diff --git a/guide/src/class.md b/guide/src/class.md
index ed71cb2e344..e3f3502780b 100644
--- a/guide/src/class.md
+++ b/guide/src/class.md
@@ -1108,8 +1108,10 @@ struct MyClass {
     # #[allow(dead_code)]
     num: i32,
 }
-unsafe impl pyo3::type_object::PyTypeInfo for MyClass {
+unsafe impl pyo3::type_object::HasPyGilRef for MyClass {
     type AsRefTarget = pyo3::PyCell<Self>;
+}
+unsafe impl pyo3::type_object::PyTypeInfo for MyClass {
     const NAME: &'static str = "MyClass";
     const MODULE: ::std::option::Option<&'static str> = ::std::option::Option::None;
     #[inline]
diff --git a/guide/src/migration.md b/guide/src/migration.md
index 75fe7453aad..4538f799877 100644
--- a/guide/src/migration.md
+++ b/guide/src/migration.md
@@ -5,6 +5,42 @@ For a detailed list of all changes, see the [CHANGELOG](changelog.md).
 
 ## from 0.20.* to 0.21
 
+### `PyTypeInfo` and `PyTryFrom` have been adjusted
+
+The `PyTryFrom` trait has aged poorly, its [`try_from`] method now conflicts with `try_from` in the 2021 edition prelude. A lot of its functionality was also duplicated with `PyTypeInfo`.
+
+To tighten up the PyO3 traits ahead of [a proposed upcoming API change](https://github.com/PyO3/pyo3/issues/3382) the `PyTypeInfo` trait has had a simpler companion `PyTypeCheck`. The methods [`PyAny::downcast`]({{#PYO3_DOCS_URL}}/pyo3/types/struct.PyAny.html#method.downcast) and [`PyAny::downcast_exact`]({{#PYO3_DOCS_URL}}/pyo3/types/struct.PyAny.html#method.downcast_exact) no longer use `PyTryFrom` as a bound, instead using `PyTypeCheck` and `PyTypeInfo` respectively.
+
+To migrate, switch all type casts to use `obj.downcast()` instead of `try_from(obj)` (and similar for `downcast_exact`).
+
+Before:
+
+```rust
+# use pyo3::prelude::*;
+# use pyo3::types::{PyInt, PyList};
+# fn main() -> PyResult<()> {
+Python::with_gil(|py| {
+    let list = PyList::new(py, 0..5);
+    let b = <PyInt as PyTryFrom>::try_from(list.get_item(0).unwrap())?;
+    Ok(())
+})
+# }
+```
+
+After:
+
+```rust
+# use pyo3::prelude::*;
+# use pyo3::types::{PyInt, PyList};
+# fn main() -> PyResult<()> {
+Python::with_gil(|py| {
+    let list = PyList::new(py, 0..5);
+    let b = list.get_item(0).unwrap().downcast::<PyInt>()?;
+    Ok(())
+})
+# }
+```
+
 ### `py.None()`, `py.NotImplemented()` and `py.Ellipsis()` now return typed singletons
 
 Previously `py.None()`, `py.NotImplemented()` and `py.Ellipsis()` would return `PyObject`. This had a few downsides:
diff --git a/newsfragments/3600.changed.md b/newsfragments/3600.changed.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c8701ef4b25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/newsfragments/3600.changed.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Split some `PyTypeInfo` functionality into new traits `HasPyGilRef` and `PyTypeCheck`.
diff --git a/pyo3-macros-backend/src/pyclass.rs b/pyo3-macros-backend/src/pyclass.rs
index f037335e23a..239514ae38a 100644
--- a/pyo3-macros-backend/src/pyclass.rs
+++ b/pyo3-macros-backend/src/pyclass.rs
@@ -741,9 +741,11 @@ fn impl_pytypeinfo(
     };
 
     quote! {
-        unsafe impl _pyo3::type_object::PyTypeInfo for #cls {
+        unsafe impl _pyo3::type_object::HasPyGilRef for #cls {
             type AsRefTarget = _pyo3::PyCell<Self>;
+        }
 
+        unsafe impl _pyo3::type_object::PyTypeInfo for #cls {
             const NAME: &'static str = #cls_name;
             const MODULE: ::std::option::Option<&'static str> = #module;
 
diff --git a/src/conversion.rs b/src/conversion.rs
index 4ae166ebd0d..665cdeca781 100644
--- a/src/conversion.rs
+++ b/src/conversion.rs
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ where
     T: PyClass,
 {
     fn extract(obj: &'a PyAny) -> PyResult<Self> {
-        PyTryFrom::try_from(obj).map_err(Into::into)
+        obj.downcast().map_err(Into::into)
     }
 }
 
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ where
     T: PyClass + Clone,
 {
     fn extract(obj: &'a PyAny) -> PyResult<Self> {
-        let cell: &PyCell<Self> = PyTryFrom::try_from(obj)?;
+        let cell: &PyCell<Self> = obj.downcast()?;
         Ok(unsafe { cell.try_borrow_unguarded()?.clone() })
     }
 }
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ where
     T: PyClass,
 {
     fn extract(obj: &'a PyAny) -> PyResult<Self> {
-        let cell: &PyCell<T> = PyTryFrom::try_from(obj)?;
+        let cell: &PyCell<T> = obj.downcast()?;
         cell.try_borrow().map_err(Into::into)
     }
 }
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ where
     T: PyClass<Frozen = False>,
 {
     fn extract(obj: &'a PyAny) -> PyResult<Self> {
-        let cell: &PyCell<T> = PyTryFrom::try_from(obj)?;
+        let cell: &PyCell<T> = obj.downcast()?;
         cell.try_borrow_mut().map_err(Into::into)
     }
 }
@@ -381,78 +381,61 @@ pub trait PyTryInto<T>: Sized {
     fn try_into_exact(&self) -> Result<&T, PyDowncastError<'_>>;
 }
 
