AirPods Pro 3 are true wireless in-ear headphones from Apple, announced on 9 September 2025 and released on 19 September 2025 at USD 249. Apple states that their Active Noise Cancellation removes up to twice as much noise as the previous AirPods Pro and four times as much as the original model, and they add a heart rate sensor that lets the earbuds track more than 50 workout types in the Fitness app on iPhone.
Key specs that matter
A custom high-excursion Apple driver fed by a custom high dynamic range amplifier sits in each bud, which runs on the Apple H2 headphone chip, while the MagSafe Charging Case holds a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip. The wireless link uses Bluetooth 5.3. With ANC active, one charge gives up to 8 hours of listening, a 33 percent gain over the previous generation, and the case extends that to up to 24 hours. Spatial Audio with head tracking lowers single-charge time to 7.5 hours, heart rate sensing to 6.5 hours, and the Hearing Aid feature in the pass-through listening mode allows up to 10 hours. Five minutes in the case gives around one hour. Each bud measures 30.9 x 19.2 x 27.0 mm and weighs 5.55 g, and the case is 47.2 x 62.2 x 21.8 mm at 43.99 g.
Engineering and use context
Apart from noise cancelling, the earbuds offer Adaptive Audio, a pass-through mode, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume, Loud Sound Reduction, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Adaptive EQ and studio-quality audio recording. A new multiport acoustic architecture is used, and a vent system equalises pressure inside the ear canal. Sensors include dual beamforming microphones, an inward-facing microphone, a skin-detect sensor, motion-detecting and speech-detecting accelerometers and touch control. Hearing health tools cover a Hearing Test, a Hearing Aid function with automatic Conversation Boost, and Hearing Protection. Both buds and case are rated IP57 against dust, sweat and water. Foam-infused silicone ear tips come in five sizes from XXS to L, and the fit draws on more than 10,000 ear scans. The heart rate reading comes from a custom PPG sensor pulsing invisible infrared light 256 times per second. Apple quotes 40 percent recycled content overall, including 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery.
Pairing
The case charges from a MagSafe charger, an Apple Watch charger, any Qi-certified pad or a USB-C cable, and it has a built-in speaker so it can be located through Find My. Head tracking, heart rate workouts and the hearing features rely on an iPhone, while basic Bluetooth playback works with other phones and computers.
Alternatives
Apple also sells AirPods 4, an open in-ear model without silicone tips that is offered in versions with and without noise cancelling.