I’ve been daily driving the AirPods Pro 2 since their launch in 2023 (and the Lightning port ones before that, and the original AirPods before that), so I was pretty excited for the third generation of Apple’s flagship true wireless earbuds to debut.
Apple just made the AirPods Pro 3 official alongside a slew of other devices, including the iPhone Air, and these earbuds have a high bar to follow. Not just from the AirPods Pro 2, but also from an ever-growing sea of competitors – just look at our best earbuds list.
Shortly after the event, I got to try the AirPods Pro 3: testing the new fit, spinning a track, and trying the improved active noise cancellation. Apple’s H2 chip still powers the experience, but with fresh algorithms and software tweaks, the processing power is now being pushed further.
I also got to try out two exciting additions, both of which are entirely new: the heart-rate tracking functionality and a quick preview of Live Translation. But let’s start with the first big improvement here: the fit.
It’s clear that Apple took a page out of the AirPods 4 design with the AirPods Pro 3. The left and right AirPods Pro themselves are slightly smaller, but more critically, the eartip is now further angled so that it can rest more comfortably and directly in your ear. There’s also a new eartip that combines foam and silicone for a comfortable, stable, and sealing fit.
And if you’ve ever wished for smaller eartips or larger ones, the AirPods Pro 3 come with medium tips out of the box, but you also get extra-extra small, extra small, large, and extra large. I still felt pretty comfortable with the medium, but these do extend slightly more out of the ear and sit a little differently. They didn’t fall out with a few head-shake tests or even with a walk to test heart-rate tracking.
You’ll also find an array of sensors, including a redesigned top vent that is twice as big, and this works in conjunction with a better use of the space inside for airflow and the like. There’s that new heart-rate sensor, which is different from the one on the Powerbeats Pro 2, and you’ll also still get the stem controller, which I’m stoked is still here.
Now, I didn’t get to test battery life, but here’s what Apple is promising: 8 hours with active noise cancellation on, which is an improvement by two hours, and 10 hours for transparency mode. The case is also slightly larger with a new Ultra Wideband chip inside, but it’s mostly to accommodate the slightly taller design here.
One last note – AirPods Pro still come in just one color. Though you can bet I’m still wishing for colors. Just imagine these in Cosmic Orange or Sky Blue.
Under the hood, Apple’s H2 chip returns with fresh algorithms, improvements to Adaptive EQ, and better sound all around. Playing Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen delivered a forceful and accurate take on the wall of sound effect, with the opening rush of drums, keys, and piano leading into vocals and the soulful saxophone.
Switching over to Alaska by Maggie Rogers highlighted channel separation and Spatial Audio. As a whole, I was impressed with the bass of AirPods Pro 3 as well as the clear mids and highs.
Active Noise Cancellation also impressed. In the demo area, it effectively muffled ambient noise even without music playing, and at around 55% volume, background sounds dropped to the point of being barely noticeable. I’ll want to see how it holds up on a plane, train, and in everyday environments, but so far it feels strong. Transparency mode sounded natural as well, letting in voices and environmental sounds without the harsh buzz or digital artifacts that can trip up other earbuds.
Live Translation is another standout feature. While not an industry first, Apple’s implementation adds polish. With the mode engaged, noise cancellation turns on, the beamforming microphones detect the speaker’s voice, and – if it’s in a supported language – you’ll hear the translation. The processing happens locally on your iPhone and AirPods, since the language models are downloaded in advance. In my demo, the playback wasn’t instant, but it sounded natural and conversational, and the transcript appeared on the iPhone screen. The speed will vary depending on the language, but the experience felt smooth even with the short pause before the translated audio.
Apple has also built in heart-rate tracking with a new infrared sensor. It’s even smaller than the Apple-made sensor in the Powerbeats Pro 2 and avoids the use of green light, instead pairing with a custom algorithm and software for accuracy.
If you’re wearing both an Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 3 during a workout, Apple automatically chooses whichever stream it considers more reliable. On my test walk using the iPhone workout app, the AirPods tracked heart rate well, and it felt like a genuinely useful health feature. Both the earbuds and the case are now IP57-rated, adding extra durability.
The broader takeaway is that AirPods Pro 3 don’t take anything away from previous generations but add meaningful upgrades – better ANC, refined sound, heart-rate tracking, Live Translation, and improved durability – while holding the same $249.99 price in the U.S. From this first ears-on, they feel like a clear step forward.
And if you’re mainly excited about Live Translation, that feature is also coming to AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC.
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jacob.krol@futurenet.com (Jacob Krol)
