AirPods Pro 3: Apple’s boldest earbuds yet with ANC, heart rate tracking, and live translation

Apple has once again shaken up the wireless earbuds market with the release of the AirPods Pro 3, a product that arrives not only as a successor to the Pro 2 but also as a clear statement of where the company sees the future of personal audio. It’s been three years since the Pro 2 launched, and just a year after the AirPods 4 entered the lineup, Apple is back with a model that blends evolutionary improvements with genuinely new features that few, if any, rivals can match.

The naming itself has already sparked conversation: why AirPods Pro 3 instead of jumping to a Pro 4? Industry watchers suggest Apple is intentionally leaving room for an even more radical version in the near future.

But names aside, what matters is that these earbuds aim to set a new standard in everyday usability, health tracking, and communication.

Reimagined design and smarter internals

The AirPods Pro 3 come with a slightly refined design that focuses on better ergonomics and all-day comfort

. Apple has tuned the fit to reduce fatigue, and paired it with IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance, making the earbuds more dependable during workouts and commutes. Battery life has also been extended, offering more hours of uninterrupted listening compared to both the Pro 2 and standard AirPods 4.

But the biggest surprises lie inside. A built-in heart rate monitor now transforms the earbuds into an accessory that can double as a health tracker. While the functionality currently activates mainly during workouts, it effectively brings features once exclusive to fitness bands into the mainstream earbud segment. For fitness enthusiasts, this alone could be a game-changer, eliminating the need for additional wearables during runs or gym sessions.

Live translations powered by Apple Intelligence

Perhaps the most headline-grabbing feature is live translation. With Apple’s latest intelligence framework at the core, the Pro 3 can facilitate real-time conversations across languages. Imagine landing in a foreign country and carrying out basic conversations without needing to fumble with a phone app. While real-world performance remains to be seen, the promise alone positions the AirPods Pro 3 as more than just earbuds – they’re becoming a travel companion.

Noise cancellation that redefines the category

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has long been Apple’s bragging right, but with the Pro 3 the company goes further, claiming double the effectiveness of the Pro 2 and four times that of the original Pro. This leap cements Apple’s assertion that these are now the best noise-cancelling in-ear headphones worldwide. Competitors like Sony’s WF-1000XM5 or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro series will undoubtedly challenge that claim, but the benchmark has been set.

Audio performance has also received subtle but meaningful refinements.

Users can expect richer mids and deeper lows, making music playback more immersive even when compared with Apple’s own previous high-end models. Combined with ANC, this creates a cocoon of sound that rivals over-ear headphones in isolation.

How competitors stack up

Samsung, Sony, and Google still dominate conversations in premium earbuds, yet none currently integrate heart rate monitoring or native translation support. The Pro 3 therefore leapfrogs them in utility, offering a blend of lifestyle, health, and travel-friendly features in one compact package. While companies like Sony may still hold the edge in pure audio fidelity according to audiophile circles, Apple’s focus on seamless integration across its ecosystem is a massive advantage.

Price and availability

Perhaps the most surprising element is pricing. At $249.99, the AirPods Pro 3 retain the same launch price as their predecessor. Pre-orders are already open, with shipping scheduled to begin on September 19. For buyers who value bleeding-edge features without an inflated cost, this makes the Pro 3 one of Apple’s most aggressive hardware plays in recent years.

The AirPods Pro 3 are not just another incremental update. They redefine what users can expect from earbuds, combining entertainment, productivity, and health monitoring in ways competitors are still catching up to. If Apple’s claims hold up in daily use, this release may mark a turning point for the category as a whole.