-// TryFrom implies TryInto
-impl<U> PyTryInto<U> for PyAny
-where
-    U: for<'v> PyTryFrom<'v>,
-{
-    fn try_into(&self) -> Result<&U, PyDowncastError<'_>> {
-        <U as PyTryFrom<'_>>::try_from(self)
-    }
-    fn try_into_exact(&self) -> Result<&U, PyDowncastError<'_>> {
-        U::try_from_exact(self)
-    }
-}
+mod implementations {
+    use super::*;
 
-impl<'v, T> PyTryFrom<'v> for T
-where
-    T: PyTypeInfo + PyNativeType,
-{
-    fn try_from<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v Self, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
-        let value = value.into();
-        unsafe {
-            if T::is_type_of(value) {
-                Ok(Self::try_from_unchecked(value))
-            } else {
-                Err(PyDowncastError::new(value, T::NAME))
-            }
+    // TryFrom implies TryInto
+    impl<U> PyTryInto<U> for PyAny
+    where
+        U: for<'v> PyTryFrom<'v>,
+    {
+        fn try_into(&self) -> Result<&U, PyDowncastError<'_>> {
+            <U as PyTryFrom<'_>>::try_from(self)
+        }
+        fn try_into_exact(&self) -> Result<&U, PyDowncastError<'_>> {
+            U::try_from_exact(self)
         }
     }
 
-    fn try_from_exact<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v Self, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
-        let value = value.into();
-        unsafe {
-            if T::is_exact_type_of(value) {
-                Ok(Self::try_from_unchecked(value))
-            } else {
-                Err(PyDowncastError::new(value, T::NAME))
-            }
+    impl<'v, T> PyTryFrom<'v> for T
+    where
+        T: PyTypeInfo<AsRefTarget = Self> + PyNativeType,
+    {
+        fn try_from<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v Self, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
+            value.into().downcast()
         }
-    }
 
-    #[inline]
-    unsafe fn try_from_unchecked<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> &'v Self {
-        Self::unchecked_downcast(value.into())
-    }
-}
+        fn try_from_exact<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v Self, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
+            value.into().downcast_exact()
+        }
 
-impl<'v, T> PyTryFrom<'v> for PyCell<T>
-where
-    T: 'v + PyClass,
-{
-    fn try_from<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v Self, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
-        let value = value.into();
-        unsafe {
-            if T::is_type_of(value) {
-                Ok(Self::try_from_unchecked(value))
-            } else {
-                Err(PyDowncastError::new(value, T::NAME))
-            }
+        #[inline]
+        unsafe fn try_from_unchecked<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> &'v Self {
+            value.into().downcast_unchecked()
         }
     }
-    fn try_from_exact<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v Self, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
-        let value = value.into();
-        unsafe {
-            if T::is_exact_type_of(value) {
-                Ok(Self::try_from_unchecked(value))
-            } else {
-                Err(PyDowncastError::new(value, T::NAME))
+
+    impl<'v, T> PyTryFrom<'v> for PyCell<T>
+    where
+        T: 'v + PyClass,
+    {
+        fn try_from<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v Self, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
+            value.into().downcast()
+        }
+        fn try_from_exact<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v Self, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
+            let value = value.into();
+            unsafe {
+                if T::is_exact_type_of(value) {
+                    Ok(Self::try_from_unchecked(value))
+                } else {
+                    Err(PyDowncastError::new(value, T::NAME))
+                }
             }
         }
-    }
-    #[inline]
-    unsafe fn try_from_unchecked<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> &'v Self {
-        Self::unchecked_downcast(value.into())
+        #[inline]
+        unsafe fn try_from_unchecked<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> &'v Self {
+            value.into().downcast_unchecked()
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -572,10 +555,11 @@ mod test_no_clone {}
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use crate::types::{IntoPyDict, PyAny, PyDict, PyList};
-    use crate::{PyObject, Python, ToPyObject};
+    use crate::PyObject;
 
-    use super::PyTryFrom;
+    use super::super::PyTryFrom;
+    use crate::types::{IntoPyDict, PyAny, PyDict, PyList};
+    use crate::{Python, ToPyObject};
 
     #[test]
     fn test_try_from() {
diff --git a/src/instance.rs b/src/instance.rs
index 4c43ef33cf1..d80f6d519e1 100644
--- a/src/instance.rs
+++ b/src/instance.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
-use crate::conversion::PyTryFrom;
 use crate::err::{self, PyDowncastError, PyErr, PyResult};
-use crate::gil;
 use crate::pycell::{PyBorrowError, PyBorrowMutError, PyCell};
 use crate::pyclass::boolean_struct::{False, True};
+use crate::type_object::HasPyGilRef;
 use crate::types::any::PyAnyMethods;
 use crate::types::{PyDict, PyString, PyTuple};
 use crate::{
     ffi, AsPyPointer, FromPyObject, IntoPy, PyAny, PyClass, PyClassInitializer, PyRef, PyRefMut,
     PyTypeInfo, Python, ToPyObject,
 };
+use crate::{gil, PyTypeCheck};
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::mem::{self, ManuallyDrop};
 use std::ops::Deref;
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ impl<'py, T> Py2<'py, T> {
     #[doc(hidden)] // public and doc(hidden) to use in examples and tests for now
     pub fn as_gil_ref(&'py self) -> &'py T::AsRefTarget
     where
-        T: PyTypeInfo,
+        T: HasPyGilRef,
     {
         unsafe { self.py().from_borrowed_ptr(self.as_ptr()) }
     }
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ impl<'py, T> Py2<'py, T> {
     #[doc(hidden)] // public but hidden, to use for tests for now
     pub fn into_gil_ref(self) -> &'py T::AsRefTarget
     where
-        T: PyTypeInfo,
+        T: HasPyGilRef,
     {
         unsafe { self.py().from_owned_ptr(self.into_ptr()) }
     }
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ where
 
