Apple has officially unveiled the AirPods Pro 3 at its September event, introducing notable upgrades without raising the price. The new earbuds still retail for $249, the same as their predecessors, and are available for preorder starting September 9. They will hit stores on September 19.
The AirPods Pro 3 arrive with a refreshed design that now includes foam-infused ear tips in five sizes. Active noise cancellation is twice as effective compared to the previous generation, and four times better than the first. Battery performance has improved to eight hours with ANC enabled, and up to 10 hours in transparency mode, addressing one of the biggest concerns with earlier models.
For the first time, the earbuds integrate health and fitness features. Heart rate monitoring, previously seen on the Powerbeats Pro 2, is now included. They also sync with the Fitness app and Apple Fitness+, allowing users to track live metrics directly from their iPhone. This positions the AirPods Pro 3 as a strong alternative for users who want fitness tracking without an Apple Watch.
Another standout feature is live translation, debuting alongside iOS 26. This addition places Apple in direct competition with Samsung Galaxy Buds and Google Pixel Buds, which already support real-time language translation.
Other highlights include:
- IP57 sweat and water resistance
- Enhanced spatial audio from a new acoustic design
- Seamless integration with Apple devices
The pricing strategy sets Apple apart. While competitors like Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Technics EAH-AZ1000 retail at 19999 without fitness features, Apple kept the AirPods Pro 3 at 15999.
With boosted ANC, longer battery life, health tracking, and translation support, the AirPods Pro 3 strengthen their position as premium all-around earbuds for both everyday use and workouts
