Three years after their predecessors essentially dominated the wireless earbud market, Apple finally dropped the AirPods Pro 3. Launched on September 9, 2025, alongside the iPhone 17 lineup and the newest Apple Watches—including the Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3—this release is anything but a minor spec bump. While they might look remarkably familiar from the outside, Apple packed the third generation with some serious under-the-hood upgrades. We are talking clinical-grade health features, a totally revamped acoustic architecture, and noticeably better battery life.
The best part might just be the price tag. Apple kept the official MSRP at $249, exactly like previous generations. But if you are willing to shop around, massive discounts are already hitting the market. Right now, Amazon has them slashed by 20 percent down to around 199 euros. Buyers are clearly noticing, with over 5,000 units sold in the last month alone and the earbuds currently sitting at a solid 4.5 out of 4 stars across roughly 5,600 reviews.
Familiar Look, Dramatically Better Fit
Apple clearly didn’t want to mess with a winning formula when it comes to aesthetics. The iconic clean white case with its rounded-square shape remains basically untouched. Naturally, it still rocks the USB-C charging standard introduced late in the second generation’s lifecycle. Slip them into your ears, however, and you’ll immediately notice the difference. Apple added a fifth ear tip size, expanding the range from XXS to L to guarantee a secure, slip-free grip during heavy workouts. Add in an IP57 certification, and these buds are fully ready to handle sweat, dust, and even a quick dip underwater up to one meter.
Next-Level Audio and Noise Control
If you thought the active noise cancellation on the last generation was good, the new model cranks it up. Apple claims the AirPods Pro 3 deliver double the ANC strength of their predecessors. They also feature active hearing protection that instantly dials down sudden, harsh sounds like sirens or jackhammers without interrupting your music or podcast. Underneath the sleek plastic shell, a brand-new acoustic architecture pushes out deeper bass and crisper details. Inward-facing microphones constantly monitor what reaches your ear, adjusting the sound profile in real-time to match your specific ear shape.
Fitness and Health Take Center Stage
The most aggressive changes have nothing to do with playing music. For the first time ever, the AirPods feature built-in heart rate tracking. The earbuds seamlessly sync with the iPhone’s Fitness app to track your pulse and burned calories across more than 50 different workout types. You can actually close your activity rings without an Apple Watch, making these a perfect alternative for anyone who hates wearing something on their wrist while running or cycling.
The health push goes even further with a clinical-grade hearing aid function. The buds automatically boost conversational volume when background noise makes things tough to hear. Users can take a clinical hearing test right at home through the Health app without a doctor’s visit, and those results are immediately used to personalize the earbuds’ sound profile.
Smarter Software and Extended Battery
Battery anxiety is mostly a thing of the past here. You now get eight hours of playback with ANC turned on, up from the previous six. Switch over to transparency mode while using the hearing aid features, and that stretches out to an impressive ten hours. The MagSafe-compatible case holds another 24 hours of charge, supports standard Qi wireless chargers, and still features the built-in speaker for Find My tracking alongside the handy lanyard loop.
Apple also threw in some impressive smart software tricks. If you are running an iPhone 15 Pro or newer with Apple Intelligence enabled in the settings, the AirPods Pro 3 can handle live translations, acting as a real-time interpreter right in your ear. Factor in features like Audio Sharing and the usual seamless device switching across iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs, and the third-generation Pro model easily justifies the upgrade.