 impl<T> Py<T>
 where
-    T: PyTypeInfo,
+    T: HasPyGilRef,
 {
     /// Borrows a GIL-bound reference to the contained `T`.
     ///
@@ -1314,11 +1314,11 @@ impl PyObject {
     /// # }
     /// ```
     #[inline]
-    pub fn downcast<'p, T>(&'p self, py: Python<'p>) -> Result<&T, PyDowncastError<'_>>
+    pub fn downcast<'py, T>(&'py self, py: Python<'py>) -> Result<&'py T, PyDowncastError<'py>>
     where
-        T: PyTryFrom<'p>,
+        T: PyTypeCheck<AsRefTarget = T>,
     {
-        <T as PyTryFrom<'_>>::try_from(self.as_ref(py))
+        self.as_ref(py).downcast()
     }
 
     /// Casts the PyObject to a concrete Python object type without checking validity.
@@ -1329,9 +1329,9 @@ impl PyObject {
     #[inline]
     pub unsafe fn downcast_unchecked<'p, T>(&'p self, py: Python<'p>) -> &T
     where
-        T: PyTryFrom<'p>,
+        T: HasPyGilRef<AsRefTarget = T>,
     {
-        <T as PyTryFrom<'_>>::try_from_unchecked(self.as_ref(py))
+        self.as_ref(py).downcast_unchecked()
     }
 }
 
@@ -1509,6 +1509,8 @@ a = A()
 
     #[cfg(feature = "macros")]
     mod using_macros {
+        use crate::{PyCell, PyTryInto};
+
         use super::*;
 
         #[crate::pyclass]
@@ -1533,5 +1535,15 @@ a = A()
                 assert_eq!(instance.try_borrow_mut(py).unwrap().0, 123);
             })
         }
+
+        #[test]
+        fn cell_tryfrom() {
+            // More detailed tests of the underlying semantics in pycell.rs
+            Python::with_gil(|py| {
+                let instance: &PyAny = Py::new(py, SomeClass(0)).unwrap().into_ref(py);
+                let _: &PyCell<SomeClass> = PyTryInto::try_into(instance).unwrap();
+                let _: &PyCell<SomeClass> = PyTryInto::try_into_exact(instance).unwrap();
+            })
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 762644f1a2c..fcf75610656 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -294,9 +294,8 @@
 //! [Features chapter of the guide]: https://pyo3.rs/latest/features.html#features-reference "Features Reference - PyO3 user guide"
 //! [`Ungil`]: crate::marker::Ungil
 pub use crate::class::*;
-pub use crate::conversion::{
-    AsPyPointer, FromPyObject, FromPyPointer, IntoPy, PyTryFrom, PyTryInto, ToPyObject,
-};
+pub use crate::conversion::{AsPyPointer, FromPyObject, FromPyPointer, IntoPy, ToPyObject};
+pub use crate::conversion::{PyTryFrom, PyTryInto};
 pub use crate::err::{PyDowncastError, PyErr, PyErrArguments, PyResult};
 pub use crate::gil::GILPool;
 #[cfg(not(PyPy))]
@@ -306,7 +305,7 @@ pub use crate::marker::Python;
 pub use crate::pycell::{PyCell, PyRef, PyRefMut};
 pub use crate::pyclass::PyClass;
 pub use crate::pyclass_init::PyClassInitializer;
-pub use crate::type_object::PyTypeInfo;
+pub use crate::type_object::{PyTypeCheck, PyTypeInfo};
 pub use crate::types::PyAny;
 pub use crate::version::PythonVersionInfo;
 
diff --git a/src/marker.rs b/src/marker.rs
index a789e565a84..a6517fa1844 100644
--- a/src/marker.rs
+++ b/src/marker.rs
@@ -118,11 +118,12 @@
 use crate::err::{self, PyDowncastError, PyErr, PyResult};
 use crate::gil::{GILGuard, GILPool, SuspendGIL};
 use crate::impl_::not_send::NotSend;
+use crate::type_object::HasPyGilRef;
 use crate::types::{
     PyAny, PyDict, PyEllipsis, PyModule, PyNone, PyNotImplemented, PyString, PyType,
 };
 use crate::version::PythonVersionInfo;
-use crate::{ffi, FromPyPointer, IntoPy, Py, PyNativeType, PyObject, PyTryFrom, PyTypeInfo};
+use crate::{ffi, FromPyPointer, IntoPy, Py, PyObject, PyTypeCheck, PyTypeInfo};
 use std::ffi::{CStr, CString};
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::os::raw::c_int;
@@ -759,10 +760,9 @@ impl<'py> Python<'py> {
     /// Registers the object in the release pool, and tries to downcast to specific type.
     pub fn checked_cast_as<T>(self, obj: PyObject) -> Result<&'py T, PyDowncastError<'py>>
     where
-        T: PyTryFrom<'py>,
+        T: PyTypeCheck<AsRefTarget = T>,
     {
-        let any: &PyAny = unsafe { self.from_owned_ptr(obj.into_ptr()) };
-        <T as PyTryFrom>::try_from(any)
+        obj.into_ref(self).downcast()
     }
 
     /// Registers the object in the release pool, and does an unchecked downcast
@@ -773,10 +773,9 @@ impl<'py> Python<'py> {
     /// Callers must ensure that ensure that the cast is valid.
     pub unsafe fn cast_as<T>(self, obj: PyObject) -> &'py T
     where
-        T: PyNativeType + PyTypeInfo,
+        T: HasPyGilRef<AsRefTarget = T>,
     {
-        let any: &PyAny = self.from_owned_ptr(obj.into_ptr());
-        T::unchecked_downcast(any)
+        obj.into_ref(self).downcast_unchecked()
     }
 
