Apple has announced the third generation of AirPods Pro, keeping the same $249 price but adding major upgrades in sound, fitness and health. They are available to pre-order now and will arrive on Friday, September 19.
The earbuds deliver twice the Active Noise Cancellation of AirPods Pro 2, and four times that of the original model. A redesigned airflow system and new acoustic architecture enhance clarity across music, calls and video playback.
Each earbud is smaller than before, with five ear tip sizes — including a new XXS option — for a more secure fit. They are IP57 rated for water and sweat resistance. Apple says this makes them more comfortable for long wear and more durable during exercise.
For the first time, AirPods include a built-in heart rate sensor, able to track more than 50 workout types through the iPhone’s Fitness app. Users can measure calorie burn and monitor performance even without an Apple Watch.
A new workout mode also syncs with Apple Fitness+ to show real-time metrics like heart rate and calories during guided sessions.
AirPods Pro 3 introduce Live Translation, enabling face-to-face conversations across languages. The feature launches in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish, with Italian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (simplified) to follow later this year.
Apple has enhanced accessibility tools, including automatic Conversation Boost in noisy environments and a more accurate in-ear hearing test.
Battery performance rises from six to eight hours with noise cancellation switched on, or up to 10 hours in Transparency mode.
Apple has also made sustainability changes: AirPods Pro 3 are built with 40% recycled materials, including 100% recycled cobalt in the battery, and packaging is now fibre-based.