Apple's base-level AirPods received a hefty update just last year, when active noise cancellation and USB-C charging finally trickled down to the most affordable variant of the AirPods. However, the Pro version of these iconic headsets has not seen any material change since 2023. Well, this changes now with the AirPods Pro 3.
As a refresher, the first generation of the AirPods Pro, announced back in 2019, featured background noise cancelation, along with a suite of accelerometers and optical sensors to detect force application on the stem, while allowing for an automatic pause whenever these headsets were removed from the ear.
The second-gen AirPods Pro, which debuted in 2022, offered improved sound quality and a more aggressive noise cancellation ability, thanks to the updated H2 chip with Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. Moreover, the update saw the charging case start supporting active tracking functionality and featured a built-in speaker to aid location detection. In 2023, Apple also brought IP54 dust resistance and USB-C support to the proverbial table.
Just a day back, a leak by Instant Digital on Weibo sought to clarify that Apple was likely to introduce a standard version of the AirPods Pro 3 in 2025 - replete with a new H3 chip, a re-designed charging case, capacitive controls, and health monitoring sensors to track body temperature and heart rate - and a more advanced version in 2026 that would support air gesture controls via tiny infrared (IR) camera sensors, eliminating the need for capacitive touch controls entirely.
Apple AirPods 3 Pro Officially Go Live
Well, Apple has now officially revealed AirPods Pro 3, and they are elegance personified, as always. The latest iteration brings active translation and much more.
Specifically, AirPods Pro 3 feature smaller earbuds that offer a better fit, an improved spatial listening experience, up to 2x more effective noise cancelation, live translation powered by Apple Intelligence, a heart rate sensor, 8-hour long battery, and IP57 sweat and water resistance, all for just $249.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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