     /// Registers the object pointer in the release pool,
diff --git a/src/prelude.rs b/src/prelude.rs
index fc0199e59e3..1ef60bc659a 100644
--- a/src/prelude.rs
+++ b/src/prelude.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 //! use pyo3::prelude::*;
 //! ```
 
-pub use crate::conversion::{FromPyObject, IntoPy, PyTryFrom, PyTryInto, ToPyObject};
+pub use crate::conversion::{FromPyObject, IntoPy, ToPyObject};
+pub use crate::conversion::{PyTryFrom, PyTryInto};
 pub use crate::err::{PyErr, PyResult};
 pub use crate::instance::{Py, PyObject};
 pub use crate::marker::Python;
diff --git a/src/pycell.rs b/src/pycell.rs
index 8a4ceb6b374..2d5c0536069 100644
--- a/src/pycell.rs
+++ b/src/pycell.rs
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ use crate::{
     type_object::get_tp_free,
     PyTypeInfo,
 };
-use crate::{ffi, IntoPy, PyErr, PyNativeType, PyObject, PyResult, Python};
+use crate::{ffi, IntoPy, PyErr, PyNativeType, PyObject, PyResult, PyTypeCheck, Python};
 use std::cell::UnsafeCell;
 use std::fmt;
 use std::mem::ManuallyDrop;
@@ -527,6 +527,17 @@ impl<T: PyClassImpl> PyCell<T> {
 unsafe impl<T: PyClassImpl> PyLayout<T> for PyCell<T> {}
 impl<T: PyClass> PySizedLayout<T> for PyCell<T> {}
 
+impl<T> PyTypeCheck for PyCell<T>
+where
+    T: PyClass,
+{
+    const NAME: &'static str = <T as PyTypeCheck>::NAME;
+
+    fn type_check(object: &PyAny) -> bool {
+        <T as PyTypeCheck>::type_check(object)
+    }
+}
+
 unsafe impl<T: PyClass> AsPyPointer for PyCell<T> {
     fn as_ptr(&self) -> *mut ffi::PyObject {
         (self as *const _) as *mut _
diff --git a/src/type_object.rs b/src/type_object.rs
index f867dcca001..428de86accf 100644
--- a/src/type_object.rs
+++ b/src/type_object.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,27 @@ pub unsafe trait PyLayout<T> {}
 /// In addition, that `T` is a concrete representation of `U`.
 pub trait PySizedLayout<T>: PyLayout<T> + Sized {}
 
+/// Specifies that this type has a "GIL-bound Reference" form.
+///
+/// This is expected to be deprecated in the near future, see <https://github.com/PyO3/pyo3/issues/3382>
+///
+///
+/// # Safety
+///
+/// - `Py<Self>::as_ref` will hand out references to `Self::AsRefTarget`.
+/// - `Self::AsRefTarget` must have the same layout as `UnsafeCell<ffi::PyAny>`.
+pub unsafe trait HasPyGilRef {
+    /// Utility type to make Py::as_ref work.
+    type AsRefTarget: PyNativeType;
+}
+
+unsafe impl<T> HasPyGilRef for T
+where
+    T: PyNativeType,
+{
+    type AsRefTarget = Self;
+}
+
 /// Python type information.
 /// All Python native types (e.g., `PyDict`) and `#[pyclass]` structs implement this trait.
 ///
@@ -32,16 +53,13 @@ pub trait PySizedLayout<T>: PyLayout<T> + Sized {}
 ///
 /// Implementations must provide an implementation for `type_object_raw` which infallibly produces a
 /// non-null pointer to the corresponding Python type object.
-pub unsafe trait PyTypeInfo: Sized {
+pub unsafe trait PyTypeInfo: Sized + HasPyGilRef {
     /// Class name.
     const NAME: &'static str;
 
     /// Module name, if any.
     const MODULE: Option<&'static str>;
 
-    /// Utility type to make Py::as_ref work.
-    type AsRefTarget: PyNativeType;
-
     /// Returns the PyTypeObject instance for this type.
     fn type_object_raw(py: Python<'_>) -> *mut ffi::PyTypeObject;
 
@@ -64,6 +82,29 @@ pub unsafe trait PyTypeInfo: Sized {
     }
 }
 
+/// Implemented by types which can be used as a concrete Python type inside `Py<T>` smart pointers.
+pub trait PyTypeCheck: HasPyGilRef {
+    /// Name of self. This is used in error messages, for example.
+    const NAME: &'static str;
+
+    /// Checks if `object` is an instance of `Self`, which may include a subtype.
+    ///
+    /// This should be equivalent to the Python expression `isinstance(object, Self)`.
+    fn type_check(object: &PyAny) -> bool;
+}
+
+impl<T> PyTypeCheck for T
+where
+    T: PyTypeInfo,
+{
+    const NAME: &'static str = <T as PyTypeInfo>::NAME;
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn type_check(object: &PyAny) -> bool {
+        <T as PyTypeInfo>::is_type_of(object)
+    }
+}
+
 #[inline]
 pub(crate) unsafe fn get_tp_alloc(tp: *mut ffi::PyTypeObject) -> Option<ffi::allocfunc> {
     #[cfg(not(Py_LIMITED_API))]
diff --git a/src/types/any.rs b/src/types/any.rs
index 8d3cfc6d1a0..dc29b1dea56 100644
--- a/src/types/any.rs
+++ b/src/types/any.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use crate::class::basic::CompareOp;
-use crate::conversion::{AsPyPointer, FromPyObject, IntoPy, PyTryFrom, ToPyObject};
+use crate::conversion::{AsPyPointer, FromPyObject, IntoPy, ToPyObject};
 use crate::err::{PyDowncastError, PyErr, PyResult};
 use crate::exceptions::{PyAttributeError, PyTypeError};
 use crate::instance::Py2;
-use crate::type_object::PyTypeInfo;
+use crate::type_object::{HasPyGilRef, PyTypeCheck, PyTypeInfo};
 #[cfg(not(PyPy))]
 use crate::types::PySuper;
 use crate::types::{PyDict, PyIterator, PyList, PyString, PyTuple, PyType};
@@ -776,11 +776,16 @@ impl PyAny {
     /// # }
     /// ```
     #[inline]
-    pub fn downcast<'p, T>(&'p self) -> Result<&'p T, PyDowncastError<'_>>
+    pub fn downcast<T>(&self) -> Result<&T, PyDowncastError<'_>>
     where
-        T: PyTryFrom<'p>,
+        T: PyTypeCheck<AsRefTarget = T>,
     {
-        <T as PyTryFrom>::try_from(self)
+        if T::type_check(self) {
+            // Safety: type_check is responsible for ensuring that the type is correct
+            Ok(unsafe { self.downcast_unchecked() })
+        } else {
+            Err(PyDowncastError::new(self, T::NAME))
+        }
     }
 
