Apple just pulled back the curtain on its new AirPods Pro 3, and it’s a big deal. These aren’t just minor tweaks; they come with some serious upgrades. It feels like Apple is pushing listening devices into a new era, blending top-notch sound with smart health features. For music lovers and anyone who wants the latest tech, these earbuds definitely grab attention.
You know, it’s pretty cool when your earbuds can do more than just play tunes. The AirPods Pro 3 now include a heart rate sensor. It uses invisible infrared light, a tech called photoplethysmography, or PPG for short. This tiny sensor works with other bits inside, like accelerometers and a gyroscope, plus your iPhone’s GPS and some smart AI. This setup lets you track over 50 different workouts right in the Fitness app. The best part? You don’t even need an Apple Watch to do it.
Of course, the sound quality is still a major focus. The Active Noise Cancellation, or ANC, is much better now. It’s twice as good as the last version and four times better than the original AirPods Pro. This means a quieter experience, which is great for plane rides or when you just need to focus in a noisy spot. Apple also built a new “multiport acoustic architecture.” This fancy term means the sound you hear is richer and feels more like it’s all around you. Plus, the Transparency mode is clearer, and the Adaptive Equalizer listens to your ear shape, adjusting the sound so it’s perfect for you.
Comfort is key, especially when you wear earbuds for hours. Apple made the AirPods Pro 3 a little smaller. They are 2.6 millimeters narrower and 3 millimeters deeper, designed to fit more snugly and securely. They also added a thin layer of foam to the silicone ear tips. This helps block out more noise passively and makes them much more comfortable for long listening sessions.
Finding the right fit is a common challenge, so Apple included five different ear tip sizes in the box this time. You’ll get XXS, XS, S, M, and L. The XXS is a brand-new, extra-extra-small size, aiming to give even more people a perfect fit.
The new AirPods Pro 3 are also built to keep up with your busy life. Their battery now lasts longer, giving you up to 8 hours of playtime with ANC turned on. If you use the hearing aid feature, you get up to 10 hours. And with the charging case, you’ll have a total of 24 hours of power. They are tougher too. With an IP57 rating, they can handle dust and sweat without a problem. You can even dunk them in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. This makes them perfect for workouts or getting caught in the rain.
IPXY breaks down like this:
- IP stands for Ingress Protection.
- X tells you how well it protects against solid particles, on a scale of 0 to 6.
- Y tells you about liquid protection, on a scale of 0 to 9.
Inside the MagSafe charging case, there’s a new brain: the Apple U2 ultrawideband chip. This is an upgrade from the U1 chip in the AirPods Pro 2. The U2 chip gives you much better precision when you need to find a lost case. It also boosts the range for the Find My app by one and a half times.
When can you get them? Pre-orders for the AirPods Pro 3 started on September 9, 2025, with deliveries kicking off on September 19. Here’s a pleasant surprise: the price. They cost 249 euros, which is less than the 299 euros for the previous Pro 2 version. It’s rare to see a new model drop in price, especially with so many new features.
These improvements truly make the AirPods Pro 3 a strong contender. They offer great performance, comfort, and advanced tech, all wrapped up in a wireless earbud package.