advanced features.

Its best feature is that, unlike the original Melomania 1 buds, the Melomania 1 Plus is compatible with Cambridge Audio's mobile companion app; in addition to custom EQ adjustments, the Melomania 1 Plus also features the company's CX High Performance Audio Mode, which applies the same type of improved amplification as the company's CX series Hi-Fi amplifiers.

This is one of several features that could give the Melomania 1 Plus an edge over the AirPods and the rest of the best wireless earphones on the market, with the potential to unleash superior sound quality when playing high-resolution audio tracks.

Battery life is relatively long for a truly wireless pair: Cambridge Audio claims that the Melomania 1 Plus can be used for 9 hours on a single charge and up to 45 hours from a charging case. This is nearly double that of AirPods.

The Melomania 1 Plus also supports the high-quality Bluetooth aptX codec in addition to the standard SBC and AAC codecs. It also supports both Google Assistant and Siri.

Active noise cancellation (ANC) is not included, but unusually for this price, a relatively generous 10 sets of replaceable tips are included. This is to ensure a secure fit and to maintain passive noise isolation.

Like the Melomania 1, the Melomania 1 Plus is IPX5 certified waterproof. This means that it is more protected against water ingress than the standard AirPods without an IP rating or the AirPods Pro with an IPX4 rating.

Of course, Apple has a new model in the works, the oft-leaked AirPods 3, which may be revealed as early as the rumored Apple event on March 23. But it is always nice to see a high-grade competitor, especially at a relatively affordable price point.