     /// Downcast this `PyAny` to a concrete Python type or pyclass (but not a subclass of it).
@@ -814,11 +819,16 @@ impl PyAny {
     /// });
     /// ```
     #[inline]
-    pub fn downcast_exact<'p, T>(&'p self) -> Result<&'p T, PyDowncastError<'_>>
+    pub fn downcast_exact<T>(&self) -> Result<&T, PyDowncastError<'_>>
     where
-        T: PyTryFrom<'p>,
+        T: PyTypeInfo<AsRefTarget = T>,
     {
-        <T as PyTryFrom>::try_from_exact(self)
+        if T::is_exact_type_of(self) {
+            // Safety: type_check is responsible for ensuring that the type is correct
+            Ok(unsafe { self.downcast_unchecked() })
+        } else {
+            Err(PyDowncastError::new(self, T::NAME))
+        }
     }
 
     /// Converts this `PyAny` to a concrete Python type without checking validity.
@@ -827,16 +837,17 @@ impl PyAny {
     ///
     /// Callers must ensure that the type is valid or risk type confusion.
     #[inline]
-    pub unsafe fn downcast_unchecked<'p, T>(&'p self) -> &'p T
+    pub unsafe fn downcast_unchecked<T>(&self) -> &T
     where
-        T: PyTryFrom<'p>,
+        T: HasPyGilRef<AsRefTarget = T>,
     {
-        <T as PyTryFrom>::try_from_unchecked(self)
+        &*(self.as_ptr() as *const T)
     }
 
     /// Extracts some type from the Python object.
     ///
     /// This is a wrapper function around [`FromPyObject::extract()`].
+    #[inline]
     pub fn extract<'a, D>(&'a self) -> PyResult<D>
     where
         D: FromPyObject<'a>,
@@ -1549,12 +1560,12 @@ pub(crate) trait PyAnyMethods<'py> {
     /// ```
     fn downcast<T>(&self) -> Result<&Py2<'py, T>, PyDowncastError<'py>>
     where
-        T: PyTypeInfo;
+        T: PyTypeCheck;
 
     /// Like `downcast` but takes ownership of `self`.
     fn downcast_into<T>(self) -> Result<Py2<'py, T>, PyDowncastError<'py>>
     where
-        T: PyTypeInfo;
+        T: PyTypeCheck;
 
     /// Downcast this `PyAny` to a concrete Python type or pyclass (but not a subclass of it).
     ///
@@ -2031,10 +2042,10 @@ impl<'py> PyAnyMethods<'py> for Py2<'py, PyAny> {
     #[inline]
     fn downcast<T>(&self) -> Result<&Py2<'py, T>, PyDowncastError<'py>>
     where
-        T: PyTypeInfo,
+        T: PyTypeCheck,
     {
-        if self.is_instance_of::<T>() {
-            // Safety: is_instance_of is responsible for ensuring that the type is correct
+        if T::type_check(self.as_gil_ref()) {
+            // Safety: type_check is responsible for ensuring that the type is correct
             Ok(unsafe { self.downcast_unchecked() })
         } else {
             Err(PyDowncastError::new(self.clone().into_gil_ref(), T::NAME))
@@ -2044,10 +2055,10 @@ impl<'py> PyAnyMethods<'py> for Py2<'py, PyAny> {
     #[inline]
     fn downcast_into<T>(self) -> Result<Py2<'py, T>, PyDowncastError<'py>>
     where
-        T: PyTypeInfo,
+        T: PyTypeCheck,
     {
-        if self.is_instance_of::<T>() {
-            // Safety: is_instance_of is responsible for ensuring that the type is correct
+        if T::type_check(self.as_gil_ref()) {
+            // Safety: type_check is responsible for ensuring that the type is correct
             Ok(unsafe { self.downcast_into_unchecked() })
         } else {
             Err(PyDowncastError::new(self.clone().into_gil_ref(), T::NAME))
diff --git a/src/types/ellipsis.rs b/src/types/ellipsis.rs
index c1c594f8f24..e31f9d4183b 100644
--- a/src/types/ellipsis.rs
+++ b/src/types/ellipsis.rs
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ unsafe impl PyTypeInfo for PyEllipsis {
 
     const MODULE: Option<&'static str> = None;
 
-    type AsRefTarget = PyEllipsis;
-
     fn type_object_raw(_py: Python<'_>) -> *mut ffi::PyTypeObject {
         unsafe { ffi::Py_TYPE(ffi::Py_Ellipsis()) }
     }
diff --git a/src/types/iterator.rs b/src/types/iterator.rs
index d88240f3880..310dbdf8204 100644
--- a/src/types/iterator.rs
+++ b/src/types/iterator.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-use crate::{ffi, AsPyPointer, Py, Py2, PyAny, PyErr, PyNativeType, PyResult, Python};
-use crate::{PyDowncastError, PyTryFrom};
+use crate::{
+    ffi, AsPyPointer, Py2, PyAny, PyDowncastError, PyErr, PyNativeType, PyResult, PyTypeCheck,
+};
 
 use super::any::PyAnyMethods;
 
