If you’ve been walking around with the same white stems in your ears for the last three years, you’ve probably noticed the buzz. Apple finally refreshed its flagship earbuds, and honestly, the AirPods Pro 3 are a weirdly ambitious update. They aren't just for music anymore. They're trying to be a health tracker, a hearing aid, and a pocket translator all at once.
Is it overkill? Maybe.
But after the long wait since the 2022 model, there is a lot to dig into here. People keep asking if they should ditch their perfectly functional Pro 2s for the new version. The answer isn't a simple "yes," mostly because the Pro 2s were already arguably the best earbuds on the market for iPhone users.
The Noise Cancellation Reality Check
Apple claims these have 2x better Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) than the previous generation. We’ve heard that marketing speak before. However, this time the hardware actually backs it up.
The AirPods Pro 3 use a new "multiport acoustic architecture." Basically, they redesigned how air moves through the bud. When you combine that with the new H2 chip (which, surprisingly, is a refined version of the previous one rather than a leap to "H3" yet) and the new foam-infused ear tips, the silence is heavy.
I’m talking "cannot hear the person sitting next to you on a plane" heavy.
The secret weapon here is actually the ear tips. They now come in five sizes—including a tiny XXS—and they have a thin layer of foam inside the silicone. It creates a seal that feels more like a custom mold. If you’ve always felt like AirPods were just a bit too loose, the XXS size is a genuine game-changer for smaller ears.
A Heart Rate Monitor in Your Ear?
This is the big "why now?" feature. The AirPods Pro 3 have a built-in heart rate sensor.
It works via a custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor that pulses infrared light into your ear canal 256 times per second. It’s pretty techy stuff. If you already wear an Apple Watch, you might think this is redundant. You aren't wrong. Apple’s own software will actually prioritize the Watch’s data over the AirPods if you’re wearing both.
But for the "no-watch" crowd? It's huge.
You can track your heart rate, calories, and Move rings directly through the Fitness app just by wearing your buds. It supports over 50 workout types. There’s even a feature called Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence that gives you motivational "nudges" in your ear based on your real-time heart rate data. It’s a bit like having a tiny, slightly robotic personal trainer living in your ear canal.
Hearing Health and Clinical Ambitions
Apple is leaning hard into the medical space. The AirPods Pro 3 are officially marketed as clinical-grade hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
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This isn't just a software trick.
- You take a five-minute hearing test on your iPhone.
- It generates a personalized audiogram.
- The buds automatically adjust their frequencies to boost the sounds you specifically struggle to hear.
They also added Automatic Conversation Boost. If someone starts talking to you in a loud bar, the AirPods Pro 3 lock onto that voice and dampen the background roar instantly. It’s faster than the "Conversation Awareness" we saw on the Pro 2s.
The Battery Life Trade-off
The battery situation is a bit of a mixed bag. The buds themselves are impressive. You get 8 hours of listening time with ANC on. That’s a solid two-hour jump from the previous version.
But there’s a catch.
If you use the heart rate sensor during a workout, that battery life drops to about 6.5 hours. Also, the charging case is a bit smaller this time around. Because of the size reduction, the total listening time (buds + case) is 24 hours, which is actually less than the 30 hours the Pro 2 case offered.
It seems Apple bet that people would prefer a slimmer case in their pocket over those extra six hours of standby time. Whether that was the right call depends on how often you forget to plug your case in.
Quick Specs at a Glance
- Rating: IP57 (Dust and full water submersion up to 3 feet).
- Charging: USB-C, MagSafe, Apple Watch charger, or Qi.
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 + U2 chip for "Precision Finding."
- In the Box: XXS, XS, S, M, L ear tips (No USB-C cable included anymore).
Real-World Performance: What It's Like to Use Them
Living with these is mostly about the little things. The Live Translation feature is surprisingly snappy. You can have someone speak Spanish to you, and you’ll hear the English translation in your ear almost in real-time. It’s great for travel, though it still feels a bit awkward to stand there with earbuds in while someone is talking to your face.
The durability took a massive leap too. These are IP57 rated. The old ones were only splash-proof. You can technically drop the AirPods Pro 3 (and the case!) into a shallow pool or rinse them off under a tap if they get covered in gym sweat, and they’ll be fine.
One thing that might annoy people: the price hasn't moved. It’s still $249. However, since the Pro 2s are now frequently discounted to around $170 or $180, you have to really ask yourself if a heart rate sensor and better waterproofing are worth an extra $70.
Should You Actually Buy Them?
If you’re still using the original 2019 AirPods Pro, stop reading and go get these. The jump in sound quality and noise cancellation is massive.
If you have the Pro 2s? Honestly, stay put unless you really need the heart rate tracking or you find the current ear tips uncomfortable. The audio quality improvement is there—it's punchier and the bass is "cleaner"—but it isn't "throw away your old ones" better.
Next Steps for New Owners:
- Run the Fit Test: Don't just guess your tip size. Go to Settings > AirPods and run the Ear Tip Fit Test. The new foam-infused tips work differently than the old ones.
- Setup the Hearing Test: Even if you think your hearing is perfect, run the test in the Health app. The "Media Assist" feature uses those results to tune your music specifically to your ears, which makes a noticeable difference in clarity.
- Sync with Fitness: If you don't use an Apple Watch, make sure you enable "Heart Rate" in the AirPods settings so your walks and runs actually count toward your goals.