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AirPods Pro 3: Everything You Need to Know
Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 bring a smaller fit, stronger noise cancellation, heart-rate tracking, and live translation, all for the same $249 price tag.
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Apple officially launched the AirPods Pro 3 on September 9, 2025, three years after the last model. At first glance, they may look familiar, but the upgrades this year are meaningful. Apple is also pushing AirPods into new areas with health features, making them more than just earbuds for listening to music. For many, these buds could even take over some of the health and fitness tracking usually done on an Apple Watch.
If you’re wondering what’s new, what’s different, and whether they’re worth your money, here’s the full story of the AirPods Pro 3.
AirPods Pro 3 Specifications at a Glance (Detailed Overview)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Audio | Custom Apple driver, Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio with head tracking, Studio-quality recording |
| Noise Control | 2× stronger ANC vs Pro 2, 4× vs original, Personalized Transparency, Adaptive Audio |
| Fit & Build | Smaller buds, reworked design, foam-infused tips in 5 sizes (XXS–L), IP57 dust/sweat/water resistance |
| Health & Fitness | Heart rate sensor (PPG), 50+ workout types, Workout Buddy AI coaching, Fitness+ on-screen metrics |
| Smart Features | Live Translation (beta, 5 languages now, 4 more coming), Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation |
| Chips | H2 chip (buds), U2 chip (case for Find My precision) |
| Battery Life | 8 hrs with ANC, 10 hrs Transparency/hearing aid mode, 24 hrs with case, 5‑min charge = 1 hr |
| Case & Charging | MagSafe, Apple Watch charger, Qi, USB‑C; case includes speaker + lanyard loop |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Price | $249 (unchanged) |
| Release | Preorders Sept 9, 2025; in stores Sept 19 |
Design: Subtle Changes That Matter
At first glance, the AirPods Pro 3 look familiar. The case is still the same rounded-square shape in glossy white with USB‑C charging. But the buds themselves have been reshaped in small but important ways. They’re slightly smaller, and the angle of the tips now points more directly into your ear canal. Apple spent over 100,000 hours in user research and 10,000 ear scans to make these the most secure-fitting AirPods yet.
The ear tips are also new. They’re still silicone on the outside, but now have memory foam inside, helping create a snugger seal. You now get five sizes, including a new XXS option for people who always struggled with the fit. The larger tips also feel closer to an XL size. There’s one catch: these tips don’t work with older AirPods Pro.
Durability also takes a step up. The earbuds and case are now IP57 rated, meaning they’re dust-resistant and can handle sweaty workouts or getting caught in the rain.
Sound and Noise Cancellation: More Immersive Than Ever
Apple calls the AirPods Pro 3 the world’s best in-ear ANC earbuds, and on paper, that’s not an exaggeration. They use ultra-low-noise microphones, advanced computational audio, and new foam-infused tips to block out sound more effectively. Apple claims they cancel twice as much noise as the Pro 2 and four times as much as the original model. In early hands-on demos, the noise canceling seemed excellent, especially across mid and high frequencies.
Audio also gets an upgrade. A new 10.7 mm driver with multiport acoustic architecture improves airflow, which deepens the bass and sharpens the treble. Paired with Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio, music feels more open and natural, whether you’re listening to pop, classical, or a podcast.
Transparency mode also sounds more natural, making your voice and the people around you clearer without that artificial edge.
Health and Fitness: Your Workout Buddy in Your Ears
For the first time, AirPods can measure your heart rate. Apple built a custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor that pulses invisible infrared light 256 times per second to track blood flow. Combined with accelerometers, gyroscope, GPS, and on-device AI from your iPhone, you can log over 50 workout types directly from your earbuds.
It doesn’t stop there. With the new Workout Buddy, powered by Apple Intelligence, AirPods Pro 3 give you motivational insights in real time. Here’s what you get:
- Heart rate tracking with live updates
- Recognition of 50+ workout types
- Real-time coaching with Workout Buddy
- Fitness+ integration for live on-screen stats (heart rate, calories, Move rings)
All of this happens while the earbuds stay snug and stable, even during HIIT or a run.
Live Translation: Talking Across Languages
One of the flashiest new features is Live Translation. Put on your AirPods, start a conversation, and Apple Intelligence translates speech in real time. In demos, the delay was just a second or so, and the translations sounded surprisingly natural. The best part? It works locally on your iPhone, so you don’t need an internet connection.
Currently supported languages:
- English
- French
- German
- Portuguese
- Spanish
Coming later this year:
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Chinese (Simplified)
If the other person doesn’t have AirPods, your iPhone can show the translated text on screen.
Hearing Health and Accessibility
Apple continues to push AirPods as more than just headphones. The Hearing Test lets you check your hearing at home, while Conversation Boost now turns on automatically in loud places, amplifying voices around you while cutting background noise. Loud Sound Reduction and other accessibility features remain built-in, making the AirPods Pro 3 more inclusive than ever.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is another welcome upgrade.
- With ANC on, you now get up to 8 hours of playback (up from 6).
- In Transparency mode, you can stretch that to 10 hours, which is a huge jump from the last generation.
- With the MagSafe charging case, total listening time goes up to 24 hours.
- And if you’re in a hurry, a 5-minute top-up gives you about an hour of playback.
The case itself hasn’t changed much in looks but adds some smart touches. It supports MagSafe, Apple Watch chargers, Qi pads, and USB‑C. There’s also a built-in speaker for Find My alerts and a lanyard loop.
Pricing and Availability
Despite all these upgrades, Apple has kept the price the same. AirPods Pro 3 cost $249, just like the Pro 1 and Pro 2 before them. Preorders started on September 9, and they’ll arrive in stores worldwide on September 19.
Final Thoughts: Small Earbuds, Big Upgrades
The AirPods Pro 3 might look similar to their predecessors, but the changes run deep. Stronger noise cancellation, improved fit, new ear tips, longer battery, and first-ever heart rate tracking make them feel fresh. Add in live translation and expanded hearing health features, and these earbuds are no longer just accessories, they’re mini health and communication devices.
For $249, Apple has managed to pack in more value without raising the price. If you’re still on the original AirPods Pro, this is a massive leap. Even for AirPods Pro 2 owners, the upgrades in fit, health features, and translation may make the switch tempting.
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