@@ -33,11 +34,7 @@ impl PyIterator {
     ///
     /// Equivalent to Python's built-in `iter` function.
     pub fn from_object(obj: &PyAny) -> PyResult<&PyIterator> {
-        Self::from_object2(Py2::borrowed_from_gil_ref(&obj)).map(|py2| {
-            // Can't use into_gil_ref here because T: PyTypeInfo bound is not satisfied
-            // Safety: into_ptr produces a valid pointer to PyIterator object
-            unsafe { obj.py().from_owned_ptr(py2.into_ptr()) }
-        })
+        Self::from_object2(Py2::borrowed_from_gil_ref(&obj)).map(Py2::into_gil_ref)
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn from_object2<'py>(obj: &Py2<'py, PyAny>) -> PyResult<Py2<'py, PyIterator>> {
@@ -73,8 +70,15 @@ impl<'p> Iterator for &'p PyIterator {
     }
 }
 
-// PyIter_Check does not exist in the limited API until 3.8
-impl<'v> PyTryFrom<'v> for PyIterator {
+impl PyTypeCheck for PyIterator {
+    const NAME: &'static str = "Iterator";
+
+    fn type_check(object: &PyAny) -> bool {
+        unsafe { ffi::PyIter_Check(object.as_ptr()) != 0 }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'v> crate::PyTryFrom<'v> for PyIterator {
     fn try_from<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v PyIterator, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
         let value = value.into();
         unsafe {
@@ -97,22 +101,6 @@ impl<'v> PyTryFrom<'v> for PyIterator {
     }
 }
 
-impl Py<PyIterator> {
-    /// Borrows a GIL-bound reference to the PyIterator. By binding to the GIL lifetime, this
-    /// allows the GIL-bound reference to not require `Python` for any of its methods.
-    pub fn as_ref<'py>(&'py self, _py: Python<'py>) -> &'py PyIterator {
-        let any = self.as_ptr() as *const PyAny;
-        unsafe { PyNativeType::unchecked_downcast(&*any) }
-    }
-
-    /// Similar to [`as_ref`](#method.as_ref), and also consumes this `Py` and registers the
-    /// Python object reference in PyO3's object storage. The reference count for the Python
-    /// object will not be decreased until the GIL lifetime ends.
-    pub fn into_ref(self, py: Python<'_>) -> &PyIterator {
-        unsafe { py.from_owned_ptr(self.into_ptr()) }
-    }
-}
-
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::PyIterator;
@@ -235,28 +223,6 @@ def fibonacci(target):
         });
     }
 
-    #[test]
-    fn test_as_ref() {
-        Python::with_gil(|py| {
-            let iter: Py<PyIterator> = PyAny::iter(PyList::empty(py)).unwrap().into();
-            let mut iter_ref: &PyIterator = iter.as_ref(py);
-            assert!(iter_ref.next().is_none());
-        })
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_into_ref() {
-        Python::with_gil(|py| {
-            let bare_iter = PyAny::iter(PyList::empty(py)).unwrap();
-            assert_eq!(bare_iter.get_refcnt(), 1);
-            let iter: Py<PyIterator> = bare_iter.into();
-            assert_eq!(bare_iter.get_refcnt(), 2);
-            let mut iter_ref = iter.into_ref(py);
-            assert!(iter_ref.next().is_none());
-            assert_eq!(iter_ref.get_refcnt(), 2);
-        })
-    }
-
     #[test]
     #[cfg(feature = "macros")]
     fn python_class_not_iterator() {
diff --git a/src/types/mapping.rs b/src/types/mapping.rs
index 22e86d61e7f..e837ef911e9 100644
--- a/src/types/mapping.rs
+++ b/src/types/mapping.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use crate::err::{PyDowncastError, PyResult};
 use crate::sync::GILOnceCell;
 use crate::type_object::PyTypeInfo;
 use crate::types::{PyAny, PyDict, PySequence, PyType};
-use crate::{ffi, Py, PyNativeType, PyTryFrom, Python, ToPyObject};
+use crate::{ffi, Py, PyNativeType, PyTypeCheck, Python, ToPyObject};
 
 /// Represents a reference to a Python object supporting the mapping protocol.
 #[repr(transparent)]
@@ -120,21 +120,29 @@ fn get_mapping_abc(py: Python<'_>) -> PyResult<&PyType> {
         .map(|ty| ty.as_ref(py))
 }
 
-impl<'v> PyTryFrom<'v> for PyMapping {
+impl PyTypeCheck for PyMapping {
+    const NAME: &'static str = "Mapping";
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn type_check(object: &PyAny) -> bool {
+        // Using `is_instance` for `collections.abc.Mapping` is slow, so provide
+        // optimized case dict as a well-known mapping
+        PyDict::is_type_of(object)
+            || get_mapping_abc(object.py())
+                .and_then(|abc| object.is_instance(abc))
+                // TODO: surface errors in this chain to the user
+                .unwrap_or(false)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'v> crate::PyTryFrom<'v> for PyMapping {
     /// Downcasting to `PyMapping` requires the concrete class to be a subclass (or registered
     /// subclass) of `collections.abc.Mapping` (from the Python standard library) - i.e.
     /// `isinstance(<class>, collections.abc.Mapping) == True`.
     fn try_from<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v PyMapping, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
         let value = value.into();
 
