Apple’s third‑generation AirPods Pro come in a familiar package, but bring a shocking number of under‑the‑hood changes. If you already have the AirPods Pro 2, the question isn’t if they were good — they set the bar — it’s whether a newer model lifts that bar high enough to make the upgrade compelling. This is what’s really new, and what will matter on an everyday basis.
Price and value
Apple didn’t raise the price of the AirPods Pro 3, which continue to sell for $249, but it also didn’t lower it so the new model is still priced in line with the second-generation model they replace. That consistency is particularly noteworthy as premium earbuds from competitors have trended higher. The catch: The AirPods Pro 2 also routinely get discounted on the big sites, frequently dropping down to the mid‑$100s during big sales. If you’re a value-driven shopper, the outgoing model is likely to provide the better sticker story while supplies last.
Sound and spatial audio
Both generations support Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking, but the AirPods Pro 3 feature a new multi‑port acoustic architecture that is intended to ‘tighten imaging and increase low‑end texture’. Apple’s pitch here is less about all-out loudness and more about giving listeners at home an approximation of fidelity across the lows, mids, and highs in spatial mixes. In the field, anticipate steadier instrument positioning in Dolby Atmos tracks, and cleaner bass lines at moderate volumes.
Transparency mode also gets a tune‑up. The transparency of the previous model was already class-leading — many reviewers and labs gushed about its natural tone and low hiss — but Apple says the new processing reduces artifacts even more. That should mean street sound and voices will feel less “processed,” which is useful when you’re listening to music during workouts and long commutes.
Noise cancellation gains
Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 offer about twice the active noise cancellation of the AirPods Pro 2. Marketing math can be squishy (ANC “x2” does not mean double the decibels at all frequencies), but historically Apple’s claims have reflected significantly greater low‑frequency attenuation — the rumble of the subway and the drone of the aircraft that most people worry about. You should get a quieter cabin sensation, especially when using the better ear‑tip system.
Fit, tips, and durability
The design is similar, though the AirPods Pro 3 are slightly smaller, and come with five sizes of foam‑tipped tips instead of three silicone ones in the Pro 2. The foam will expand to fill the canal increasing passive isolation, which supplements ANC and reduces bass concentrations. The buckets are also more sizes and less trade‑offs for small or large ear canals.
Durability gets a nice lift as well: an IP57 rating on the AirPods Pro 3 compared with IP54 on the Pro 2. That upgrade brings dust protection and improves water resistance — a low-key win if you’re a trail runner or a gym-going listener of “How I Built This.” The H2 chip is still there, but Apple is leaning on new acoustics, sensors, and algorithms instead of a silicon refresh for this cycle.
Battery and charging
Battery life per charge grows from a rated 6 hours on the AirPods Pro 2 to as much as 8 hours for the AirPods Pro 3 (with the ANC on). That places Apple on a level with the best endurance figures from rivals, such as Sony and Bose, without making the buds bigger. Case life was not the headline here; the Pro 2 case lasted up to 30 hours total. In the new case, expect the same or better, convenience of USB‑C being there to stay.
Health, sensors, and workouts
Here, the AirPods Pro 3 make their biggest play. A new photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor has been introduced to allow on‑ear heart rate monitoring and Apple integrates this data with the Fitness app to both start and keep track of almost 100 exercise options. Paired with onboard motion sensors and the GPS in your iPhone, the buds can estimate calories and help you stay in target zones — though, as sports scientists are quick to point out, optical readings at the ear are not as accurate as a chest strap for high‑intensity intervals.
Apple’s Workout Buddy feature adds coaching based on your historical trends and goals through Apple Intelligence. That makes the earbuds a lightweight training companion for athletes who aren’t looking for a dedicated watch. Both generations backed up accessibility features such as Hearing Aid mode, but the new sensors broaden the usefulness for everyday health.
Real‑time translation and on‑device intelligence
AirPods Pro 3 bring live translation, with your iPhone being used as a visual medium while the audio translation gets piped in through the earbuds. Apple says it will support English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish conversations at launch, while Italian, Japanese, Korean and simplified Chines are also promised to be available in the “near future. With each person wearing the latest AirPods, ANC can automatically reduce the volume of the speaker’s voice while increasing the volume of the translated audio — a clever touch that takes the edge off loud environments.
The new feature is in line with a broader industry trend toward on‑device AI features. Premium earbuds are increasingly differentiating themselves through software and sensors, according to market analysts at Counterpoint Research, rather than raw driver changes. Apple is doing nothing here to buck that trend.
Should you upgrade?
If you have the AirPods Pro 2 and your priority is calls, convenience, and good ANC, you’re in great shape — particularly if you can find a deal on a pair at some point. Upgrade calculus changes if want fitness tracking without a watch, want stronger noise blocking or believe in the new foam‑tip fit and IP57 durability. For first‑gen Pro owners, the jump feels crystal clear: You’re going to get a significantly better ANC, longer battery life, tweaks to spatial audio and a lot more in features.
Bottom line: the AirPods Pro 3 doesn’t rip up Apple’s playbook — but it does introduce some important new capabilities in health, translation, comfort and noise control while holding the line on price — a thoughtful evolution that sidesteps the company’s patented “New and Improved!” reflex in favor of what people are actually likely to want and need from earbuds in 2025.
