AirPods Pro 3 superguide: Everything worth knowing about the new AirPods

Macworld

Apple’s AirPods 2025: Latest news

There’s a new pair of AirPods Pro. This is the first major update since the AirPods Pro 2 launched in September 2022, although a minor update brought USB-C and hearing aid features last year. 

Apple claims that the new AirPods Pro 3 have the “World’s best ANC (active noise cancellation).” Apple says the new AirPods Pro 3 offer twice the ANC of the previous generation.

The new AirPods Pro 3 are slightly smaller and come with five different foam ear tips for greater noise isolation to fit any ear size. 

You will also benefit from new features coming with WatchOS 26, such as Live Translation. 

Waterproofing is better than ever thanks to IP57 support. 

The biggest news is the new heart rate sensor, which means you can track activity and calories burned on the AirPods. This feature works hand in hand with the workout app and Apple Fitness Plus. 

Preorder today for $249, and they will ship on September 19. 

Apple updated its standard AirPods with a major redesign and price cut in 2024, but it’s been quite a while since the other models were last updated: The AirPods Pro 2 arrived in September 2022, and the AirPods Max debuted in December 2020 before a very modest USB-C update for both.

Curiously, Apple isn’t changing things up too much. The ‘Awe-Dropping’ event showed off new iPhone 17 models, but AirPods and AirPods Max were absent, leaving just the AirPods Pro to make an appearance.

Still, the new update is an impressive one, with an additional focus on live translation, improved noise cancellation, and even a boost for battery life. Here’s all you need to know this time around.




Apple

At a glance: What to expect from AirPods Pro 3

Similar design

Heart-rate and temperature sensors

New features including Live Translation



AirPods Pro 3 design

Last year’s AirPods 4 update brought a streamlined design for Apple’s low-end earbuds, so it would be logical to assume a similar design update will be coming to the AirPods Pro. However, after long-standing rumors of a flush, “stemless” design like the Beats Studio Buds, the new AirPods Pro look, well, almost identical to the second generation.

The charging case looks the same, too, but Apple says it uses “next-generation Ultra Wideband technology” which increases the distance of Precision Finding by 1.5x.



AirPods Pro 3 features

This year’s headline features are a new heart rate sensor, improved fit, better battery life, and live translation.

Heart-rate sensor

In February, Apple announced the Powerbeats Pro 2, which brought the H2 chip as well as an optical heart-rate sensor for continuously measuring heart rate during a workout and tracking throughout the day. The feature has been rumored for the AirPods Pro 3 as far back as December 2024, when Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reported that Apple was working on in-ear heart rate monitoring for the AirPods Pro 2.

Good news: It’s finally here, using Apple’s “smallest ever” heart rate sensor that pulses invisible light to get accurate metrics. Apple says the new AirPods Pro can give accurate data in the Fitness app for up to 50 workout types.

Dust, Sweat, and Water Resistance

While AirPods Pro are great for many things, their lack of sweat resistance has made them tough to use for workouts. Thankfully, Apple says the new AirPods Pro 3 are more durable, with an IP57 rating for sweaty workouts.

Noise Cancelling

Wherever you stand on Active Noise Cancellation in the AirPods Pro 2, Apple has improved it with the latest model. In fact, Apple says it’s twice as good as the ANC on the last generation, and four times better than the first. The company says it’s “the world’s best in-ear Active Noise Cancellation”.




Apple

Improved battery life

With ANC active, battery life has gone from 6 hours to 8 hours on a single charge, while there are 4 hours extra when using the Hearing Aid feature, which came to the second-generation AirPods Pro after launch.

Live translation

As part of the iOS 26 update, Apple is bringing live translation capabilities to the Phone, Messages, and FaceTime apps to automatically translate spoken and written text in real-time. Apple says Live Translation will let you listen to people speaking in one language and hear translations via your AirPods Pro. If both participants have AirPods Pro 3, they’ll be able to speak in their own language and hear translations back.

iOS 26

Several new features are coming to AirPods Pro with iOS 26 and will be present on the new model, including:

Pause when sleeping: If you’re using AirPods and fall asleep, a new feature will automatically turn off playback so the battery won’t run down.

Studio-quality recording: When you use your AirPods with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you’ll be able to record in higher sound quality and enjoy clearer calls.

Camera remote: Users can press and hold the AirPods stem to take a photo or start and stop a video recording on iPhone or iPad.

AirPods Pro 3 release date

AirPods Pro 3 are available for preorder now, and will ship on September 19.




Mahmoud Itani / Foundry



AirPods Pro 3 price

AirPods Pro have been priced at $249 since their 2019 debut, and that’s not changing with the third generation. Notably, Apple introduced AirPods 4 with ANC in 2024 with a price tag of $179/£179, so there’s an option that’s cheaper if you just want ANC.

Pricing for the AirPods range starts at $129/£129 for the AirPods 4 and covers numerous price points: 

Apple Earbuds: $19/£19

AirPods 4: $129/£129

AirPods 4 with ANC: $179/£179

AirPods Pro 3: $249/£229

AirPods Max: $549/£499

We have a round-up of the Best wireless earbuds for iPhones and the best wired headphones if you’d like to consider alternatives to AirPods. Also read AirPods Pro vs AirPods to find out how the models compare.






Jason Cross/IDG

At a glance: What to expect from the AirPods Max 2

New lighter design

Better noise cancellation

H3 chip

Adaptice Audio and other AirPods Pro features

Not expected until late 2026 or 2027



AirPods Max 2 design

There have been numerous complaints about the AirPods Max over the years, but we haven’t heard any rumors to suggest that Apple will dramatically change the design. In May 2025, Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is working on a “lighter” version for release in 2027, but offered no specifics.

Many of AirPods Max’s competitors from Bose, Sony, and even Beats are significantly lighter due to a plastic design, but it’s unlikely Apple will deviate very far from its iconic aluminum construction.



AirPods Max 2 features

The current AirPods Max are missing numerous features that are available in the AirPods Pro 2, including Adaptive Audio, Conversion Awareness and Boost, Hearing Protection, and a high dynamic range amplifier, among other features. We expect Apple to address those shortcomings in the AirPods Max 2 with an H2 or H3 chip. Dust, sweat, and water resistance, and a U1 chip for precision location with Find My are also likely.

Another point of contention is the Smart Case. As we noted in our review, the case is “Ill-conceived and poorly executed,” and it needs a total redesign for AirPods Max 2 with more protection and a sleeker design. There haven’t been any rumors about a new Smart Case, but it would be surprising if Apple didn’t listen to the criticism.



AirPods Max 2 release date

While the AirPods Max haven’t officially received a 2nd-gen update, in September 2024, Apple swapped the Lightning port for USB-C and launched a set of new colors. That indicates we’ll be waiting until at least 2026 for an update—and possibly as late as 2027, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.



AirPods Max 2 price

At $549/£499, the AirPods Max are Apple’s most expensive AirPods, more than double the AirPods Pro. We haven’t heard any rumors about pricing for the 2nd-gen model, but we don’t expect any significant cuts. However, Apple may raise the U.K. price to £549 to bring it in line with U.S. pricing, as it has with nearly every other product