Apple has officially announced the third-generation AirPods Pro at its September 2025 “Awe Dropping” event. The new wireless earbuds bring notable upgrades in active noise cancellation, fitness tracking, and audio performance, making them one of the most significant updates to the AirPods Pro lineup since their debut.
According to details from the announcement, AirPods Pro 3 now deliver up to 2x better noise cancellation compared to AirPods Pro 2, and four times better than the original AirPods Pro. This allows users to block out more background noise in busy environments while still maintaining sound quality. Apple has also boosted battery performance, with up to ten hours of playback in Transparency mode and eight hours when noise cancellation is active.
Beyond audio improvements, AirPods Pro 3 introduce new health and fitness features. A custom-built heart rate sensor is integrated into each earbud, letting users track heart rate and calories burned directly from their AirPods during workouts. This data syncs with the Fitness app, allowing users to close their Move ring and earn activity awards without wearing an Apple Watch. Apple is positioning this as a new way for iPhone owners to monitor health metrics on the go.
Design refinements make the earbuds slightly smaller than their predecessors, while a re-engineered ear tip alignment improves stability in the ear. Apple has also added new foam-infused ear tips, now available in five sizes, for a more secure and comfortable fit. For durability, AirPods Pro 3 come with IP57 sweat and water resistance, a step up from earlier models.
Another major addition is live translation powered by Apple Intelligence. With this feature, conversations in foreign languages can be translated in real time, currently supporting English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with more languages expected later this year. This turns the earbuds into a practical tool for travel, business, and multilingual communication.
AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249 in the United States, with pre-orders starting today and availability beginning on September 19. Apple also confirmed that additional variations of AirPods Pro 3 are in development for 2026, as hinted by supply chain reports earlier this week.
