Design and Comfort Upgrades

Apple has heavily emphasized fit and comfort in the AirPods Pro 3, drawing on one of the most extensive research datasets ever applied to earbud design. More than 10,000 ear scans and 100,000 hours of testing informed the redesign, making these the most secure and stable AirPods to date.

Smaller Internal Build and Five Ear Tip Sizes

The internal structure has been completely re-engineered to make each AirPod smaller, while the outer geometry of the ear tip has been centred for improved stability. Foam-infused ear tips are now available in five sizes, including a new XXS option. This ensures a fit for a broader range of users than ever before.

Durability with IP57 Rating

The AirPods Pro 3 are built to withstand exercise and daily use. With an IP57 water and sweat resistance rating, they can withstand workouts like HIIT, yoga, running, and exposure to rain or unpredictable weather conditions.

Audio and Noise Cancellation Enhancements

Sound quality has been a cornerstone of every AirPods Pro release, and Apple claims the AirPods Pro 3 now delivers the most immersive in-ear audio experience in the world with:

New Acoustic Architecture

A multiport acoustic system controls airflow within the earbuds, creating a wider soundstage. This design enhances bass response, improves instrument separation, and provides greater clarity to vocals. With next-generation Adaptive EQ, music and calls adapt more intelligently to the user’s ear and listening environment.

Active Noise Cancellation Tools 

Using ultra-low-noise microphones, advanced computational audio, and new foam ear tips for passive noise isolation, noise reduction is more effective than ever before.

• ANC is now 2x more effective than AirPods Pro 2.

• ANC is 4x stronger compared to the original AirPods Pro.

This makes them particularly useful in noisy environments, such as commuting, working in an office, or travelling.

Personalized Transparency Mode

Transparency mode has also been refined. Voices, including the user’s own, sound more natural while letting environmental noise filter in safely. The balance between awareness and immersion has been fine-tuned for everyday use.

Health and fitness: Heart rate sensing and workout integration

The AirPods Pro 3 extends beyond audio into fitness and health tracking, something never before built directly into Apple’s earbuds. It has:

Custom Heart Rate Sensor

This new photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor measures heart rate using invisible infrared light. It pulses 256 times per second to detect blood flow, delivering precise measurements during workouts.

Integrated Fitness Tracking 

Working with the Fitness app on iPhone, AirPods Pro 3 can now:

• Track over 50 different workout types.

• Monitor heart rate and calories burned.

• Help users close their Move rings.

• Offer performance awards directly in the app.

Workout Buddy and Fitness + Integration

With Apple Intelligence, users gain access to Workout Buddy, a first-of-its-kind AI-powered system that uses historical data and real-time metrics to motivate during sessions. For Apple Fitness+ subscribers, performance statistics such as heart rate, calorie burn, and progress indicators can be viewed on-screen in real-time.

This combination turns the AirPods Pro 3 into a hybrid device that is part audio accessory and part fitness companion.

Live translation powered by Apple Intelligence

The most transformative feature announced is Live Translation. AirPods Pro 3 can facilitate real-time multilingual communication using computational audio and Apple Intelligence. When enabled, they capture speech, translate it, and deliver the translated result directly to the user’s ear.

Languages supported at launch include English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese coming later in the year. This is initially available in beta.

The feature is designed for both one-on-one and group settings. If only one user has AirPods, an iPhone can display live transcription for the other person in their preferred language. If both users wear AirPods with Live Translation enabled, the system automatically adjusts audio levels and translations in real-time for smoother interaction.

This extends AirPods beyond entertainment into global communication, travel, and workplace collaboration.

Battery life and Charging

Battery performance remains an important consideration. Apple reports that AirPods Pro 3 deliver up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge, with the charging case extending this to 24 hours in total.

The charging case supports USB-C and MagSafe, reflecting Apple’s transition across its product line. Integration with the Find My network has also been enhanced, making it easier to locate the case if it is misplaced.

In Transparency Mode, playback lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge, 67 percent longer than the previous generation. This ensures users relying on accessibility functions are not restricted by frequent charging

While the improvements here are incremental, the consistency across Apple devices creates a more substantial user experience.

Hearing Health 

The Hearing Test feature, already widely adopted, benefits from the stronger ANC that removes more ambient noise, enabling more accurate at-home evaluations. For people who use hearing aids, Conversation Boost is now automatic. It amplifies voices in busy places such as restaurants while reducing background noise.

Environmental Commitments

The AirPods Pro 3 were also aligned with Apple’s broader sustainability goals. The packaging is now fully fiber-based, eliminating plastic, and is designed for easy recycling. These changes align with Apple’s 2030 carbon-neutral roadmap across materials, electricity, and transportation.

The earbuds use 40 percent recycled content, with the battery built from 100 percent recycled cobalt and the case composed of 65 percent recycled plastic. Production relies on 40 percent renewable electricity from sources such as wind and solar.