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Among Apple’s many announcements during its September keynote, the latest AirPods Pro were somewhat overshadowed by the redesigned iPhone Pro and the new slim Air model. But the latest AirPods Pro 3 might just be the brand’s most exciting release in years.
That’s in no small part due to the three-year gap between the Pro 2 and Pro 3. Unlike the annual grind of the iPhone release calendar, Apple’s slow-and-steady approach to the AirPods arguably gave them extra time to do more than just iterate. While the AirPods Pro 2 are still an excellent pair of earbuds, the Pro 3 are packed with the kind of new features and meaningful upgrades that prove the adage that good things take time.
AirPods Pro 3
Pros:
→ Excellent ANC and solid sound quality
→ New features like heart-rate tracking
Cons:
→ Live Translation has limitations
Here is the topline: the AirPods Pro 3 now have a built-in heart rate monitor, improved active noise canceling (ANC) and battery life, and a new Live Translation feature that lets you have conversations across languages. Apple packed all of these features into the Pro 3 earbuds without raising the list price. How well do these features perform? These are our first impressions.
AirPods Pro 3: Design and Construction
The new AirPods Pro 3 case is ever so slightly larger than the Pro 2. While it’s not bulky, it’s marginally less pocket-friendly despite weighing slightly less than the Pro 2.
Apple also slightly redesigned the shape of the earbuds, as well as the eartip, for a more secure fit. Having tried both, I would give the edge to the new AirPods Pro 3 in comfort and security. Your mileage may vary, but if you’ve had difficulty with the Pro 2 staying in, the Pro 3 might be what you’ve been looking for.
The Pro 3 (right) is ever so slightly larger
Jonathan Zavaleta/Rolling Stone
Another small change is that Apple dropped the pairing button from the back of the case in favor of an invisible capacitive button on the front. It’s fine, but it’s a solution in search of a problem. I also prefer the reliability of a physical button if I ever need to reset the earbuds.
In terms of battery life, the stated battery life is now eight hours with the earbuds and 24 hours with the case, compared to six hours with the Pro 2 and 30 hours with the case. It’s hard to call that an improvement, but it’s arguably better to have longer playback time with the earbuds since they can’t be charged while in use, unlike the case.
AirPods Pro 3: Controls and Features
The new Pro 3 have the same controls that should be familiar to owners of previous AirPod models. Pinch controls handle playback, and the small sensor doubles as a capacitive volume slider. A long pinch toggles through playback modes, or you can set it to access Siri.
The biggest new feature is arguably the heart rate monitor. It’s not actually new to Apple earbuds — the Powerbeats Pro 2 have a heart rate sensor as well. But the AirPods Pro 3 are a more versatile and better-sounding pair of earbuds.
While I didn’t subject the AirPods Pro 3 to a stringent accuracy test, I ran my Samsung watch and the AirPods Pro 3 at the same time, and got the same heart rate of 75 BPM. It’s an encouraging sign, considering the much smaller size of the AirPods’ sensor.
Jonathan Zavaleta/Rolling Stone
As for Live Translate, it’s an exciting development, but it does have its limitations. There are currently only five languages available, and despite them all being European languages, Live Translate is not available in the EU. There are hardware limitations, too. Even though I was running iOS 26, the iPhone I used to test the AirPods was not new enough to test the feature.
There’s also a new camera control function. Essentially a remote shutter, you can press and hold the pinch control when the camera app is open to take a remote photo. It’s a fun feature, although probably not an essential one. Like the Pro 2, the Pro 3 earbuds come with hearing protection and hearing assistance, both very welcome accessibility features.
AirPods Pro 3: Sound Quality and ANC
Apple claims to have improved the sound quality with a new “multiport acoustic architecture” for a widened soundstage. If the sound quality is better than the Pro 2, it’s subtle, with perhaps a slightly deeper bass response.
And while you can technically adjust the EQ under the accessibility menu, it seems intentionally hidden, in another frustrating display of “Apple knows best.” Overall, though, there’s little to complain about with sound quality here — it’s neutral and engaging enough to do justice to a variety of genres.
As for ANC, Apple’s claim of the “world’s best noise-canceling” is perhaps hyperbolic, but not drastically so. Walking on a busy street, the earbuds capably reduced traffic sounds, and the Pro 3 easily handles the ambient hum of electrical systems. To push them further, I turned my home stereo on in the background while I had the AirPods on, and found I had to turn the background volume scarily high before I could even hear it.
The competition for the noise-canceling crown is fierce, but the AirPods Pro 3 are undoubtedly top contenders.
AirPods Pro 3: Verdict
The Pro 3 are not necessarily a must-buy if you already have the Pro 2, especially since features like camera control and Live Translation will be available on the earlier model. And, suffice to say, AirPods are still not the best option for Android.
That said, if you prioritize health and fitness features, the Pro 3’s heart rate tracking is a major selling point. Not only is it accurate, but it’s entirely unobtrusive. The active noise canceling is also a notable improvement, and among the best on the market. Plus, the redesigned eartips and bud shape create a better seal for improved passive isolation.
Overall, the hugely impressive AirPods Pro 3 are a testament to Apple’s no-rush approach to upgrading one of its best products.
AirPods Pro 3
Pros:
→ Excellent ANC and solid sound quality
→ New features like heart-rate tracking
Cons:
→ Live Translation has limitations
