I tried AirPods Pro 3 — these are the upgrades that actually matter

The AirPods Pro 2 have been my go-to wireless earbuds for almost everything: flights, workouts, commuting, you name it. But they had a few small quirks that could be frustrating, like battery life that barely made it through a long cross-country flight.

That’s where the new AirPods Pro 3 ($249) come in. Apple seems to have taken the best parts of the Pro 2 and addressed the biggest complaints, from longer battery life to a more comfortable fit, and added some unexpected features along the way. The new buds offer IP57 durability, built-in heart rate monitors, and support for Live Translation. The best part? Not all of these features are exclusive to the Pro 3.

During some hands-on time with AirPods Pro 3, I also got to listen to a few tracks and test the improved active noise cancellation that's apparently twice as strong. Here’s my full take on what’s changed, what’s improved, and how they perform based on first impressions.

AirPods Pro 3: Quick facts

• Price: $249, the same as AirPods Pro 2.
• Battery life: 8 hours ANC-on (up from 6), 24 hours with MagSafe case, 5 minutes in case = 1 hour listening.
• Design: Smaller, lighter and more comfortable. Comes with XXS ear tip, now 5 sizes total.
• Heart rate sensor: Built into the AirPods for workout tracking, no Apple Watch required.
• Live translation: Real-time translation channeled through your iPhone using Apple Intelligence.
• Active Noise Cancellation: ANC is twice as strong compared to AirPods Pro 2.
• Durability: First AirPods with IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance.

AirPods Pro 3: Price and availability

The AirPods Pro 3 are available as of September 19 and are priced at $249, which is the same as the AirPods Pro 2.

AirPods Pro 2 will be discontinued, but AirPods 4 will remain an alternative option. They cost $179 for the version with ANC and $129 for the version without.

AirPods Pro 3: Design

At first glance, the AirPods Pro 3 don’t look dramatically different from the previous generation. But hands-on, the changes are noticeable. They’re smaller, lighter, and more comfortable, and they now include an XXS ear tip (for a total of five sizes) to fit almost any ear.

The AirPods Pro 3 are also IP57 rated, making them the most durable AirPods yet with protection against dust, sweat, and water. This level of protection allows them to handle everything from sweaty workouts to rainy commutes without concern about causing damage.

Apple kept the same MagSafe-compatible charging case design, although it now has the invisible touch pairing controls on the front of the case introduced with AirPods 4.

AirPods Pro 3: Audio and ANC

The AirPods Pro 3 advertise twice the active noise cancellation of AirPods Pro 3, and it might just deliver that based on my initial demo. In the rowdy hands-on area (for context, Mr. Beast was in attendance,) I could barely hear the room around me. Of course, the experience depends on using the right ear tips, but when dialed in, the ANC shows signs of being incredibly effective.

Audio quality also impressed me. During a demo of Chris Stapleton’s Bad As I Used To Be from the F1 movie, the strumming texture was impressive, and high-register sounds in a electronic track came through clear and crisp.

Apple also updated the microphone architecture for better voice isolation on calls, though I didn’t get to test it extensively. I find microphone quality to be inconsistent on the AirPods Pro 2, so this is something I'll definitely examine closely when I test the AirPods Pro 3 in the real world.

AirPods Pro 3: Live Translation

Live Translation is one of the standout features in this year's AirPods update. When enabled, the AirPods Pro 3 microphones pick up speech (English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish are supported) and route it through your iPhone. Using Apple Intelligence and iOS 26, your iPhone will then deliver real-time translations back to your ears.

Meanwhile, Adaptive Audio intelligently lowers the speaker’s volume, making the translation feel seamless. Furthermore, two users with AirPods Pro could carry on a conversation face-to-face without needing to display half the conversation on an iPhone.

Considering this feature is powered by Apple Intelligence, it also works on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC.

AirPods Pro 3: Heart rate monitoring

The AirPods Pro 3 are the first AirPods to include a dedicated heart rate sensor. Unlike the heart rate sensors in the Powerbeats Pro 2, these integrate directly with the iOS 26 Workout app.

You can start about 50 different workouts from your iPhone, and your AirPods Pro 3 become the heart rate source, no Apple Watch required. They even sync with Workout Buddy for Apple Intelligence-based workout guidance and Apple Music to launch a workout playlist automatically.

I got to try it out briefly, and it seems like a solid option for getting those Apple Watch rings closed when you don't have your watch (or, as is typically my case, when my watch is dead.)

AirPods Pro 3: Battery life

Battery life is now 8 hours with ANC on, up from 6, or 10 hours with the hearing aid feature enabled.

The charging case extends total listening time to 24 hours, and just 5 minutes in the case gives an hour of playback. For frequent travelers like me, this is a huge upgrade, eliminating the constant stress of needing a recharge mid-flight.

AirPods Pro 3: Outlook

The AirPods Pro 3 take everything I loved about the second-generation model and make meaningful improvements: longer battery life, a more comfortable design, heart rate tracking, live translation, and improved ANC.

These upgrades make them a genuinely compelling pair of wireless earbuds, especially for anyone who travels frequently, works out often, or just wants the best listening experience Apple has to offer. At $249, they hit the same price point as the AirPods Pro 2, which hasn't exactly been the trend in the premium wireless earbud market.

I still need to test the AirPods Pro 2 out in the real world to see how they live up to claims, but the prognosis is a positive one.