-        // Using `is_instance` for `collections.abc.Mapping` is slow, so provide
-        // optimized case dict as a well-known mapping
-        if PyDict::is_type_of(value)
-            || get_mapping_abc(value.py())
-                .and_then(|abc| value.is_instance(abc))
-                // TODO: surface errors in this chain to the user
-                .unwrap_or(false)
-        {
+        if PyMapping::type_check(value) {
             unsafe { return Ok(value.downcast_unchecked()) }
         }
 
@@ -153,22 +161,6 @@ impl<'v> PyTryFrom<'v> for PyMapping {
     }
 }
 
-impl Py<PyMapping> {
-    /// Borrows a GIL-bound reference to the PyMapping. By binding to the GIL lifetime, this
-    /// allows the GIL-bound reference to not require `Python` for any of its methods.
-    pub fn as_ref<'py>(&'py self, _py: Python<'py>) -> &'py PyMapping {
-        let any = self.as_ptr() as *const PyAny;
-        unsafe { PyNativeType::unchecked_downcast(&*any) }
-    }
-
-    /// Similar to [`as_ref`](#method.as_ref), and also consumes this `Py` and registers the
-    /// Python object reference in PyO3's object storage. The reference count for the Python
-    /// object will not be decreased until the GIL lifetime ends.
-    pub fn into_ref(self, py: Python<'_>) -> &PyMapping {
-        unsafe { py.from_owned_ptr(self.into_ptr()) }
-    }
-}
-
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use std::collections::HashMap;
@@ -176,7 +168,7 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::{
         exceptions::PyKeyError,
         types::{PyDict, PyTuple},
-        Python,
+        PyTryFrom, Python,
     };
 
     use super::*;
@@ -326,24 +318,11 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn test_as_ref() {
-        Python::with_gil(|py| {
-            let mapping: Py<PyMapping> = PyDict::new(py).as_mapping().into();
-            let mapping_ref: &PyMapping = mapping.as_ref(py);
-            assert_eq!(mapping_ref.len().unwrap(), 0);
-        })
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_into_ref() {
+    fn test_mapping_try_from() {
         Python::with_gil(|py| {
-            let bare_mapping = PyDict::new(py).as_mapping();
-            assert_eq!(bare_mapping.get_refcnt(), 1);
-            let mapping: Py<PyMapping> = bare_mapping.into();
-            assert_eq!(bare_mapping.get_refcnt(), 2);
-            let mapping_ref = mapping.into_ref(py);
-            assert_eq!(mapping_ref.len().unwrap(), 0);
-            assert_eq!(mapping_ref.get_refcnt(), 2);
-        })
+            let dict = PyDict::new(py);
+            let _ = <PyMapping as PyTryFrom>::try_from(dict).unwrap();
+            let _ = PyMapping::try_from_exact(dict).unwrap();
+        });
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/types/mod.rs b/src/types/mod.rs
index c6bc1972991..b20fdf37305 100644
--- a/src/types/mod.rs
+++ b/src/types/mod.rs
@@ -192,8 +192,6 @@ macro_rules! pyobject_native_static_type_object(
 macro_rules! pyobject_native_type_info(
     ($name:ty, $typeobject:expr, $module:expr $(, #checkfunction=$checkfunction:path)? $(;$generics:ident)*) => {
         unsafe impl<$($generics,)*> $crate::type_object::PyTypeInfo for $name {
-            type AsRefTarget = Self;
-
             const NAME: &'static str = stringify!($name);
             const MODULE: ::std::option::Option<&'static str> = $module;
 
@@ -221,6 +219,7 @@ macro_rules! pyobject_native_type_info(
 macro_rules! pyobject_native_type_extract {
     ($name:ty $(;$generics:ident)*) => {
         impl<'py, $($generics,)*> $crate::FromPyObject<'py> for &'py $name {
+            #[inline]
             fn extract(obj: &'py $crate::PyAny) -> $crate::PyResult<Self> {
                 obj.downcast().map_err(::std::convert::Into::into)
             }
diff --git a/src/types/none.rs b/src/types/none.rs
index fa189911151..19ee80ede57 100644
--- a/src/types/none.rs
+++ b/src/types/none.rs
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ unsafe impl PyTypeInfo for PyNone {
 
     const MODULE: Option<&'static str> = None;
 
-    type AsRefTarget = PyNone;
-
     fn type_object_raw(_py: Python<'_>) -> *mut ffi::PyTypeObject {
         unsafe { ffi::Py_TYPE(ffi::Py_None()) }
     }
diff --git a/src/types/notimplemented.rs b/src/types/notimplemented.rs
index 2d4b7737053..0c61fd79bee 100644
--- a/src/types/notimplemented.rs
+++ b/src/types/notimplemented.rs
@@ -17,11 +17,8 @@ impl PyNotImplemented {
 
 unsafe impl PyTypeInfo for PyNotImplemented {
     const NAME: &'static str = "NotImplementedType";
-
     const MODULE: Option<&'static str> = None;
 
-    type AsRefTarget = PyNotImplemented;
-
     fn type_object_raw(_py: Python<'_>) -> *mut ffi::PyTypeObject {
         unsafe { ffi::Py_TYPE(ffi::Py_NotImplemented()) }
     }
diff --git a/src/types/sequence.rs b/src/types/sequence.rs
index 80fd17a8e2f..6515f6b4bf3 100644
--- a/src/types/sequence.rs
+++ b/src/types/sequence.rs
@@ -6,9 +6,7 @@ use crate::internal_tricks::get_ssize_index;
 use crate::sync::GILOnceCell;
 use crate::type_object::PyTypeInfo;
 use crate::types::{PyAny, PyList, PyString, PyTuple, PyType};
-use crate::{ffi, PyNativeType, PyObject, ToPyObject};
-use crate::{FromPyObject, PyTryFrom};
-use crate::{Py, Python};
+use crate::{ffi, FromPyObject, Py, PyNativeType, PyObject, PyTypeCheck, Python, ToPyObject};
 
