Apple is preparing to shake things up with the long-awaited AirPods Pro 3, and the change might come sooner than anyone thought. 
With the iPhone 17 launch event happening today, most eyes are locked on the new smartphone line. Yet, Apple’s true surprise may arrive in the form of its next-generation earbuds – and the timing of their release could be a game-changer.
According to a leak stemming from a Best Buy promotional email, the AirPods Pro 3 might not just be announced today, but actually available for purchase immediately on September 9. The leak surfaced on Reddit, where a Best Buy customer shared that they received a $20 reward deal tied specifically to the purchase of Apple’s newest earbuds. If accurate, this would signal a notable departure from Apple’s previous rollout playbook.
Historically, Apple has favored staggered launches for its audio products. When the AirPods Pro 2 debuted in 2022, they were introduced alongside the iPhone but didn’t ship until a later pre-order window. More recently, with the AirPods 4 and updated AirPods Max, the company offered pre-orders right after the announcement but still made buyers wait several days for delivery. An immediate release of the AirPods Pro 3, however, would represent Apple leaning toward an iPhone-style launch model for its premium earbuds – available to customers as soon as the keynote concludes.
Speculation about the Pro 3’s new capabilities has only fueled excitement. Design-wise, they are expected to closely resemble the AirPods Pro 2, but Apple is rumored to be adding meaningful health and smart features. Reports point to the inclusion of a built-in heart rate monitor and a temperature sensor, turning the earbuds into miniature health companions. These features would align with Apple’s broader ecosystem focus on wellness tracking, complementing the Apple Watch’s capabilities. A live translation tool is also rumored to be in development, though it may arrive via a later software update.
For current AirPods Pro 2 owners, this update could feel like a much-needed leap. Noise cancellation and sound quality remain central to Apple’s identity in the wireless audio space, but the addition of biometric monitoring and translation could push the AirPods Pro line beyond being just earbuds – positioning them as personal assistants for everyday life. Whether or not all these features are available at launch, the mere possibility of buying them today adds an extra layer of excitement to Apple’s showcase.
In short, Apple seems ready to surprise not just with its iPhone 17 lineup but also with how it delivers its latest audio gear. The AirPods Pro 3 could arrive not only as a technical upgrade but also as a strategic shift in how Apple thinks about product launches – faster, more direct, and perfectly in sync with consumer anticipation.
2 comments
if this is true im buying them today lol
finally apple giving us something right away not 2 weeks later