 /// Represents a reference to a Python object supporting the sequence protocol.
 #[repr(transparent)]
@@ -312,22 +310,30 @@ fn get_sequence_abc(py: Python<'_>) -> PyResult<&PyType> {
         .map(|ty| ty.as_ref(py))
 }
 
-impl<'v> PyTryFrom<'v> for PySequence {
+impl PyTypeCheck for PySequence {
+    const NAME: &'static str = "Sequence";
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn type_check(object: &PyAny) -> bool {
+        // Using `is_instance` for `collections.abc.Sequence` is slow, so provide
+        // optimized cases for list and tuples as common well-known sequences
+        PyList::is_type_of(object)
+            || PyTuple::is_type_of(object)
+            || get_sequence_abc(object.py())
+                .and_then(|abc| object.is_instance(abc))
+                // TODO: surface errors in this chain to the user
+                .unwrap_or(false)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'v> crate::PyTryFrom<'v> for PySequence {
     /// Downcasting to `PySequence` requires the concrete class to be a subclass (or registered
     /// subclass) of `collections.abc.Sequence` (from the Python standard library) - i.e.
     /// `isinstance(<class>, collections.abc.Sequence) == True`.
     fn try_from<V: Into<&'v PyAny>>(value: V) -> Result<&'v PySequence, PyDowncastError<'v>> {
         let value = value.into();
 
-        // Using `is_instance` for `collections.abc.Sequence` is slow, so provide
-        // optimized cases for list and tuples as common well-known sequences
-        if PyList::is_type_of(value)
-            || PyTuple::is_type_of(value)
-            || get_sequence_abc(value.py())
-                .and_then(|abc| value.is_instance(abc))
-                // TODO: surface errors in this chain to the user
-                .unwrap_or(false)
-        {
+        if PySequence::type_check(value) {
             unsafe { return Ok(value.downcast_unchecked::<PySequence>()) }
         }
 
@@ -345,36 +351,10 @@ impl<'v> PyTryFrom<'v> for PySequence {
     }
 }
 
-impl Py<PySequence> {
-    /// Borrows a GIL-bound reference to the PySequence. By binding to the GIL lifetime, this
-    /// allows the GIL-bound reference to not require `Python` for any of its methods.
-    ///
-    /// ```
-    /// # use pyo3::prelude::*;
-    /// # use pyo3::types::{PyList, PySequence};
-    /// # Python::with_gil(|py| {
-    /// let seq: Py<PySequence> = PyList::empty(py).as_sequence().into();
-    /// let seq: &PySequence = seq.as_ref(py);
-    /// assert_eq!(seq.len().unwrap(), 0);
-    /// # });
-    /// ```
-    pub fn as_ref<'py>(&'py self, _py: Python<'py>) -> &'py PySequence {
-        let any = self.as_ptr() as *const PyAny;
-        unsafe { PyNativeType::unchecked_downcast(&*any) }
-    }
-
-    /// Similar to [`as_ref`](#method.as_ref), and also consumes this `Py` and registers the
-    /// Python object reference in PyO3's object storage. The reference count for the Python
-    /// object will not be decreased until the GIL lifetime ends.
-    pub fn into_ref(self, py: Python<'_>) -> &PySequence {
-        unsafe { py.from_owned_ptr(self.into_ptr()) }
-    }
-}
-
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use crate::types::{PyList, PySequence, PyTuple};
-    use crate::{Py, PyObject, Python, ToPyObject};
+    use crate::{PyObject, PyTryFrom, Python, ToPyObject};
 
     fn get_object() -> PyObject {
         // Convenience function for getting a single unique object
@@ -875,24 +855,11 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn test_as_ref() {
-        Python::with_gil(|py| {
-            let seq: Py<PySequence> = PyList::empty(py).as_sequence().into();
-            let seq_ref: &PySequence = seq.as_ref(py);
-            assert_eq!(seq_ref.len().unwrap(), 0);
-        })
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_into_ref() {
+    fn test_seq_try_from() {
         Python::with_gil(|py| {
-            let bare_seq = PyList::empty(py).as_sequence();
-            assert_eq!(bare_seq.get_refcnt(), 1);
-            let seq: Py<PySequence> = bare_seq.into();
-            assert_eq!(bare_seq.get_refcnt(), 2);
-            let seq_ref = seq.into_ref(py);
-            assert_eq!(seq_ref.len().unwrap(), 0);
-            assert_eq!(seq_ref.get_refcnt(), 2);
-        })
+            let list = PyList::empty(py);
+            let _ = <PySequence as PyTryFrom>::try_from(list).unwrap();
+            let _ = PySequence::try_from_exact(list).unwrap();
+        });
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_gc.rs b/tests/test_gc.rs
index bcb5c54350a..8fd4622f65e 100644
--- a/tests/test_gc.rs
+++ b/tests/test_gc.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 use pyo3::class::PyTraverseError;
 use pyo3::class::PyVisit;
 use pyo3::prelude::*;
-use pyo3::{py_run, PyCell, PyTryInto};
+use pyo3::{py_run, PyCell};
 use std::cell::Cell;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ fn inheritance_with_new_methods_with_drop() {
         let typeobj = py.get_type::<SubClassWithDrop>();
         let inst = typeobj.call((), None).unwrap();
 
-        let obj: &PyCell<SubClassWithDrop> = PyTryInto::try_into(inst).unwrap();
+        let obj: &PyCell<SubClassWithDrop> = inst.downcast().unwrap();
         let mut obj_ref_mut = obj.borrow_mut();
         obj_ref_mut.data = Some(Arc::clone(&drop_called1));
         let base: &mut BaseClassWithDrop = obj_ref_mut.as_mut();